Chapter 29
29
Kaede
“ K aede…Kaede…Kaede…”
Kaede heard his name chanted, as light as a breeze—a whisper that reached his ears like a secret.
Growling, he stood, hating to be interrupted from his task, but there had to be a reason why he was being summoned at such a late hour. Without hesitation, he abandoned his captain’s chair in his Abyss , leaving his Oetsae team behind to continue their work. He materialized in the backyard of the Beacon’s suite.
“Z?” Kaede asked, his eyes scanning the yard for anything amiss, until he found Z standing near the railing, gazing into the distance. “What’s wrong? The clan and the cubs are asleep. Euouae has been in constant contact with REI, and Selena and our unborn daughter are healthy. Selena’s stress levels are slightly elevated—but whose aren’t?” He laughed softly. “V’dim and Z’fir have her, and the three of them are sleeping peacefully in each other’s embrace.”
With a long sigh, Z leaned against the railing, overlooking the sprawling desert city below. The Aldawi leader’s usually confident expression was now replaced with a somber, contemplative one as he surveyed his kingdom. His tail lay still, except for a slight flick of its tip.
Kaede followed Z’s gaze, wondering what the silent male was looking at—what was he missing?
The landscape below was a breathtaking sight. The desert city glowed in the darkness, canopies and sidewalks lined with lights. The city seemed like a gem, an elegant carved art piece sticking out from the endless sand surrounding it.
Z turned, his gaze somber. “I need you to be honest with me, Kaede.”
Kaede chuckled and shot him a sly grin. “When am I not honest? That’s my specialty.”
“Do you think I can truly repair the damage my ancestors caused?” Z asked, his voice barely above a whisper as his gaze fixated on some distant point beyond Kaede’s shoulder. “Or will I keep facing resistance?”
Kaede’s gaze softened. “Being open about our clan’s structure was the right thing to do. You have two strong allies in your siblings who will support your rule no matter what. But until things settle, I wouldn’t declare that Selena is your Nova. Bringing Shadow-Nova bonds back to the empire will be your greatest act as Sovereign. Once you demonstrate that it’s safe to bond again, you will win the females over for sure, proving you truly mean to unite the empire.”
With a nod, Z met his eyes. “I agree,” Z muttered. “I know revealing my bond with Selena would win them over, but I don’t believe it’s safe yet—not when we’re about to take in those refugees, and I may need to teach the Quaww a lesson soon. Plus, what the Stars warned us about.” He glanced at the cityscape once more, his eyes heavy with the weight of leadership. “It can’t be easy, right?”
Kaede squeezed his shoulder, his grip firm and reassuring. “Easy would be boring.”
Z laughed halfheartedly, the sound echoing in the night, and shook his head. “Maybe boring wouldn’t be that bad. We could rest, raise our children, and not worry about a target on our backs.”
The fantasy was appealing, though it felt out of reach. Here he was, no longer a mere royal guard, but mated to and siring a daughter with the very female who had forever altered his life—Selena.
Every fiber of his being longed to savor life by her side, but a haunting feeling of impending danger kept him on constant edge. He knew he had to maintain an unwavering guard, lest he slip and allow the darkness that lurked around her to close in.
He was still trying to figure out whether she was a star waiting to complete her own constellation, or a black hole—a supernova—pulling their clan into danger from the trouble that always surrounded her, waiting for a weakness to hurt someone she loves.
Whatever the Fates had planned for her, it must be grand, for everyone that she’d gathered around her.
Her ambassadors, their clanbrothers’ Fathers, his sisters and their mates, and even the Head Chamber Master—everyone of them were near to show their support.
But why? It's been less than a year since they'd found her in that emergency vessel. Since then, Selena had developing into the very female she was while achieving so much. Regardless of his failures, he knew all she needed was some time to reboot and compile herself, and she would return to path she was on before she was kidnapped, as long as they didn't make anymore errors in the near future.
“If things were boring, I’d have more time to make my gadgets,” Kaede said wistfully, a smile tugging at his lips. “And put a smile on Selena’s face.”
Z’s gaze softened, his own smile mirroring Kaede’s. “That’s all I want—to make her happy and safe.”
