Three days left with my mate and most of that will be spent preparing. We'll stay here at the citadel until she leaves. It's the hardest thing I've ever done. We're lying in my big bed and I pull her closer, kissing her temple.

She sighs and wiggles until she's closer still. "I'm scared," she whispers.

I'm terrified. So many things could go wrong and the biggest is her Shadow Warrior status. If the Federation finds out about her, we're all screwed. The plan is to send ...