Chapter 44
44
Kaede
“ K aede. Kaede. Kaede…”
His eyes snapped open, fully alert. He scanned the room for intruders only to find none.
Stars give me strength…
Hissing softly beneath his breath, cautious not to wake his clan, he swiftly rose to his feet and snatched his living suit disk and placed it in the center of his chest. As the thick, gel-like liquid enveloped his body, forming a protective layer over his skin, seeping up to his neck, he watched his clanmembers’ peaceful breathing and thanked the Stars he hadn’t awakened them.
“I know you can hear me.”
Licking his fangs, he lifted his hand and willed his receiving drone to teleport his pair of psydaggers and blasters to him. One by one, he secured them on his belt, never taking his eyes off his star, as REI projected all he’d missed during his slumber in his mind’s eye.
“What does the dimstar want?” he pathed to REI, hoping for her to give him a summary of what occurred while he was resting.
“He’s been studying the Beacon’s files, along with her cubs,” REI replied immediately, her tone businesslike, just how he liked it. “I believe he’s found the results he was searching for and has come to a conclusion.”
Kaede’s muscles tensed with irritation, his head aching from being woken in the middle of the night. He’d gone far too long without a good night’s sleep—how could he sleep when danger didn’t wait—combined with the searing sunshine that reflected off the white sand during the scorching days didn’t help either.
He knew he was overworking himself, but he couldn’t help it. Not when there was that prophecy looming around them. And his headaches would be nonexistent if he spent more time with his visor on… but his star loved staring into his eyes, especially whenever he didn’t wear protection.
Of all the nights, why this one? Couldn’t he wait until morning?
He’d barely settled down after Z joined them in the royal nestbed. Zyxel had woken him from the one place he least wanted to be pulled from—Selena’s side. The annoying male was practically demanding his presence. Now he found himself about to entertain whatever nonsense the serpent medic deemed “urgent.”
“Teleport me to him.”
“As you wish.”
His world shifted as REI obeyed, whisking him to the garden. He landed silently near the fountain where Zyxel waited for him, his serpentine form illuminated by the soft moonlight that bathed the surrounding garden’s flora in a silver glow.
Without wasting a moment, Kaede yanked a small metallic orb from his belt and slammed it into the ground. The communication construct expanded rapidly, creating an invisible dome of security around them.
His eyes narrowed as his psydagger appeared with a flick of his wrist, its edge glowing faintly in the darkness. He didn’t hide his irritation.
“Why did you wake me and pull me away from her ?” he snapped—the words more an accusation than a question as he stepped forward. “If this is some scheme to wear me down before the arena, I swear you’ll regret it.”
Zyxel blinked, unbothered—which only irritated Kaede further. “Relax. It’s not about the arena. And even if it were, I would be in the same position as you, since I wouldn’t be able to sleep anyway—not after what I’ve discovered.”
Kaede’s grip tightened on the psydagger. “Then out with it already.”
Zyxel’s eyes gleamed as his tongue flicked, tasting the air. Instead of answering directly, he said smoothly, “We had a deal. I’m the one who gets to tell Selena first.”
Kaede’s jaw clenched, his patience slipping away like sand through his fingers. “Don’t play games with me, Zyxel,” Kaede hissed, stepping closer, the psydagger still in his hand. “Answer me: What’s the purpose of you summoning me here?”
“I’m not playing any games.” Zyxel met Kaede’s gaze evenly. “But I’m offering you something else—information about the cubs. Everything you want to know, their current status, their genetic make-up, all of it... if,” he added, his voice still frustratingly calm, “we make another deal.”
He glared at the male as he recalled their original deal—Selena would learn about her own genetic origins directly from Zyxel. But the cubs? That was a different matter.
Kaede’s blade hovered over Zyxel’s heart. “That’s bold, even for you.”
Zyxel didn’t flinch, his eyes steady, unblinking. “You don’t have much of a choice. And you know it.”
Kaede growled. The medic was right. He needed this information. They all did. If there was anything unusual about the cubs, anything that might harm Selena or them in the future, he needed to know. Now.
Kaede cursed under his breath, barely resisting the urge to threaten him with force. Being mated to his star had forced him to become a more… patient male—even though he still pictured ways of how he would torture him for his answers.
“Fine,” he said through gritted teeth, glaring at the serpent male as he stepped back, begrudgingly lowering his psydagger. “What do you have in mind?”
Zyxel smirked, folding his arms across his chest. His long tail flicked, tapping the ground as he motioned toward the wall of the invisible dome Kaede had conjured. “One of your conversation orbs. I’ll need privacy when the time comes to tell Selena. It’s only safe for her genetic background to remain undiscovered by anyone else.”
Kaede studied him in silence, weighing the offer. It was a reasonable request, but it grated against him to give him anything. And yet, when it involved Selena’s privacy, he couldn’t risk not knowing more about her, the cubs—or his unborn daughter.
Kaede raised an eyebrow, incredulous. “That’s your price?”
Zyxel nodded, his gaze unwavering. “It is. I trust you’ll handle that information wisely.”
Kaede huffed, his anger deflating. He didn’t like being backed into a corner, especially not by Zyxel, the male who he still hadn’t forgotten what he’d done. But the truth was, the serpent medic was right—he needed answers about their children and their information wasn’t something to be shared lightly.