“But this isn’t the reason you called for me, is it?” Kaede leaned his back against the railing, his arms crossed over his chest and his gaze fixed on the troubled man in front of him.
Z shook his head and then glanced at the ornate double doors that led to their clan’s nestbed, where the rest of their clan slept. His brow furrowed with doubt. “Am I doing the right thing by denying a mental bond with Selena?”
Kaede studied the male before him, who’d rescued him and his sisters, who’d ruled with a lethal paw but was fair and righteous. Though he didn’t agree with how Z had navigated his relationship with Selena, he knew Z’s intentions were genuine, even if his actions had been flawed and misguided.
Z had faced immense pressure from the late Sovereign and spent years battling the Yarrkins, only to be left with the task of clearing the Aldawi territory.
All the while, he had searched for a female trapped somewhere on a lost research vessel, hoping to reach her in time and complete their cosmic connection.
They had almost lost her…if not for her own drive to escape and survive.
Adapting and surviving was something she’d always excelled at.
“It’s not my place to sway you,” Kaede replied carefully. “It is a very intimate bond, and irreversible once forged…at least that’s what I’ve been told.” He shrugged slightly. “While I can’t understand how your dreamscape or your Shadow-Nova connection works, I do know that the experience is indescribable.”
Kaede tilted his head to look at his gloved hands, the black fabric standing out against the vibrant city lights below. He clenched and unclenched his fingers, searching for the right words to say.
“I can hear her loud thoughts, feel her heightened emotions, and almost instinctively sense her state—much better than when I had to rely only on reading her body language. That’s what always frustrated me about her relations with our Circuli clanbrothers. They were able to experience a more intimate side of Selena—a connection that was natural for them but something I could never have until now,” he explained softly, then licked his fangs. “And because of our new bond, whenever we make love, the give and take sensation…” Kaede raised a hand, curled it into a fist, and closed his eyes, recalling the experience. “We truly become one.”
Z let out a heavy exhale, his body sagging as his head drooped forward, and his shoulders dropped in defeat as he slowly nodded in agreement. “That’s what I worry about…becoming one.”
Kaede stepped closer, staring intently as he tilted his head, wondering why Z didn’t want to deepen their already intimate bond. For him, it was a dream come true. An intimate cosmic connection with the female he’d become obsessed with and had sworn to protect until the Stars took him.
“Why does that worry you? Becoming one with her is not losing yourself.” He pressed a fist to the Aldawi Sovereign’s chest, over his heart, and nudged him gently. “It’s sharing a part of you that you already gave her in other ways. If anything, it would make your Shadow-Nova bond stronger and reduce the opportunity for someone to challenge either of you.”
Z’s eyes flickered with doubt, something that only happened to the confident male when the subject was his Nova. “What if I lose control? What if my darker impulses—my shadow— overwhelms her?” He frowned and peered down at Kaede’s fist still pressed over his heart. “What if I hurt her—once more?”
Hissing, Kaede shoved his feline clanbrother’s chest. “Selena is stronger than you give her credit for—you always doubt her at times like these.” He thrust his hand in the direction of their sleeping clan and stepped closer, nose to nose with his Sovereign. “She’s already faced more than most could endure. She’s adapted, survived, and thrived. She can handle your shadows, Z. She’s already embraced them along with the rest of you—so what’s stopping you?”
Z’s ears flicked back as his gaze swept across the city, the lights reflecting in his dark gaze. His expression would’ve been unreadable, but Kaede knew the male was hurting—his pride and status prevented him from admitting it.
Aldawi hated showing weakness—and Selena was his. Once word spread wide that she was more than his Beacon…Kaede refused to think about what other paths may be laid out for them by the Stars.
“I fear what would become of me if our minds were linked so intimately. If, Stars forbid, there was another kidnapping attempt—or worse, if someone killed her—how would I be able to live on? How would anyone in the clan be able to live on?” He sighed deeply and shook his head. “Our Circuli clanbrothers would soon wither away, since they’re biologically, mentally, and perhaps even spiritually connected to her. That would leave just the two of us—and someone has to remain behind to care for our children.” Z’s voice trembled slightly—Kaede wouldn’t have noticed if he hadn’t spent eight years by his side. “If her being kidnapped for those few months made me feral, made me spiral unchecked…how would it affect me if we were so intimately connected? Would I instantly snap?”
