Ruffled Feathers (Once Upon a Harem Book 5)

by Stephanie West

  “Please, Cygne, tell us what happened.” Meir’s eyes were so sad.

  Cygne just shook her head. She couldn’t catch her breath. The adrenaline that was coursing through her was now making her sick and lightheaded. She was so traumatized by what just happened, she couldn’t even process it.

  “I’m going to kill Spicarre,” Tynan growled.

  Kaede held her as they flew back to the stadium. The cheering crowd was grating. She tucked her face further into Kaede’s neck as they joined the candidates and Velifico’s team on the stage, along with Nicht, the announcer, and the Matrons.

  “Here’s our winning candidate now, flushed from her hiding place by one team of hunters, right into the arms of another.” The crowd laughed at the announcer’s comment.

  Cygne frowned as the announcer declared Velifico the winner of that contest. She was hoping it wasn’t true. Besides the way they violated her, something wasn’t right about how they found her.

  “Congratulations, Cygne. Everyone has loved watching your creative approach to these contests. Come sit with the others to watch the next match,” Jovana requested, as Kaede still cradled her.

  Cygne just stared blankly at the Matron.

  “I will hold her. She’s upset,” he replied.

  “Velifico explained. She just got startled when they found her. You’ll be fine in a minute,” Jovana encouraged.

  Cygne stiffened up. That explained the announcer’s flippant comment. Everyone thought she was some high-strung capricious female, thanks to whatever Velifico told them.

  “I don’t think so,” Kaede rumbled.

  “What’s going on?” Nicht asked, as several other Matrons gathered around.

  “Kaede’s insisting on holding the candidate during the next match,” Jovana explained, clearly perturbed by Kaede’s refusal to comply.

  “This is unacceptable behavior. This female is not Gallina material, getting frightened at simple things,” Calesse growled. “Cygne, go sit with the others.”

  “Father, there is something wrong,” Kaede entreated his father.

  “What’s going on?” Nicht asked, his eyes were worried.

  She panned the concerned and aggravated faces of everyone surrounding her. Even if she could calm herself enough to tell them what happened, what would she say? Velifico was a practiced liar and had an answer for everything. Her broodmates would believe her, but the others wouldn’t. It was her word against Velifico’s.

  “Nothing’s wrong with her. Go sit, and let’s get on with this. Matrons, I hope you’re taking note of her fragility and their defiance, because we have much to deliberate.” Calesse dismissed them with a wave toward the balcony and an angry huff.

  It was obvious by the look on Nicht’s face that the situation was serious. Cygne knew she was causing problems with her fractured state. And she was getting her broodmates in trouble in the process, since they no longer cared to maintain the pretense of being aloof. But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t force herself to release Kaede.

  Kaede, Severin, Akiva and Meir headed to the balcony, while Tynan prepared to face off against Spicarre.

  “I know something happened, and I’m going to find out what those bastards did to her,” Kaede snarled as they took their seats.

  “We never should’ve subjected her to all this,” Severin retorted angrily.

  “What were our options?” Akiva countered bitterly.

  “We take Cygne, and leave all this shit behind,” Meir bit out as he gripped her hand.

  Cygne listened to her frustrated broodmates while attempting to calm her racing heart and pull her head together. She understood all too well why they were forced to do this. Their talk of abandoning the contest was distressing. Her broodmates needed to win this final match and break the tie. Even if the Matrons chose another female for them, her broodmates had to succeed. They couldn’t forfeit for her, no matter how much she wanted to be with them. Velifico couldn’t be allowed to rule the Legion, it would be disastrous.

  “Come together and bow,” the announcer bellowed, to the delight of the crowd.

  Tynan and Spicarre met in the center of the stage and bowed. Spicarre pulled a small scrap of fabric out of his waistband and handed it to Tynan. Cygne’s eyes widened when she realized those were the briefs the male cut off her. Tynan swung his fist with a loud roar, punching Spicarre in the jaw.

  “Dishonorable shot, Tynan,” the announcer yelled as he stepped between the males. “Are you all right, Spicarre?”

