Chapter 49
49
Selena
M y fists clenched at my side as I glared down at Izyana, a fiery rage burning in my chest. My jaw was clenched, and my body was rigid, ready to lash out at him.
The very sight of him—this pathetic excuse for a male whose shared blood with my cubs—ignited a boiling resentment within me. Since the moment he arrived, he had shown nothing but disdain for me and my family—not because of anything we’d done, but for simply daring to exist.
The week was meant to be one of celebration. Festivities, joy, unity. Instead, it had been marred with tension, misunderstandings, and now this .
Our reign had begun with enough pain, death and destruction—and I, unfortunately, had been at the heart of it. Adding Izyana’s blood to that tally wasn’t what I wanted.
But Stars help me, he made it tempting.
Kaede hissed low beside my ear, tightening his hold on me. “ You can’t help your existence,” he pathed, his psydagger twitching in his grip as if yearning for action. “ Nor can anyone else. Don’t let an unworthy male ruin your day—or what you’ve built. He’s always been for himself. He means nothing.”
I cupped my stomach, centering myself. “I refuse to let you ruin this day any longer, Izyana. Decide your fate now and get out of our faces. There won’t be a second chance.” My fingers instinctively curled over Kaede’s as he handed me his psydagger. The weapon radiated a comforting heat in my palm, filling me with a sense of strength and control—of power. Now, I understood why my lethal assassin loved his new weapon so much. “Make another move against me or my family, and I’ll end you myself.”
A deep, throaty chuckle rumbled from him. The smug challenge in his posture, the tilt of his head as if daring me to act, it made my hand tighten on Kaede’s blade. “Fine,” he drawled, refusing to meet my gaze. “I want to keep my title. My head, too.” His tone dripped with condescension, but the forced submission betrayed his words. Slowly, he lowered his head to the ground, exposing his neck. “I submit to you, Zirene. Sovereign.”
I didn’t miss his dismissal—and by Kaede’s sudden grip on my elbow, he didn’t either—but I would let it pass.
I’d made my threat known. I was going to keep my promise and wouldn’t let him overstep again.
He didn’t need to like me or my family—but he needed to accept our reign. Respect would be earned over time—not by force—which was something the Aldawi demanded.
With a menacing growl, Zirene positioned himself protectively between me and Izyana, his large frame looming over me. His tail curled loosely around my leg like a comforting embrace—perhaps to ground himself with my presence. With a pleased smirk, Zirene nodded at the psydagger clutched tightly in my hand before returning his attention to his least favorite brother.
“Don’t overstep again,” he warned, his words deliberate, his power palpable. “I don’t care what you think. Both Royak and Masmi support my rule. And with my Beacon by my side, I’ve earned this position. If it weren’t for her wishes and this celebration, I would gladly prove myself again by taking your challenge as the insult it was intended to be. Unless...” Zirene leaned forward slightly, his shadow tendrils flickering ominously around him, like flames dancing in a gentle breeze. “You think you could take me?”
Izyana’s eyes widened in fear, and his confident demeanor crumbled. He shook his head, unable to meet his gaze. “You know I couldn’t do it,” he spat out his bitter admission. “Some of us weren’t gifted as you—and Royak. Everything I have I’ve earned.”
“Of course.” Zirene chuckled darkly. “But what can be earned, can be swiped away”—he slashed the air with his claws fully extended—“don’t forget that. I may not be our late sire, but I am also not a softbelly. Make no mistake, Izyana, I won’t tolerate another misstep. There won’t be any more hesitation in correcting any errors you make. Understood?”
“Got it.” Izyana stood, casually brushing imaginary dirt from his knees as if his submission hadn’t cost him a shred of pride. His lips twisted in a bitter sneer as he gave the barest nod of acknowledgment before bowing and then turning to leave.
With a deep sigh and shake of her head, Masmi stepped out of the group. “I’ll escort him to the villa,” she offered, her tail flicking in agitation. “I wouldn’t want our dear brother to wander off and find himself in more trouble.” She rolled her eyes and let out a small dark chuckle, sweeping her gaze over our group before settling on Zirene and me. “I’ll meet you at the arena.”
