by Jade Waltz
One by one, Selena hugged her cubs and said her goodbyes. Odelm could tell she was fighting back a sob. The corners of her eyes were wet, threatening to bathe her cheeks in tears.
Pavryn led them to the ship, and the twins bolted inside. When Meti stepped a foot on the ramp, she turned and ran back to Selena, leaping into her arms.
“I love you, Ma,” she whispered. “I will watch over my brothers, just bring back Da.”
Odelm felt Selena’s composure break as she wrapped her arms tightly around her daughter. They were two different species, but it didn’t matter. Odelm could clearly see their loving bond.
Thick tears fell down his nestqueen’s face as she sobbed into her daughter’s fur. Meti was just under half of her mother’s height, but their position on the ground as they held each other made her look taller. Selena’s daughter’s tail lazily curled around her mother’s ankle as she let her cry.
“Selena . . .” Kaede warned.
She pulled her face away and slowly released her daughter. “I love you, Meti. Remember that, okay?”
Meti smiled. “Always.”
“Okay, cub,” Masmi announced. “We need to get going. How about I show you my ship’s controls, and you can help me fly?”
“Really?” She beamed, jumping in place.
“Of course,” Masmi winked. “I’ll teach you before my brother can.”
“Okay!”
Odelm couldn’t fight it anymore. He had to touch his nestqueen, to comfort her, to soothe her. The miserable glow radiating from her was too extreme to ignore.
Tentatively, he joined Xylo in wrapping an arm around her back. When she didn’t resist and leaned her head against his side, he sighed in relief.
He’d always told her that he would take her burdens off her shoulders. He had failed to do so, and witnessing—feeling—the strength of her motherly instincts firsthand gutted him.
They watched in silence as Masmi followed Meti up the ramp and saluted the group before closing the hatch. A short while later, the cruiser took off.
Once it was a mere speck in the sky, Selena sighed. “I have an announcement to make, and I don’t want any arguments.”
“What is it now, Selena?” Kaede growled. “There isn’t much time left.”
Selena faced the Circuli princes, forcing Odelm and Xylo to turn with her. “I need you two to do me a favor.”
Z’fir shot Xylo a glance before replying, “Anything.”
“I need you two to remain here.” She raised her hand to silence their protests. “This isn’t up for debate. We all know that Destima is still in a fragile state. All of its leaders, besides Vagren, suddenly leaving for an indefinite amount of time won’t solve anything. The citizens are still adjusting, and there are still minor conflicts that need to be resolved. I’ve already recruited Oeta to aid you two in ruling in my absence. I think the position will suit her; while Xylo, the cubs, and I are gone, I assume most of her research will be on hiatus anyway.”
“But how can we protect you when we aren’t with you?” V’dim questioned. “No offense to my nestbrothers, but your Favored aren’t part of the Warrior class. How will they fight?”
“I’m not going to leave her side,” Kaede snapped. “She will be protected. I’ve got a dozen drones just waiting to zap someone, and if a fight breaks out, they can suicide-bomb the enemy.”
“I’d rather you refrain from judging my Favored the way you just did,” Selena hissed, lowering her hand. “I remember being told that even a Circuli civilian is armed with lethal venom. If I am attacked, I’m sure they will be able to subdue the culprit.” She turned to Xylo. “Am I right?”
He nodded as he stared down the princes. “I’m more than capable of defending our nestqueen. You know full well Selena is right, more so since we are bonded and our bodies naturally produce a more potent venom.”
“You may be right, Selena, but we don’t like it,” Z’fir voiced.
“But we will respect your wishes if this is truly what you want,” V’dim replied, turning toward Kaede. “You better not fail. We are counting on you and your drones.”
“Selena’s life is worth more than you will ever know.”
Chapter Twenty-One
Zirene
“You have failed me for the last time, son,” his sire’s deep voice boomed, staring directly at Royak beside him.
Zirene kept his head down, even though his pride clawed at him to snap back—to show this old male who was the strongest. Zirene didn’t want to take over the empire, or else he would have ended his sire’s life a long time ago. Now he and his brother had to deal with another lecture about siring cubs and expanding the empire through his grandsons.
“How have I failed you?” Royak asked. “I’ve done everything you have asked of me.”
“Everything but finding a Seedbearer,” the Sovereign growled. “What use are you to me if you can’t handle a simple task?”
“You still have many years in your prime before you have to step down. Why must I produce heirs now?” Royak replied. “Besides, Zirene sired three perfectly healthy cubs.”
The man who was, unfortunately, his sire chuckled, his deep laughter rolling through the throne room.
“Those abominations?” he snarled. “Zirene is lucky I don’t sell them to the highest bidder.”
Zirene growled, a low and deep rumble, as he raised his eyes to challenge his father. “You wouldn’t dare touch them.”
“Or what?” taunted the male who looked so much like Royak.
Though he looked older—more mature—and his fur was starting to whiten, and Royak hadn’t been gifted with their sire’s amethyst eyes, they could almost pass as the same male. Zirene’s coloring was darker than both of theirs.