  “Aye,” Spicarre laughed as he spit blood.

  “There’ll be no more of that conduct. This will be an honorable match. Is that understood? You know the rules,” the announcer railed at Tynan, who looked absolutely livid, his breath coming out in snarling pants.

  “Has he lost his mind?” Kaede rumbled, not realizing what happened to make Tynan snap.

  This is my fault.

  The final contest hadn’t even started, and Tynan was already the loser in the eyes of the judges. The horn blared, and things got worse. Tynan was brutal with the way he leveled punches. As much as Spicarre deserved what he was getting, she couldn’t watch the bloody fight.

  This was all too much to handle. In a short span of time her life had been turned inside out. She’d gone from being deliriously happy one moment to dejected and horrified the next, then back again in nothing flat.

  “That’s it. Good shot,” Kaede bellowed in encouragement.

  “I wish I was down there,” Akiva growled.

  Cygne looked anywhere but at the stage after Tynan took a particularly nasty blow to the face. Just the bone cracking sounds made her cringe. A blue-haired male on Tynan’s side of the ring drew her attention. She barely caught his profile, as he stood amidst the people assigned to aid Tynan, but she was certain she recognized him. Cygne squinted against the sunlight, waiting for him to turn.

  The horn blared, ending the violent round, and the fighters separated. Someone handed Tynan a towel, and another cleaned up his split eyebrow. The blue-haired male passed Tynan a canteen of water. When he turned, she saw the male’s face.

  The poacher!

  A brief flash of red glinted off something the poacher slipped in his pocket. She was instantly reminded of all the chemical vials in the medical clinic. Her gaze swung toward Tynan as he lifted the canteen to his lips.

  “No!” Cygne screamed as she jumped off Kaede’s lap and leapt into the air. “Tynan, don’t drink that,” she shrieked in horror, the threat to her male instantly snapping her out of her stupor.

  Tynan looked up in shock, then set the canteen down with a confused frown, before flying toward her.

  “What is going on?” Kaede was instantly by her side along with a dozen others as she landed on the stage.

  “She’s clearly disturbed. Get her out of here,” Calesse barked.

  “No!” Cygne insisted adamantly. “I saw someone put something in Tynan’s water.”

  “The attendants probably did add a supplement to Tynan’s water,” Severin attempted to soothe her.

  “No. I recognized the person. He’s not a good male. He’s attempting to cheat you,” she tried to quickly explain.

  “This is outrageous! What are you suggesting, candidate?” Calesse sneered.

  Velifico loomed behind his mother. The glare in his eyes was murderous.

  “Someone grab the competitors’ canteens,” Nicht demanded.

  “It’s gone,” someone yelled.

  “He had blue hair.” Cygne looked around for the hunter but couldn’t find him in the crowd.

  “This is over till there can be an inquiry,” Belni announced.

  “We’re calling a halt to the competition because of the foolish prattle of one candidate?” Calesse argued.

  “Yes, because this is the perfect opportunity for our enemies to mount an attack on the House of Verum. Cygne stated she recognized the male and he was a threat. So, this stops, till we can find out what’s going on,” Belni said sternly
, pulling rank.

  17

  Judgment

  “My life will be the best illustration of all my work.” Hans Christian Andersen

  * * *

  Cygne found herself standing in an austere room with everyone’s eyes on her. The Matrons and Legion Drakes sat in judgment up front, their faces grim. She drew in several deep breaths, taking comfort that her broodmates were surrounding her.

  But for how long, now that everything has come to a head?

  “Cygne, who is it you believe you saw, and how do you know they are a threat?” Nicht asked again.

  Her gaze swung to Kaede’s father.

  “This is a complete waste of time,” Calesse huffed as she threw up her hands.

  It was a waste of time. She wasn’t comfortable saying anything in front of the very people behind this plot. Cygne didn’t need to glance over to know Velifico was staring. She could feel his gaze boring into her. But as much as the vile male freaked her out, she had to say something. Those males couldn’t be allowed to get away with all they’d done.

  “Cygne, it’ll be all right, just tell everyone what you saw.” Kaede squeezed her hand.