As Zirene’s shadow rippled over his fur, shifting with each movement, it accentuated the sleekness and strength of his muscular form. He clinched his paws and closed his eyes, exhaling slowly as his dark aura around him flickered and dissipated. A collective sigh of relief rippled through those outside my clan’s mental network, no longer weighed down by its heavy presence.
As my fingers relaxed their grip on the psydagger, I exhaled, relieved that I didn’t have to use it—but I was prepared to defend myself and my clan’s honor if necessary.
No longer would I be underestimated or discriminated against because of my species or past. As tempting as it was to start our reign with violence and chaos, establishing dominance through bloodshed, as the Aldawi did with their brutal challenges, I would prefer to avoid them at all costs.
Not only because they reminded me what happened to my Favored—but I knew in my core that we couldn’t afford to become like his ancestors.
They were the ones who first created the rift—with The Great Dimming—and we needed to forge a new path, one built on unity and peace .
I didn’t want to bring my unborn daughter—or raise my cubs—into a universe consumed by war, whether civil or against foes like the Quaww or Verya, especially knowing most of my mates would be leading the fight at the front of the lines.
My clan had experienced enough pain and hardships—and had fought in the Yarrkins War. They deserved peace—they’d earned it.
With a gentle touch, Kaede’s fingers grazed mine as he swiftly retrieved his psydagger from my hand. “Seeing you wielding this,” he pathed, his mental voice low and teasing. “All fired up like that... makes me wish we didn’t have plans for the day.”
“Kaede,” I scolded, rolling my eyes. “If you have it your way, you will win today and have me as a prize later on.”
“Plan on it.” He smirked, his psydagger disappearing into its sheath with a smooth flick of his wrist. “I’m serious, star. I have big plans for us tonight.”
His thoughts trailed off into something deliciously unspoken—wanting to enjoy the night in the privacy of a lushly decorated tent under the stars.
I shook my head, fighting back the small smile tugging at my lips. “You better win if you want to have your way with me.”
“Have no worries.” Kaede gently combed my hair away from my face and tucked it behind my ear. His piercing neon-green gaze held mine, filled with promise. “No one will defeat me.”
I believed him. And yet—with the way this week was going, I knew better than to assume what the Fates had in store for me. For us. The Stars were sometimes tricky, guiding us down unexpected paths to bring us where we needed to be.
It was hard to believe that a year ago I was still trapped within the Yarrkins research vessel, meeting my mysterious dreamscape male every night.
And now, I was standing beside him, helping him lead his empire as his partner, surrounded by a lovely clan, family, and friends.
“I’ll hold you to it.”
Zirene stepped closer, his paw brushing my lower back. “You didn’t need to do that. I was fully capable of handling him, but thank you,” he said softly, purring as he rubbed his cheek against the top of my head. “I’m proud of you. You stood your ground and showed him that you weren’t going to deal with him and his unwelcomed opinions.”
“I wasn’t going to let him disrespect my family,” I replied, my voice firm. “Not after everything we’ve been through—everything we’re trying to do.”
“I won’t allow him.” Zirene let out a deep growl as he tightened his paw around my waist. “He’s lucky I only called him out on his disrespect and forced him to back off on his challenge. I would’ve fought him—and would’ve easily won too—but I knew that wasn’t what you wanted.” He lifted his head, and the tips of his paw pads grazed my cheekbone as he gently guided my head towards his. His amethyst eyes—usually filled with love and warmth when directed toward me—were now dark and filled with a lethal determination that would’ve sent shivers down my spine if I hadn’t known him so intimately. “He’s a coward, who was willing to do anything for our late sire to try to gain his good graces. His jealousy toward Royak and me was always known, and if he oversteps, ending his life wouldn’t make me lose any sleep at night.”
“Hopefully, he will heed our warning.” Frowning, I glanced toward the path where Masmi had followed Izyana, disappearing in the direction of her villa. “For I don’t want any more bloodshed, if possible, if we are going to show that we are willing to make changes.”
“I am not going to allow him to undo our work—especially out of spite,” Zirene promised. “No need to worry about delivering his judgement if—and when—the time comes. I would gladly do it with my own tooth and claw. After all, what’s one life in exchange for the good of many?”