They already had enough eyes on them, enough dangers lurking from all corners of the galaxy, simply because of their heritage. Selena and Zirene’s cubs were the next generation of Aldawi leaders, and that meant there was a target painted on their backs.
He couldn’t afford to let his pride or annoyance get in the way of Selena’s safety—or their children.
“The fewer who know, the better,” Kaede muttered, his jaw clenching. “The last thing we need is more attention on them. They’re already marked by the universe.”
Zyxel inclined his head. “So we’re in agreement, then?”
Kaede’s eyes flicked down to his psydagger, still glowing faintly in his hand. With a resigned sigh, he sheathed the blade, letting the familiar weight settle against his hip. He extended his hand toward Zyxel, his grip firm, unyielding.
“We’re in agreement,” Kaede said, his voice low and serious.
Zyxel took his hand. It was a brief, tense handshake—no warmth, no camaraderie, just a mutual understanding. The deal had been struck.
As soon as their hands parted, Kaede crossed his arms, his eyes narrowing. “Fine. You get your orb. Now, tell me everything.”
Zyxel took a breath, his tail flicking slowly as he prepared to answer. “The cubs are healthy,” he began, his tone measured. “Your scientists are correct that genetically they’re pure Aldawi, but... since they’re Selena’s children, there’s something more.”
Kaede’s eyes narrowed, his protective instincts flaring. “What do you mean, more ?”
Zyxel hesitated, coiling his tail tighter around himself. “They possess unique characteristics inherited from Selena—and the species she was spliced with. Other than their unique silver coloring.”
Kaede froze, stunned by the weight of that statement. A hard, cold feeling settled in his chest as he forced himself to remain calm. He couldn’t lash out, not now. “What does that mean for them ?” His voice was controlled, but his mind reeled at the implications. “You’re saying they’ve inherited something else ?”
“There’s nothing to worry about—”
“ Don’t tell me there’s nothing to worry about,” Kaede growled, cutting him off sharply. “We’re talking about my children. Anything— anything —that affects their health, safety, or future is always something to worry about.”
Zyxel raised his hands in surrender, a brief flash of guilt crossing his features. “I apologize for my poor wording,” he said carefully. “What I meant is that they won’t have their mother’s adaptive abilities. But...” He paused, brushing his hair back, clearly unsure how to proceed.
Kaede’s patience snapped, and he took a step forward. “But what ?”
Zyxel exhaled slowly. “It seems instead of inheriting the ability to adapt to other species, Selena’s offspring will have stronger, enhanced versions of their natural base species abilities,” Zyxel explained. “Their shadow powers are developing at a far earlier stage than is typical for cubs their age. And from what Vikvez’s recent records indicate, they’re already stronger than they should be at this stage of development.”
Kaede turned his head toward the villa, his thoughts immediately rushing to the cubs, who were currently sleeping in the royal wing. A brief flicker of worry crossed his mind as he summoned REI’s security drone network, projecting the feed of the cubs’ peaceful sleep into his mind’s eye, unaware of the conversation happening about them.
His jaw clenched as his mind raced, trying to wrap itself around what this meant for their future.
His heart pounded, and he pivoted back to Zyxel. “What about my unborn daughter?” The words slipped through gritted teeth, sharper with the weight of his protective instincts. “What about her ?”
Zyxel’s expression hardened, his usual calm slipping slightly into something more somber. “I can’t say for sure,” he admitted, his voice lowering. “None of the genetic records I’ve been given so far contain enough evidence to determine exactly what she’ll be capable of. Her potential is still unknown.”
Kaede surged forward, his hands grabbing Zyxel’s shoulders before he could stop himself. His voice was a dangerous whisper. “Will she have Selena’s adaptive powers? Or my Ezzaska traits? What can you tell me?”
Zyxel didn’t flinch, shaking his head slightly. “It’s too early to tell. Until she’s born, there’s no way to predict what your daughter’s genetic makeup will lead to, especially once she matures into an adult. But since both you and Selena are demi-humans, it’s entirely possible she could have... both .”
Kaede let go, stepping back, his mind spinning. He clenched his fists, trying to suppress the wave of anxiety washing over him.
The thought of what their daughter could inherit—the potential dangers, the unknown abilities—was enough to send his thoughts racing in every direction, the myriad of possibilities overwhelming his senses as he tried to imagine their daughter’s future.
He turned back toward the villa once more, his thoughts heavy with the responsibilities that awaited him. His hand brushed over the hilt of his psydagger, as if seeking comfort in its familiar presence.
He muttered under his breath, “Oh, Stars.”
Zyxel slithered beside him and glanced up at the night sky, almost as if searching the Stars for the right words. “I understand your concerns. But the best thing we can do is prepare ourselves and be patient. When the time comes, we’ll handle whatever we need to.”
Kaede let out a slow breath, his mind still churning with what Zyxel had revealed. But there was no more time for talk. He’d gotten the information he needed, and now, all he could do was protect his family and prepare for whatever lay ahead.
“I’ll keep monitoring the situation closely,” Zyxel reassured him. “You’ll be the first to know of any developments.”
“Fine,” Kaede muttered as he tossed the serpent medic an extra privacy construct orb. “But remember our deal. This information stays between us until I decide otherwise.”
Zyxel nodded, cupping the device with both hands. “You won’t regret this.”
“Thank you for this information,” Kaede said, waving him off as he turned away. “We’re done here.”