Kaede placed a hand on Z’s shoulder, squeezing it reassuringly. “I’ll speak with Masmi in private about Shadow- Nova connections. Maybe there’s some hidden archives here—or maybe she knows someone who can tell us more. If anyone can help, it would be her.”
“Thank you, Kaede.” He spun around and faced the ornate doors, pressing his back against the railing. With a deep sigh, he crossed his arms over his chest and watched the doors intently, as if he could see their clan sleeping on their nestbed through their elegant stained-glass design. “It’s just…the thought of losing her, feeling every moment of her pain…It terrifies me. I know I’ve probably hurt her by declining the offer, but until I know that our children’s future will be secure, I can’t take the chance—no matter how much I want to…how much I crave to experience the bond the rest of the clan has with her.”
Kaede nodded, understanding the depth of Z’s dreams and fears. “We won’t let anything bad happen. We’re all here to protect her and each other. You don’t have to bear this burden alone, you know.”
Z turned to face Kaede, his lips curved into a small smile. “I know,” he said with a sigh. “It’s just…tough. Always feeling like I have to be the one to take care of everyone. Especially for her.”
Z’s words echoed Kaede’s own.
Often, he wondered if he was capable of being everything Selena needed.
Was he strong enough? Wise enough? Compassionate enough?
Doubts and insecurities had often flooded his mind, and he found himself questioning every decision he had ever made—until Selena had claimed him in the most intimate way possible.
What Selena had given him was the key to his confidence in himself, his ability to protect her, and his relationship with her—his star.
“You don’t have to be everything, Z,” Kaede urged, sighing as he combed his long hair back, feeling slightly embarrassed about discussing feelings with a male as stoic as himself. “Just be there for her. Love her, support her, and trust in the strength of your relationship. With time, things will fall into place and you’ll feel confident enough to solidify your bond fully.”
“Time is something we do not possess,” Z murmured, frustration creeping into his voice as he glanced down at his open paws. “But alas, the Fates are testing me—testing us.”
“Speaking of tests…Zyxel brought something to my attention,” Kaede said, his sharp eyes meeting his. “There is something I must discuss with you.”
Z squared his shoulders and lifted his chin, muscles tense as he scanned the horizon. “What is it?”
“Zyxel believes he has discovered what species’ DNA was spliced into Selena’s genome,” Kaede explained. “He claims to know the specific genes she carries.”
Z crossed his arms, an eyebrow raised in surprise at the news. “Did I interrupt your interrogation for this?”
“Unfortunately, I let Zyxel walk free.” Kaede’s lips twitched into a humorless smile. “We both know if I had it my way, the male would be de-scaled right now and trapped in the basement dungeon for what he’s done and the information he keeps hiding. But the last thing I want is to upset Selena.”
Z frowned, his amusement faded into curiosity. “What does he want in exchange for this information?”
“He’s requesting permission to access Selena’s files,” Kaede growled, enabling his psydagger and swiping the air in frustration.
Z’s gaze darted back and forth between Kaede and the door. “And what else?”
“We both know he desires an opportunity to court her,” Kaede spat, pointing his psydagger in the direction of the serpent male’s room. “But he only asked that, if he’s correct, he gets to be the one to reveal the truth to her.”
Z’s jaw tightened. His gaze sharpened, suspicion evident in his narrowed eyes. “Fetch the male. I want to witness his reaction when I make my verdict.”
“With pleasure.”
Kaede twirled his psydagger in a swift, fluid motion before deactivating it with a flick of his wrist. Bowing deeply, he grinned mischievously and disappeared as the shadows enveloped him.
The teleportation was instant. The glowing brightness of the night desert cityscape vanished, replaced by a dark room. Zyxel slept curled up in the corner, arms crossed, leaning against a pillow wall. His eyes snapped open just as Kaede gripped him, but before the serpent could strike, Kaede teleported them back outside.
