by Regine Abel
He turned to look at his mother whose skin had regained its healthy, golden glow. Theanna’s cheeks were fuller, her eyes no longer sunken in, and her hair appeared more voluminous and shinier. All signs of pain and suffering had left the Omniate’s features. She gazed upon my granddaughter as if the Goddess herself was standing before her.
“For this miracle, I gladly risked everything. In these troubled times, Korlethea needs her. You both know it,” Victus said, looking at Xevius and me in turn.
“The override?” Xevius asked. “That was you?”
Victus nodded again, looking sheepish. “I needed to make sure you didn’t first go to the Agency. You would have been condemned before ever facing the Quorum. I realize now it was because of the roots.”
“He almost died!” Kamala exclaimed, taking a step towards Victus. “He would have died had I not been on that ship!”
“But he didn’t!” Victus said, raising his chin defiantly. “The vision—”
“FUCK THE VISION!” Kamala shouted, throwing her hands up. “You people are such slaves to those visions and prophecies that you gamble with other people’s lives on the off-chance your wishes will come true.”
“Kamala…” Xevius said in an appeasing tone as he placed a soothing hand on her arm.
“Don’t Kamala me!” she snapped, yanking her arm free. “I almost didn’t get on that damn ship. What would you have said then when the hull breach tore the vessel apart and murdered my soulmate? Oops, wrong outcome. My bad?”
“It would have been Fate,” Victus said.
“Argh! Did it ever cross your mind that instead of being the antisocial jerks you’ve become since your damn Titans War, your mother could have simply taken a three-day shuttle trip to Xelix Prime, requested an audience with Khel Praghan, and asked if his daughter could heal a dying Korlethean Omniate?”
Victus blinked and stared at her speechless.
“If you weren’t paralyzed right now, I’d beat you to a pulp and knock some sense into that airhead of yours!” she snarled before turning her back to him.
Xevius carefully drew Kamala into his embrace, and she held on to him with the energy of despair, still shaken from having watched him die. Witnessing that exchange finally cemented the doubts that had been growing in my heart and soul over decades of slavery and then years of exile. Korlethea had lost its way in the time leading to the Titans War and never found its way back. Our obsession with manipulating the future had made us forget our true role as the guardians of Fate.
“There. You will never have that pain again,” said Zharina in her sweet, childish voice.
“Why?” Theanna asked. “Why did you heal me?”
Zharina tilted her head, giving her a puzzled look. “Because I can,” she said as if it were self-evident. “Why let you suffer when I have the power to take it away?”
Xevius snorted and shook his head. “You saved her even knowing she sent me to kill you and your brothers?”
“She saved her because it is the right thing to do,” Vahleryon said, extending a hand towards his sister. Zharina cast a final glance at Theanna then joined her brother, taking his hand. “Daddy taught us that with great power comes great responsibility. That a good man doesn’t use his greater power to mistreat those who are weaker. I could kill you all for hurting Uncle Xevius and for making Aunt Kamala cry. One thought, and I could kill you all. I want to. The angry animal inside me wants to.”
Zharina looked at her big brother and smiled. He smiled back and poked his finger into one of her dimples—a sign of affection he always displayed with his Gem and twin, who both had inherited the dimples from their sire, Lhor.
“But I won’t. Because I’m not an animal. We are not monsters,” Vahleryon said, making eye contact with each of the Omniates still on their knees before us. “Grappa told us we had a choice between becoming the saviors of the galaxy or become animals. We chose not to become animals. And it was hard because I was angry. So angry. I always wanted to hurt my Daddy. MY DADDY!” he repeated forcefully, slapping his chest with his fist.
Tears pricked his eyes, and he scrunched his face trying to control his emotions. My throat tightened remembering how devastated and ashamed he’d felt all the times his predatory instincts had urged him to eliminate the alpha threat that his fathers, Ghan, Sohr and so many of the First Division’s soldiers represented to him.
