Chapter 40
40
Zirene
Z irene sat stiffly on the royal porch, his gaze fixated on the endless expanse of the night desert before him. The duo moons hung low in the sky, casting a pale glow over the rolling dunes and barren landscape beyond the city’s farmland, a reflection of the emptiness that consumed his heart. Each breath felt like a struggle, a reminder of the weight of regret that pressed down on him. His sharp claws twitched involuntarily, his powerful shoulders tensed, every muscle in his body coiled tightly under the pressure of regret.
His drink sat untouched on the table, forgotten, as his mind swirled with everything that happened—and the discovery she made.
She was the only one who could calm his mind—and he’d pushed her away.
His eyes flicked to Royak and Vikvez, seated together on the nearby couch, their bodies close but not quite touching, as if they were trying to maintain a sense of distance in respect of him. Despite their attempts at nonchalance, their paws betrayed them as they fidgeted nervously. Their eyes kept stealing glances at each other, unable to hide their intense connection. The air between them was thick with tension, their once-hidden bond now exposed and impossible to ignore. Every subtle movement and unspoken word spoke volumes of their desire for one another.
The image stirred something deeper within him, something that added to the gnawing ache in his heart.
He wished Selena were here, beside him—two brothers enjoying the presence of their Novas under the night sky.
Kaede moved swiftly, removing the cloaking construct from his belt and flinging it onto the grass. The dark silver sphere expanded in a flash, encasing them all in a shimmering half-dome. The barrier cut them off from the outside world, creating an almost oppressive silence within. “There,” Kaede muttered, his tone clipped but calm. “Now we have privacy for this much needed and highly sensitive conversation.”
Royak shot a curious glance at Kaede, amusement tugging at his lips. “When did you create this?”
Kaede shrugged, his lips quirked up in a sly grin. “The cloaking sphere? After I brought Selena back to Destima. While she was spending time with her nestmates, I focused on improving our defenses, replicating my vessel to gift to each of my sisters, and designing new gadgets. We can't allow history to repeat itself. We need to have sensitive conversations like this without the risk of being overheard, especially as Aldawi leaders with enemies who could exploit our weaknesses. The Stars warned us of greater threats. This is just one step toward protecting our secrets.”
Royak's sharp gaze darted over to Zirene, a slight smirk playing on his lips. “How does it work?”
Zirene gestured to Kaede, who plopped down onto an oversized chair with his usual air of casual indifference. Kaede kicked his legs up on the armrest, pulling out his psydagger and casually carving into a piece of wood he’d brought with him. “Using a specific Oetsae that specializes in constructs and placing them in a dome, I created a temporary cloaking device.” Kaede grunted as he shaved a long thin strip of bark off. “No one can listen, see, or sense what’s happening inside. Perfect for this conversation.”
Royak’s eyebrow arched higher. “What other inventions have you been hiding?” He took a sip of his drink, glancing between Zirene and Kaede, his tail flicking with amusement.
Kaede pointed his psydagger at Royak, his eyes gleaming with a playful edge. “My sisters and I are always creating, always pushing the limits. We’re here to be the deadliest force in the galaxy—well, the universe now. That’s our role: to keep the Aldawi Empire safe, by the Stars and the Fates' Will.” His psydagger then swung toward Zirene, his expression hardened. “And it’s my job to clean up after my clanbrother’s mistakes. And tonight, Z messed up. Big time.”
Kaede’s words hit Zirene hard, stealing his breath. He clenched his fists against his thighs, the sting of the truth sharper than his claws cutting into his pads. He’d messed up—again.
He’d hurt Selena, jumped to conclusions and accused her of unforgivable acts—with his own brother, no less. Ever since the kidnapping, his mind had been clouded by dark thoughts. Suspicions festered until they made him lash out.
Zirene sighed heavily, dragging a hand through his mane. “What are you going to do now that your bond has been discovered?” he asked, directing his question to Royak and Vikvez, trying to steer the conversation away from his failure, at least for the moment.