  Will it be all right? These people had scrutinized her every word and action from the moment she arrived. If they didn’t believe her, she’d lose everything. Please believe me. Cygne gripped Kaede’s hand tighter and looked straight at the Matrons.

  “Yesterday during first-meal, I overheard Velifico and Brutto discussing the poachers they sent into the preserve. They were there to assure he won the hunt,” she nervously began.

  “You go too far,” Calesse barked. “Do you seriously think we’re going to believe an unknown candidate claiming my son rigged a hunt he didn’t even win? Ridiculous!”

  “That’s because I hunted them down and released the game,” Cygne replied, attempting to remain calm.

  “This supposed plot is foolish enough, but you expect us to also believe you hunted these poachers down and foiled their plans? You?” Calesse laughed.

  Cygne looked at Calesse, then the others. It was tiring having other people hold her future in their hands—real tiring. She was done living her life that way. Cygne released Kaede’s hand and approached the Matrons.

  “You all have judged me from the moment I arrived. And I’ve been so worried about not being good enough, and losing the only thing that’s ever mattered, that I let it get to me. But one of you said I can’t lose something that truly belongs to me.” She glanced at her broodmates.

  “What does this have to do with your accusations?” Calesse interrupted.

  “I’m not done. But I am done seeking your approval,” she growled, her feathers bristling as her wings went rigid. “You want to know about my life—all of it. Well, I’ll tell you. I grew up thinking I was deformed, being ridiculed and abused. I was abducted then sold at an auction. Except the Braccio found me too vile to bid on. I was forced to live in a brothel, then fled when the dame attempted to force me to service her patrons.” Cygne bared her shameful past without regret of reprisal. She refused to hide who she was any longer. There was no reason to. None of it made her any less than any one of them.

  “I used to wonder what the point of a life like that was,” she continued confidently. “Well now I know. It made me strong. So, judge me all you want. Laugh at me all you want. That’s a reflection of you.” Cygne panned the Drakes and the Matrons, seeing a mix of shock and surprise light their otherwise stoic expressions. Apparently, they didn’t expect her to have a backbone. Too bad.

  “As you recall, I wasn’t with you in the coliseum during the broodmates’ hunt. That’s because I went into the preserve, covered myself in mud and hunted your poachers.” Cygne stared down Velifico, who scowled back. “If you question my ability to track them down, well, you saw me run your obstacle course, and witnessed how I hid. I’m an excellent hunter, and that’s just a fraction of what I’ve learned growing up amongst the Braccio.”

  “But my son found you today,” Calesse sneered.

  “Yes. But it’s amusing how Hissen couldn’t find me yesterday, then conveniently did today. Your son turned away, so the broadcast didn’t capture his broodmates consulting their data-pad, to find where I hid. You want proof they were cheating? I’m guessing a tracker is hidden somewhere in the clothes I’m wearing.” Cygne paused. She couldn’t bring herself to tell them what else happened in the woods, it was still too raw to voice. She shook her head and continued. “Then at the final match, I saw one of those poachers with Tynan’s canteen. If you have the physician check the clinic, I bet he’s missing a red vial that was there before Velifico’s visit yesterday.”

  “Enough of this,” Calesse stormed toward Cygne and got in her face. “You want to accuse my son and his broodmates, when you and Kaede’s brood have been conspiring from the moment you all arrived on this planet.”

  “What are you talking about?” Jovana demanded.

  “You didn’t think I’d figure out your trip took you to Braccio?” Calesse hollered at Kaede and his broodmates, then turned to the Drakes. “And you aided them in planting this castoff among the vetted candidates, subverting the will of this council. So, excuse me if I don’t believe your claims, Cygne.”

  “Is this so?” Belni asked.

  Cygne wasn’t surprised someone found out how she wound up on Olor. It was almost a relief now that the whole truth was out in the open. But it also meant this was the tipping point for her and her broodmates.

  Kaede joined Cygne. She cast him a grateful glance as he interlaced his fingers with hers. Cygne smiled when she felt the comforting presence of the others at her back.