Zharina kissed his cheek and caressed his shoulder, sending him some of her Kaa. Rhadames freed himself of my embrace and went to his brother, also showering him with soothing waves. He took his hand, and both boys exchanged an affectionate look before Vahleryon turned his attention back to the Quorum.
“But Grappa saved me. Grappa taught me peace so that I don’t hurt the people I love. Grappa showed me Kaa. Anger doesn’t control me anymore, I control it,” Vahleryon said with pride.
My heart swelled, not only at this acknowledgement, but at witnessing how far my grandson had come from that first day he almost killed me.
“You are the monsters. Not us. You could have helped us. Instead, you try to hurt us because you’re afraid. Well, we are not afraid,” Vahleryon said. “And we're not going to let your fears make us monsters. If you’re not going to help us, then stay away. Because we have chosen to be great warriors, with or without you. And we will bring peace to everyone in the galaxy… Even you.”
A heavy silence settled over the room while they stared at the Great General. Xevius had wanted to record the boy, unrehearsed. This couldn’t have played out better had it been orchestrated. No word could describe the pride I felt in that instant. Anyone with eyes could see the wind had shifted and would blow throughout Korlethea with the media still broadcasting this session. Hard times lay ahead for my home world, but the much-needed seed of change had been sown.
“Let’s go home,” Vahleryon said softly to his Gem.
Rhadames nodded, and Zharina lay her hands on him to further heal the residual strain he’d sustained teleporting the four of us so far from home.
“Aunt Kamala, Uncle Xevius,” Vahleryon said, gesturing for them to come. Xevius removed his Imperial Agent insignia and threw it to the floor then, his arm wrapped around his woman, they approached, and each took one of Rhadames’s hands. “You, too, Grappa.”
“I can’t—”
“It’s okay,” Vahleryon said, interrupting me. “They can’t hurt us.”
I hesitated and almost argued. But with so many eyes watching, any display of a lack of trust would undermine him, even though it was concern for their welfare that fed my reluctance. Silencing my misgivings, I placed my hand on his younger brother’s forearm, earning me a grateful smile. I realized then that whatever my people thought was irrelevant; letting Vahleryon know I trusted him was all that truly mattered.
The falling sensation swept over me again. Seconds later, Kamala, Xevius, and I were standing in the backyard of the Praghan’s residence, only meters from the location where the children had confronted Xevius. Heart pounding, my anxiety rose with each second the children didn’t appear. The alarm sounded, the upgraded security system since Xevius’s trespass having detected the presence of a Korlethean other than me on the premises.
“They’ll return,” Kamala said with conviction. “She’s healing Rhad before they travel. This has to be greatly taxing him.”
As if in answer to her comment, the three children appeared before us, safe and sound, with Rhadames looking on the verge of exhaustion. As I caught him in my arms, a contingent of First Division Warriors came running in with a very enraged Khel leading them.
CHAPTER 16
Kamala
“So… Khel didn’t kill your mate, after all,” Aleina said teasingly, sitting in the comfortable chair next to mine. We were waiting inside the Situation Room of Khel’s military compound for him, Ghan, and Lhor to arrive for our meeting.
“Not for lack of trying,” I said with a chuckle. “The children got in his way, and when he started plucking them away, Vahl para
lyzed him with his power.” Aleina burst out laughing, and I joined in her hilarity. “You should have seen Khel’s face. It was beyond priceless.”
“I can imagine,” Aleina said, caressing the small bump of her belly. “What did he say?”
“He obviously demanded his son release him at once, but Vahl said they couldn’t let him hurt his uncle,” I said, rocking my crossed leg back and forth. “To which my darling mate said: ‘I know you’re upset with me, General. But considering I died a few minutes ago, and your lovely daughter just brought me back, I’d rather not repeat the experience today… or anytime soon.’”
Aleina laughed again and shook her head. “Smart ass,” she muttered, amused.
“You have no idea,” I said, rolling my eyes with pretend despair.
An expectant silence settled between us. Aleina looked at me with that soft, peaceful gaze she’d acquired since becoming a mother and shedding the mantle of Admiral Lee. My chest constricted, all mirth fading away.