“They have nothing to do with this, and you know it,” Zirene said, avoiding the question. He wasn’t the only one capable of playing mind games. “Other than the cubs we haven’t sired for you, what is it that you really want from this meeting? I don't know if you read my reports, but the Quaww have gotten bolder in testing our shared border, and I would like to return to supervise the battles.”
The Sovereign chuckled once more.
“Do you think I’m a fool, Zirene?” he mocked. “I asked for one thing, and you both have failed me. What use are you to me if you won’t plant your royal seed in a Seedbearer? I have been patient, but I’ll wait no longer. Zirene, you decided to take in some experiment and taint your seed—and our royal name—with such an abomination. You are a disgrace to this family, and now you must repent for your mistakes.”
Before he could open his mouth to respond, the chamber’s doors burst open, revealing his worst nightmare. He would have rather burned all the fur off his skin than face this reality.
Selena entered the room in all her glory, flanked by an angry Agent Kaede and her two Favored. Zirene hissed when he saw over two dozen Aldawi royal guards surrounding them with laser guns raised.
“What is this, father?” Zirene spat, standing. He refused to remain kneeling, submitting to a weaker male, now that his Nova was present. He was willing to entertain his father by suffering through his planned punishment, as long as his Nova and their clan were safe.
“I summoned them as soon as you were en route,” he purred. “You see, I wanted some insurance to make you two behave. Consider this a test of your loyalty, to see how much you’re willing to sacrifice.”
“What do you mean, father?” Royak asked, his flicking tail revealing his hidden annoyance.
“Are you willing to kill this Seedbearer and give up your cubs to find a new female and provide the royal line with true offspring? Should you refuse, you will be exiled from the royal family, and everyone I’ve summoned today will become an instant enemy of the empire.” He grinned. “Kill. On. Sight.”
“Be reasonable, father,” Royak begged. “What if you help me find a Seedbearer, and I provide you with however many cubs you want? Would you leave Zirene alone then?”
“He wo
uldn’t,” his Nova announced, instantly activating his protective instincts.
“Selena,” Kaede hissed, stepping closer to her. “Not now.”
“No, I’ve had it with him acting like I’m not here,” Selena snapped. “He clearly thinks I’m a worthless animal, but he wants me dead for no apparent reason other than getting impregnated by his prized son.”
“You corrupted him into the male he is,” he growled, standing.
Zirene stepped between his sire and Selena, trying to pull his attention away from her.
“But my cubs are the only heirs your sons have provided you,” Selena mocked. “Too bad I didn’t bring them with me. I knew you would be an ishing frax and try to hurt them.”
The Aldawi Sovereign took a few more steps forward until he stood chest-to-chest with Zirene.
“Move,” he barked, his thick dominant aura suffusing the room. His amethyst eyes widened when Zirene’s stance didn’t falter.
“No,” he growled. “You won’t touch Selena or her clan.”
“You are making a mistake, boy,” he hissed, leaning closer until their noses almost touched. “Move.”
A hand landed on his shoulder, and instantly he knew Royak had stepped beside him.
“No, father,” Royak replied mockingly. “I’m afraid you are wrong.”
Zirene could feel Royak’s aura crawl over his skin, nearly tangible but still weaker than his. Flicking his ears back, he heard multiple thuds and groans. He assumed the strength of their combined auras had knocked the guards to the ground, though he refused to break eye contact to check.
The older male’s eyes flicked behind him, widening slightly though a sinister grin spread on his face, teeth bared.
Zirene didn’t need to turn to know what his father was looking at. There were only three others within the room that would be able to stand against his aura.
In the blink of an eye, his sire disappeared, and a scream ripped through the chamber.
Spinning, he saw both Xylo and Odelm fall to the ground, stunned. Their appendages lay severed upon the floor, blood seeping out to surround them. His sire hissed as he held Selena by her hair, neck exposed.
“Xylo! Odelm!” she begged. “Please! Help them!”
Without thinking, Zirene shadowstepped behind his father and gripped the back of his mane, digging his claws into his sire’s neck. “Let her go,” he ordered, throwing the full force of his aura behind the command, not caring if it prevented Royak from approaching to help.
The fallen guards’ groans were barely audible over Selena’s screams. His sire had chosen a cheap and dishonorable move, shadowstepping between Selena and her Favored and mauling their backs to eliminate the threat their venom posed.
Now his Nova hung in the hands of the male he’d grown to hate but had been too much of a coward to face. If only he were Sovereign, he wouldn’t have needed to hide his clan, and none of this would have happened.
“Let. Her. Go,” he ordered once more, squeezing his sire’s neck tighter, his concern for Aldawi law long forgotten.
Shaking, his father’s hold on his Nova loosened ever so slowly, until his paws finally opened, freeing her from his grasp. She fell to the ground, slipping in her Favored’s blood as she dashed to their sides. She didn’t spare a glance for the blood smearing across the floor and her clothing.
“You have crossed an unforgivable line, Sovereign,” Zirene growled. “And it’s time you paid for that mistake.”
“What are you going to do?” he hissed, thrashing in his grip.
Zirene’s gaze met his brother’s, who nodded.
They had both known this day would come, though they had hoped for a less gruesome transfer of power. The Stars had led him to this moment, but no matter how many times he tried, he couldn’t force himself to take over . . . and put a larger target on Selena’s back.