Royak’s grip on Vikvez tightened, pulling him closer as he rubbed his nose against Vikvez’s neck, in an intimate gesture. “I’m tired of hiding,” Royak said, his voice steady but carrying the weight of years of secrecy. “We’ve been hiding long enough.
If we step out of the shadows, it will set an example for others, show the rest of the empire that Shadows and Novas don’t need to be hidden anymore. They don’t have to live in fear. If the Crown Prince and his royal doctor can come out, and the Sovereign doesn’t punish them, it will pave the way and could make the transition smoother.”
Kaede hissed as his psydagger sliced cleanly through the wood. “Or it could cause strife. But... it could also take attention off the Sovereign and his Beacon until they're ready to announce their own bond publicly.”
Royak tilted his head slightly, locking eyes with Vikvez. “What do you think?”
Vikvez leaned into Royak, their tails intertwining. “I’m tired of hiding too,” he admitted, his voice softer but no less determined. “And I’m willing to do whatever is best. But more than that, I’m relieved. I’m just relieved I don’t have to fear being killed under the late Sovereign’s command or forced to deal with the pressure of Royak needing to sire cubs with a seedbearer to continue the bloodline. None of that matters now.”
Zirene’s gaze dropped, a knot forming in his chest at the mere mention of their sire. Memories, both painful and bittersweet, flooded back and tangled together in a web of conflicting emotions.
All this time, Royak had kept his bond a secret, hoping to protect Vikvez from their sire’s wrath. Their late sire had been ruthless, willing to sell off—if not outright kill—Selena when he thought she threatened the throne. Vikvez would have been no different if word of his bond had gotten out.
The thought twisted something deep inside him.
“I’m sorry,” Zirene said quietly, voice rough with regret. His claws sank farther into his palms as he struggled to keep his composure. “I was insensitive. I accused you of something—” His breath hitched, the weight of his guilt crashing down. “Ever since Selena was kidnapped, dark thoughts have clouded my mind. Even after she returned... I haven’t been the same. I see betrayal everywhere...”
Vikvez nodded slowly. “It’s because your bond isn’t complete,” he said quietly, almost clinical.
Kaede paused mid-slice, his eyes narrowing as he glanced at the doctor. “What does he need to do to complete it?”
Vikvez frowned, thinking carefully. “They’ve marked each other... been together many times. They have three cubs, for the Stars’ sake. But something’s missing.”
Zirene’s breath caught, a sudden realization dawning on him. His eyes flicked to Kaede, who gave him a knowing smirk. “Sharing a mental thread,” Zirene muttered. “I keep rejecting her. Every time she offers to tie our minds together, I push her away.”
Royak tilted his head, confused. “But Vikvez and I don’t share a mental bond, and we’re stable.”
Zirene looked between Royak and Vikvez, feeling more lost than ever. “How have you been stable, brother? He’s been with my cubs this whole time, almost a year... and yet, you’re fine.”
Royak’s expression softened and he shrugged, a small smile playing on his lips. “We share our dreamscape every night, Zirene. Even if it’s just for a brief moment, it’s enough to keep us connected.”
Vikvez’s concern deepened as he locked eyes with Zirene. “You have been sharing your dreamscape with her, right?”
Kaede stopped carving and leveled a sharp gaze at Zirene.
Zirene sighed, leaning his head back against the chair, staring up at the night sky.
The bond... it’s incomplete.
He closed his eyes, feeling the emptiness where Selena’s presence should be—the lack of the faint bell-like noise in the back of his mind and tingling sensation along his spine. She wasn’t sleeping. Not yet.
“Ever since the first time we met, we’ve spent more time out of the dreamscape than in it. The longest we’ve been apart... was when she was unconscious after she was kidnapped.”
Silence stretched, heavy and suffocating.
And now... everything made sense.
He’d been the one keeping them apart. The anger, the jealousy, the paranoia—it all stemmed from their incomplete bond.
He had rejected her offer time and time again, thinking he was protecting her, when in reality, he’d been pushing her away... and he’d hurt her because of it.
“I’m such a dimstar.”