“I watched him die, Lee,” I whispered, the trauma from yesterday still burning deep inside me. “I held him as he bled out before me, and my power was too slow. I barely know him, and yet…”
“And yet, you love him,” Aleina finished for me when my voice trailed off.
I looked at her, feeling haunted, tears pricking my eyes. “My heart was being torn right out of my chest. My blood had turned to acid. I couldn’t breathe…” I inhaled deeply to settle my frayed emotions. “He knew. I understand why he didn’t tell me. I probably would have done the same, but… I feel so angry… so betrayed…”
“Anger is normal,” Aleina said in a soothing voice. “Especially during your season. Remember how I greeted Mercy during mine?”
I snorted, recalling how vicious she’d been. “I’m crazy about him. He sacrificed a lot to do the right thing, and I want to believe it’s to be with me. But his culture is so messed up. How are we going to make this work? I don’t even understand how their society manages to function the way they manipulate visions and bow to prophecies. This is not how I want to live my life or raise my children.”
“And you won’t have to,” Aleina said calmly. “Xevius is banished from Korlethea. He will now live among us and adapt to our ways the same way Eryon did.”
“I can’t demand for him to abandon his culture and beliefs just because I don’t approve of them,” I said, shaking my head. “Eryon isn’t as hardcore in his beliefs as Xevius is.”
Aleina chuckled and also shook her head. “Oh, sweetheart, Eryon is a far more hardcore Korlethean than your mate. He just puts his family above his people and customs. Your mate is militarily trained to follow and uphold the rules of his people. He does it out of duty and honor, not out of conviction. I know a soldier who has lost his flame when I see one. He needs you to give him a new purpose and make him understand it is okay to follow his conscience and his heart.”
“How are you so sure?” I asked, once more awed by my big sister’s ability to always see things so clearly.
“He spared our sister when all the other Korletheans in the compound had called for her death. He spared our children when his people all but demanded he kills them. He spared Eryon despite having two cases of ‘treason’ to lay at his feet,” Aleina said with conviction. Leaning over the table, she took my hand in hers. “But the day he sent those two shipments of vryer roots to Lhor erased any doubts I had. Xevius had broken rank even before he’d left his home world to come here. Meeting you, the children, and whatever other business drove him to leave his first safe house sealed the deal.”
Once more, I felt so incompetent compared to my sister. She, like Khel—and in many ways Ghan as well—had a way of seeing things others didn’t, parsing through them and organizing them in a clear, structured way that showed patterns and deeper meanings.
“I can never live up to you,” I blurted out, instantly kicking myself for it.
Aleina’s eyes filled with compassion, and I suddenly felt like the little girl I’d been, following her around like a puppy.
“It’s that painful for you?” she asked in a commiserating tone.
“I’m overwhelmed,” I admitted, my throat constricting. “I don’t want to let anyone down but… I can’t do what you do… what you did. I’m not that type of a leader. Every day, this report and that report makes me realize so much slipped my notice. And even once I’m aware, I don’t know what to do with it. The truth is, I’ve been relying on Khel… a lot. And don’t think I haven’t noticed how you’ve been hinting at the things I missed or picking up after me. I’m failing miserably.”
“You’re not failing Kamala. You—”
“I am failing, Aleina. Compared to you, I. Am,” I countered forcefully. “I hate it. I’m sorry, but I truly hate it. Not a day goes by that I don’t wish we could go back to how things were. It’s not fair to you and your family, but I do. Just like Ghan, I do not wish to be the one in charge. We are First Officers by choice, because we excel at making a great leader shine, and at poking holes at your grandmaster plans. But I suck at coming up with those plans. My brain doesn’t work that way.”
“What are you saying?” Aleina asked softly.
“I’m saying that I will do my duty for the welfare of our Sisters and of our children, but we need to find a better person than me.”
“Who?”