“I declare a challenge to your rule. If I win, you shall grant Royak and me the freedom to choose our Seedbearers and future offspring. Since I have both, Selena and her clan shall receive immunity within the empire—no harm shall come to them.”
“And if I refuse?” his sire spat.
“You never refuse a challenge; that would be a sign of weakness and unfitness to rule,” Zirene mocked. “I will withdraw my challenge to your precious title as long as you leave my Seedbearer’s clan and me out of your schemes.”
“I accept your challenge,” he growled. “Now drop your aura and release me at once. I can’t wait to put you in your place.”
“You first,” Zirene demanded, jerking his hold.
Zirene felt his sire’s aura fade to its dormant state, and Royak’s soon followed before he reeled his own in. When the auras receded from the room, the royal guards stood slowly.
“Kaede, port Selena to my ship in the hangar,” he ordered, refusing to loosen his hold on his sire until he knew his Nova was safe. “Then return with the infirmary’s medical staff.”
“No!” Selena shouted, holding both of her nestmates' heads on her lap and combing their hair with her hands. “I am not leaving their sides.”
“Selena,” Kaede snapped. “They won’t survive if you don’t listen. We must get you to safety, for the benefit of both Prince Zirene and your Favored.”
“But—”
“No, nestqueen,” Xylo begged as he tried to cup her face, his weakened arm flopping to the ground. “We will survive as long as we can regenerate, but we will rest easier knowing that you are safe. Please listen to Kaede—you promised.”
Zirene saw her resolve slip as she wiped her eyes and nodded. “Fine, but only because you want me to.”
Leaning over, she kissed them both on the lips before carefully lowering each of their heads to the floor. Standing, she stared at her hands and ruined clothes, taking in a shuddering breath.
“Okay, Kaede. Lead on.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
Selena
I felt my heart shatter with every step I took away from my nestmates.
When I gripped Kaede’s offered hand, he wrapped his cape around me. A moment later, I blinked as I heard a pop, and we landed outside a ship similar to Masmi’s.
Kaede pressed his hand upon the side panel, lowering the ramp as he led me inside. We passed the storage bay and went down the hall, passing some rooms until we came upon the room at the end. The door automatically opened, revealing a basic cabin with a lavatory.
“Wash up and get dressed in fresh clothes,” Kaede ordered. “By the time you’re done and you’ve taken a nap, hopefully, we will be on our way.”
“How am I supposed to take a nap while Zirene is fighting his deranged sire and my Favored are slowly dying?” I demanded. “You’re asking for the impossible.”
“I don’t have time to argue with you,” Kaede snapped, already retreating away from me. “If you care about your nestmates, then let me go and get them help.”
“Okay,” I muttered, closing my eyes.
The familiar snap sounded before I opened them again.
I sat down on the corner of the small bed and dropped my face in my hands to cry. The tears never came.
My loved ones had suffered so much just because they were a part of my life. When would I get the chance to just enjoy myself with ones I loved? Had Kaede been right after all? Had his prophecy come true?
Was I truly a black hole, drawing my loved ones closer only to throw them in the way of danger and harm?
The image of Zirene’s sire shadowstepping in slow motion between Xylo and Odelm, slicing off their appendages with two quick swipes of his claws, their blood splattering all over me, would forever give me nightmares.
What if they never regenerated their limbs? How would they function?
Xylo would have a slightly easier time adjusting than Odelm, who depended on his appendages to play all his unique instruments.
Worst of all, if they lost their appendages forever, they would no longer be known for their unique coloring—they would be judged among the Circu
li for their handicap. The thought haunted me.
Staring down at my hands, I felt the need to clean off their green and blue blood so I could start healing from my trauma.
I refused to look in the mirror, afraid to see how I had fared as I stripped off my ruined clothes, leaving only the necklace upon my collarbone. I turned on the water before climbing into the shower, only to collapse onto the floor tiles. Laying my head against the cool metallic wall, I let the spray beat down on my skin.
I couldn’t feel my connections with my nestmates on Destima, and I was too afraid to try to reach out to Oeta, just in case I got intercepted by my stalker, Xenak. I wasn’t in the mood to deal with another incident today. I had already gone through a rollercoaster of emotions through today’s events—Zirene leaving, Odelm rejecting my Second position, being summoned, giving my cubs to Masmi, and now my mates were fighting for their lives.
Had I made the wrong decision, leaving my Circuli princes behind? If they had been here, we would have had two more warriors in the throne room to protect my Favored from the Aldawi Sovereign.
I just wanted to leave this palace.
Our mere arrival had caused too much stress for one day. The ship’s guards had pushed us off their flagship, where more guards waited in the hangar bay into rush us to the throne room.
Lost in my sorrowful thoughts, I didn’t hear someone enter the room until it was too late. A gasp escaped my lips as something sharp stabbed my neck, knocking me into darkness.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Zirene
After many years of oppression by his father, he was finally ready to put him in his place. His Nova—while upset and hurting—was safe in his ship where she belonged, and he’d commanded Kaede to make sure her Favored were taken care of.