  “It’s true, but do you blame me?” Kaede stood tall and proud as he spoke to the Matrons. “It wasn’t enough that you were forcing my hand into mating a female of your choosing. Why? I’m unsuitable to lead, because I’m male? Or maybe I’m frustrated that you couldn’t see by our service to the Legion that we’re infinitely more capable than my cousin and his brood.” Kaede gestured to his broodmates. “When we found Cygne, we knew she was meant to be ours. So please forgive me, but I don’t regret inserting her into your frivolous competition. Wait. That’s not entirely true. I regret that I subjected the female I love to this charade.”

  “You love me?” Cygne turned toward her broodmates, her mouth agape. She dreamt of being accepted, but she never imagined finding love. It always seemed an impossibility.

  “Don’t look so surprised, songbird,” Akiva husked.

  “What would the night be without its stars?” Kaede caressed Cygne’s cheek.

  “You admit your deceit, but we’re still supposed to believe these claims against my son?” Calesse roared, ruining the moment before Cygne could return their sentiment.

  “Believe what you want,” Kaede ignored his aunt, speaking to the other Matrons, who were silently watching this exchange. “We’ve attempted to serve our people the best we can. If that’s not enough for you, and you think you’re doing your duty to our people by making Velifico and his brood the next Legion Drakes, then by all means, go ahead. But regardless, we’re not giving Cygne up. That’s a price we’re unwilling to pay.”

  Kaede hooked Cygne around the waist, and possessively tugged her back against his chest. She was reeling from everything Kaede said. Not only did they love her, but they were risking their place among the Olor.

  Please see reason, she silently begged the Matrons. So much more than her happiness rode on their decision.

  “This has all been very enlightening.” Belni looked to her fellow Matrons, who nodded. “We’ve made our decision. Kaede, Akiva, Meir, Severin, and Tynan, despite this incident, you have lived up to our expectations. Then again, we expected nothing less.” Belni nodded in approval. “And as for you, Cygne, we’ve spoken to many of the people you’ve come in contact with since arriving on Olor. From what they tell us, you’ve expressed a level of kindness and compassion that will be important for a female in your position. Throughout the competiti
on, you’ve also demonstrated fortitude and aptitude under pressure. Although, given what we just learned, I think we sorely underestimated that quality in you. Cygne, we couldn’t hope for a better Gallina.”

  Does this mean what I think it means? She stared at Belni in shock, then looked to her broodmates, who also appeared stunned.

  “Wait. I didn’t agree to this. We didn’t finish the competition.” Calesse turned on her fellow Matrons. “You can’t seriously name this castoff as our Gallina! She lacks breeding and is entirely ignorant of our ways.”

  “Calesse, did you truly think we were going to be manipulated?” Belni turned her stern gaze toward Calesse. “That we’d name as our next Drake the fledgling you’ve coddled to the point of turning rotten? We don’t need proof of Velifico’s duplicity to believe what we’ve heard here today, but we’ll take Cygne up on her suggestion and look into the matter. As for Cygne’s breeding, if you bothered to look at the serum test I requested, you would’ve seen the answer for yourself. Actually, if you opened your eyes and considered anyone but yourself it would be plain as day.”

  Belni knows who my parents are? Cygne tilted her head in confusion, then gasped as it dawned on her. Her eyes were riveted to Belni’s pale hair and stark white wings. The similarities were striking.

  “My daughter and her broodmates were ambassadors for the quadrant of space not far from Braccio. Then one day, I didn’t get her regular communication.” Belni smiled kindly at Cygne, her eyes misting.

  Cygne didn’t know what to say. Her mouth opened, then closed again.

  “Well this explains why you’ve been her biggest proponent,” Calesse raged.

  “Get them out of here.” Belni waved the guards toward Calesse and Velifico. “Don’t leave the Atelier. You have much to answer for.”

  Svane and Vogel smiled and nodded at Cygne as they collected the irate Matron. She grinned back. No doubt they were two of the people who’d spoken up for her.

  “What was that about?” Kaede husked into her ear, sounding possessive, when he noticed her exchange with the guards.