I snorted and squeezed my sister’s hand. “I would love to say you but retiring Admiral Lee has done wonders for you. Who would have thought such a soft, maternal female lurked beneath that sarcastic, obnoxious cyborg?”
Aleina chuckled. “I miss incarnating that cocky bastard. It was fun,” she said, her eyes taking on a faraway look as she reminisced before refocusing on me. “You are doing far better than you think. In truth, far better than I expected.”
“Sheesh!” I said, giving her a disbelieving look. “Thanks for the high level of confidence!”
“I know you, Kamala. I knew this wasn’t for you, but I also knew you would step up when we needed you the most. And you have.” Her thumb caressed my knuckles, and she gazed upon me with such affection and pride that my chest constricted again. “We need you to carry that burden a while longer. Relief will come. We’re all in this together. In the meantime, it’s okay to ask for help. Don’t be like I was and try to do it all by yourself.”
I snorted. “Not a chance. You were quite literally a machine. I’m still not sure you aren’t one,” I said with a mocking face.
We prattled on for a few minutes longer before the boys finally made their appearance. Khel still had his brooding face on, which made me chuckle again. He glared at me, but I knew him well enough to know there was no real anger there, just a lot of worry. His perfect world had been turned upside down lately—all of our lives had been—and his protective instincts were clawing at him to keep his children and loved ones safe.
I understood that all too well.
He settled across the table from us with Lhor by his side. Ghan sat next to his mate, holding her hand. It still filled me with wonder to see this grumpy mountain of a man turn into a puddle whenever he was in the presence of my sister.
“If I may, I’ll open this meeting with some news,” Lhor said, an unreadable expression on his face. He turned his stunningly beautiful face towards me, a mischievous glimmer in his eyes. “On the day after your mate paid a visit to President Frebhin, his assistant of nearly ten years, Seha Chana Bremhin, suddenly handed in her resignation. Citing family emergency, she requested the permission to leave by the week’s end, effectively giving only two days’ notice.”
“What?” Khel asked, casting a suspicious glance towards me that I didn’t appreciate one bit. “What did he do to her?”
Lhor smiled at his Gem with that enigmatic expression that once used to make me weak in the knees. It was refreshing to be able to look at him and admire his beauty without feeling guilty about my crush on him. I didn’t think any other man could ever stir me again now that I had found my Xevius.
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br /> “To her or for us?” Lhor asked with a knowing smile that threw us all.
“What do you mean?” Ghan asked.
“We all found that departure rather suspicious,” Lhor explained. “So, I did a bit of a background check and discovered some well-hidden discrepancies, which led me to more discrepancies and inaccurate data in her files. I had to use some not fully legal means, and with the aid of Amalia, we were able to tap into Seha Bremhin’s original medical records. Contrary to her personnel file, she is not the orphan daughter of farmers from the Xelhin District, but the daughter of a Xelixian and a Korlethean.”
“What?!” I exclaimed, echoed by the others around the table.
Lhor nodded, a smug expression on his face. “Further to that discovery, we dusted the President’s office for more samples of her DNA to double-check that she was indeed a hybrid. And was confirmed. President Frebhin is livid. Being Korlethean isn’t a crime, but that she went to such lengths to hide it implies corrupt intents.”
“Has she been apprehended for questioning?” Khel asked.
Lhor shook his head with a disappointed expression. “Unfortunately, she left the planet on her last day of employment. Frebhin is having his office inspected for bugs, and his computers tested for viruses.”
“Gharah’s teeth,” Ghan whispered, “could she be the traitor?”
“My thoughts exactly,” Khel said.
“Traitor?” I asked, looking as confused as my sister.
“Since Amalia’s arrival on Xelix Prime, and the whole time we were trying to dismantle the Blood Houses, highly sensitive information that only the First Division and the Council knew about kept getting leaked,” Ghan explained. “Varrek almost always knew of our raids, except for the few times we kept everything quiet until the very last second.”
“Moreover, there are indications that she was somehow involved with the anti-Veredian propaganda,” Lhor added.
