Rebellion (A Titan Romance Book 1) (18 page)

Nor did he have any idea Xerxus already directed the rest of his insurgency toward Colonel Weir’s regrouping division.

The armies of the galaxy’s repressive theocracy had no where to retreat. They died courageously, however, fighting ruthlessly until they were all dead. Every one.

T
he ceremony would be
a simple affair. Akyra and Raemus would make vows to each other, much in the same way humans did thousands of years before. The abbess of Ishkari, the highest ranked member of The Order of Penury, would declare them bonded for life. Just as the couple requested.

Only when they were united as the head of their new Titan-Banshee family would they honor the dead. Just as the dead deserved.

Of those who survived the battle, only Jexica and Alexio were absent from the affair. Along with Xerxus’ intelligence officer, they boarded one of the remaining Raptors that morning, escaped the scanners of High Orbit Anchorage, and rocketed away from Minoran space. The three of them were off to investigate the best way to deal with the Golem threat about to face them.

With the help of Rayeley and Emilia, Akyra Roux dressed herself in a simple red kaftan, embroidered at the neck. It was the most elegant garment the poor abbey could provide, and she graciously accepted. The Banshees put most of their effort into her hair, therefore, working red ribbons into braids that they built into a high crest down the middle of her head. What meant most was the pendant hanging on her neck, Sol’s Hand, given to her at their Shu’ri. For her and all the warriors from Zebra—Titan and Banshee—it was a metaphor to take back from The Church, to restore to its original meaning, a symbol of the galaxy’s future, of their own hope.

Akyra didn’t mind letting the ladies of the abbey and her team wrangle over her attire for the ceremony. She actually enjoyed that the situation was
not in her control.

In fact, she thought she just might be able to get used to it… occasionally.

She also didn’t mind that Xerxus and his high guard joined them for the celebration at the abbey, either. The wildly tattooed man, dressed in his humble black toga to show respect to the couple, had come to their side after all. And he had done so in response to Raemus’ violent reminder that he should value honor above all else. This validated Xerxus in her eyes. He came to their side, after everything, for the very best of reasons.

By the time Raemus came out to the center square for the ceremony, he joined all the cheering, singing children of the orphanage who swarmed Akyra. He also wore red, a simple laborer’s outfit, cleaned and smoothed. It was, frankly, the only non-military thing within a hundred kilometers that would fit over his broad, muscular shoulders.

When he took Akyra’s hand, he said simply, “You look beautiful.”

They removed their shoes, and hand in hand they walked up to the smiling abbess.

In the bright sun of the Minoran sky, among the growing cheers and laughter of children, the abbess began to led them in their vows.

Every Titan and every Banshee looked in awe at both Raemus and Akyra. More so than after their Shu’ri, now they were the spiritual and political leaders of their rebellion. Not because of their ranks or deeds of valor—but because all of them believed in the power of their love.

C
opyright
© 2016 by Rowan Bishop

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

A
lso
, everything in this book is fiction, and no character represents anyone living or dead. Because it’s about genetically-engineered soldiers. Which don’t exist. At all.