“What was that?” Zyxel gasped.
Kaede released him, backing away from the thrashing crimson Ezzaska.
“Calm down.” Kaede quickly reached for the cloaking construct device on his belt and threw it onto the grass with a swift motion. The dark silver sphere landed with a flash and expanded, encasing them in a shimmery half-dome field that cut them off from the rest of the world. “There. Now we have privacy for this highly sensitive conversation.”
Zyxel quickly regained his composure, his eyes darting between Kaede and Z.
“Thank you, Agent.” Z gave Kaede a firm nod before turning his attention to the medic, his voice cold and commanding. “Zyxel, I’ve heard you have information about my Beacon’s genome. Speak.”
Zyxel’s jaw clenched, and his eyes narrowed into slits as he glared at Kaede. His entire body tensed with defiance. “We could have talked about this differently,” he muttered under his breath.
Slowly, he bowed in the direction of Z, his attitude pushed aside as he paid his respects to the Aldawi Sovereign. “I noticed Selena’s cubs look like pure Aldawi—”
Z hissed at Zyxel, his eyes narrowed into slits as his dark aura pulsated around him. “My cubs are Aldawi, descendants of my royal bloodline. Do not question their purity.”
Zyxel stood firm, his jaw set in defiance. “If Selena is indeed their mother, then they cannot be pure Aldawi. It’s simply not possible.”
Kaede felt the power of Z’s shadows intensify. The smoke-like aura grew thicker and more potent, oozing off of him like a sinister fog. The air around him crackled with a palpable aura of strength and authority. Despite his impressive display, Kaede was unfazed, thanks to his bond with Selena shielding him from his clanbrother’s wrath.
Z charged forward. His imposing figure caused Zyxel to recoil and cower, though his defiant expression remained unchanged, almost daring Z—perhaps even challenging him.
“No matter how much you wish it,” Zyxel continued, his voice unwavering, “your cubs will never be pure. They are hybrids, just like Kaede, his sisters, and your Beacon.”
Z leaned forward, nose to nose with the serpent medic, growling. “And why should I grant you—an outsider foolish enough to mock me , and only here to impress my mate—access to her and the cubs’ files?”
Zyxel narrowed his eyes, glancing briefly at Kaede. “If you want to prepare for your children’s future and predict what abilities and traits they may inherit, it would be wise to allow me—an experienced research expert and doctor—access to their files. I can ease Selena’s lingering questions about what she is and what her children may become.”
Kaede watched, every muscle in his body tense, ready to intervene if necessary.
While he would’ve loved to watch Z teach the serpent male a lesson—better for Z to face their mate’s wrath than him. But he knew if they wanted their answers, they needed to play nice and allow the cocky medic to live.
For now.
Zirene’s shadowy tendrils swirled around him, and the strained look on Zyxel’s face suggested he was struggling to maintain control. Each held their breath as they waited for the other’s next move, the night sounds of the desert city muted in the background.
Kaede’s eyes darted back and forth between the two males, calculating potential outcomes, readying himself for the consequences.
It was Z’s call—if he wanted to cut the head off the serpent for challenging him, Kaede would have his back.
Z’s growl slowly subsided, and he pulled back slightly, his eyes still locked onto Zyxel’s. The Sovereign’s shadows receded, the aura of power dimming but not disappearing.
“Kaede,” Zirene commanded, his voice a low rumble as he jerked his chin in the medic’s direction. “Give him access.”
Kaede’s eyebrows furrowed, and he nodded slowly, his lips pressed into a thin line. “Your wish is my command.”
“But know this, Zyxel: If you betray our trust, if you use this information for anything other than the benefit of our clan, you will not survive to regret it.”
Zyxel closed his eyes and dropped his head forward in a show of respect. His long, dark hair cascaded over his shoulders, exposing the delicate skin of his neck to the Aldawi leader. “Thank you, Sovereign.”
“Don’t thank me yet,” Z warned, curling his paws into fists as his tail swished. “For your sake, I hope you’re not making this up or using this as a way to get into my Beacon’s good graces. She has the right to know about what’s in her blood. Any knowledge you can provide about Selena and our children is vital.”
“I’m confident in my theory,” Zyxel said, his voice steady. “But I need to see her files to confirm it. I’ve already hurt her with my misjudgments while she was in my care.” The serpent gazed at Kaede and nodded, his lips pressed firmly. “It seems my past mistakes left a bad impression on your clan.”
Zirene nodded and turned to Kaede. “Give him a vidtablet. That way, we can monitor what he’s accessing.”
REI materialized in a shimmer of teal light, her aura forming into a long, flowing robe. “Would you like Kaede’s team to supervise? We could create a restricted device and have it set up shortly after sunrise,” she offered with confidence, her soprano bell-like voice clear. “That way we could easily monitor and disable access if necessary.”
Zirene raised an eyebrow at REI, then looked at Kaede. “What do you think?”
Kaede shrugged. “REI already supervises my entire drone surveillance and defense systems. I trust her to take over.”
Z nodded. “Make it so.” He turned his attention back to the crimson serpent male. “If your hypothesis is true, you may be the one to inform Selena. Once that’s done, report your findings to Kaede and me immediately.”
Zyxel bowed deeper. “I understand and thank you for the opportunity.”
“Don’t make me regret it,” Zirene reiterated, his voice stern. “I’m not playing games when it comes to my Beacon. Understood?”
Zyxel looked up, sincerity in his eyes. “I appreciate your trust. I promise I won’t hurt Selena or her loved ones. All I want is a chance to be near my enax , to help and protect her in any way possible.”
Z’s gaze softened slightly. “It’s up to my Beacon to decide whom she courts. It’s not my place to interfere.” He glanced at Kaede, a hint of amusement in his eyes. “Or I wouldn’t have my royal guard impregnating my Beacon.”
Kaede smirked. “She has a way of persuading you.” He could never resist their mate’s temptations.
Z laughed, a rich, full sound that echoed across the terrace. His hand went to his chest, and his tail swayed playfully behind him. “It’s true,” he purred. “Selena does have a way of getting what she wants. But that’s okay. After everything she’s been through, I’d give her the universe.”
Zyxel’s brow furrowed, his amber gaze sharp. “What do you mean? What happened to her?”
Z’s booming laughter abruptly ceased, his face growing serious as he exchanged a concerned glance with Kaede before addressing the serpent medic. “That’s not my story to tell. If you want to know more about my Beacon, you’ll have to ask her yourself.”
“While she is open and enjoys displays of public affection, she likes her privacy, especially when it comes to her clan,” Kaede interjected sternly, his eyes narrowing in warning. “Do not even think about pressuring her for answers.”
Z nodded, his expression resolute, mirroring Kaede’s sentiment. “It’s true—she takes pride in showcasing her mates and declaring to the universe that we belong to her. But beneath that possessiveness lies a fierce desire to be left in peace. She relishes having us all to herself, away from any prying eyes.”
Zyxel nodded. His eyes softened with understanding. “I just want the best for her. If I can give her some closure by providing the answers she seeks, then I will have done what I set out to do. And if I can put a smile on her face in the process, all the better.”
Kaede’s eyes narrowed as he folded his arms across his chest. He cocked an eyebrow at Zyxel, the corner of his mouth twitching into a smirk. “I see right through you,” he said, his voice low and tinged with amusement. “This little scheme of yours…it’s all about getting some quality time with our mate, isn’t it? Trying to charm her, so she will take you as a mate.”
Zyxel squared his shoulders and met Kaede’s piercing gaze, unwavering. “You say she’s the one who does all the persuading,” he retorted, a hint of challenge in his voice. His lips curled into a smirk as he leaned forward. “If that’s true, then you don’t have anything to worry about, do you?”
Kaede’s lips twitched, feeling a begrudging admiration.
Z’s tall frame loomed over Zyxel, his shadow stretching across the ground. “You’re right, she is the one who decides. We are here to support her, protect her, and love her. Just remember, if you hope to find your place among us, that she’s not the only one sleeping in her nestbed at night.”
Zyxel bowed his head. “I understand, Sovereign. I will honor her wishes and yours.”