Chapter 57
57
Zyxel
“ Y ou may have won this round by some dimstar rule. Mark my words, you won’t win outside this arena.” His grip on Zyxel’s neck tightened slightly, not enough to hurt, but enough to remind him of the predator Kaede was. “And don’t think I couldn’t ruin your reward. I won’t, only because it would make her suffer. But know this—” Kaede yanked him closer with each word, his voice a deadly whisper, his words like a hiss of venom in his ear. “I will always be watching. If, by the will of the Stars, she does claim you, only then will I accept it. But you’ll never replace me. Never.”
Kaede released him with a forceful shove and disappeared without another word, leaving Zyxel alone on the platform. His body tensed as he ran a hand through his hair, smoothing back his sweat-dampened locks. His other hand instinctively rubbed his neck where Kaede’s fangs had grazed, a stark reminder of how close the assassin had come to ending him in his rage.
He exhaled slowly, sending a silent thanks to the Stars for Kaede’s self-restraint. The royal guard was more unstable than he had originally thought in regards to Selena and her cubs. He would need to be careful delivering the information he had for his enax . The last thing he wanted was to upset her, triggering him to suddenly appear and challenge him for another round, in her honor.
He turned his focus to the reason he was here. Across the arena, Selena stood with her three mates, radiant as ever. His breath hitched. By the Stars, she was glorious. Her strength, her resilience, her compassion—they eclipsed every challenge he had faced in the arena.
What had he done to deserve an enax so extraordinary? While he couldn’t pretend to agree with every decision she made—or her choice of some mates—he knew it wasn’t his place to question her.
She had a life before he entered it—all he hoped was that there was space in that life for him.
“Congratulations to Zyxel for his hard-earned victory!” Masmi’s voice rang out, pulling him back to the present. “And now, we come to the final match for the Beacon’s hand. The winners of both rounds—Ryzen versus Zyxel. Who will triumph? And can they surpass the excitement of the match we just witnessed?”
The crowd roared its approval, their cheers vibrating the sands. Zyxel squared his shoulders, readying himself for what could only be another grueling battle. He’d sparred against his commanders many times before, to help pass the time and keep themselves practiced. While both commanders were deadly, as lethal as Kaede, Ryzen was the more dangerous out of the twins—but neither were as unpredictable as the lethal assassin.
Ryzen kicked off the wall of the honored raised box, his stride measured as he approached Zyxel in the arena’s center. The crowd hushed as Ryzen came to a stop before him.
Ryzen bowed deeply, exposing his neck—a gesture of respect and submission Zyxel recognized from Aldawi traditions. Locking eyes with Ryzen, he raised his voice, his tone unwavering as he declared, “I forfeit.”
A wave of murmured disbelief swept through the stands—matching Zyxel’s own, punctuated by boos and disappointed groans. Masmi blinked, her ears twitching in surprise. “Forfeit? Ryzen, the arena—and the Beacon—expected more.”
Ryzen turned to her, his movements deliberate as he straightened to his full height. His gaze softened, but there was a tension in his jaw that betrayed his calm demeanor. “The heat is affecting the Beacon. Her health is my priority. I would reward Zyxel his time with her, in exchange for her to get the medical attention she needs.”
Masmi frowned but nodded. “A noble reason, then. Let the arena thank Ryzen for his devotion to our Beacon.” She turned her attention back to the stands, raising her voice. “And congratulations to Zyxel, the victor by default!”
The crowd cheered, though their applause lacked its earlier fervor. Zyxel didn’t care. The relief washing over him was immeasurable. He didn’t know if he would’ve ended up the victor if he had to fight his commander after his close match against Kaede.
Ryzen’s mental thread reached out, brushing against Zyxel’s mind with a calm, deliberate touch, and Zyxel accepted him without hesitation. “You wonder why I gave this to you?”
“You would’ve easily won,” Zyxel pathed, turning his attention to the Beacon, watching them across the arena. “A chance to spend time with her?”
“I wanted it,” Ryzen admitted, his emerald runes faintly glowing. “But this time is worth more to you. I have some mental barriers that I need to overcome, truths I must face alone. There will be another time for me to spend with her, especially if I’m giving her lessons. You don’t have that luxury.”
Zyxel’s throat tightened. “Thank you, Ryzen. For everything.”
“You owe me nothing.” Ryzen’s mental presence retreated, leaving Zyxel with a sense of quiet determination.
Without hesitation, Zyxel rushed toward the honored platform, his tail propelling him across the sands. With a powerful flick, he lifted himself high, grabbing the railing and hauling his body over in one fluid motion.
He landed beside Selena and Zirene gracefully, his tail hitting the ground with a force that reverberated through the air. His chest rose and fell in sharp, uneven breaths, each exhale a battle to steady his nerves.
The roar of the crowd dulled to a hum in the background as he focused on her. Selena—the Beacon, his enax —the very female that had upended his life in ways he could never have anticipated.
Selena’s gaze met his, and the faint smile she gave him was worth the pain he had endured. For this moment, he had triumphed. And he wouldn’t waste the gift Ryzen had given him.
But now that he’d won, what was he supposed to do? How was he meant to woo someone who had everything she could ever need? She was surrounded by strength, power, and unwavering devotion. What could he possibly offer that hadn’t already been given to her?
Zirene’s chuckle snapped him out of his spiraling thoughts. “You’re looking a little lost, Zyxel.” The Sovereign’s tone was teasing but carried the weight of someone who had no intention of stepping aside easily. “Do you need to be checked by a healer too?”
“I’m not lost,” Zyxel replied, forcing his voice to remain steady. “Just... wondering what we’re supposed to do now that the Beacon’s rounds are over. Is Ryzen right about her needing to be examined?”
“I don’t know what he’s talking about. I feel fine. “ Selena tilted her head slightly and frowned, her spots changing between orange and yellow—making Ryzen wonder what their coloring meant. “But I won’t lie. You winning was a surprise, and changes everything I had planned for the next day.”
“I’ll make our time together worth it,” Zyxel announced, his tail coiling tighter. “And thank the Stars for being allowed this chance.”
Her lips quirked up at the corners, but there was something else in her expression—something deeper. “You earned it after all.”
He scanned the others, taken in their demeanors. Aside from the Sovereign’s hovering paw on Selena’s waist, her clan seemed to have come to terms with the outcome. “What now?”
Her expression softened, and she reached out, placing a hand lightly on his arm. The touch sent a ripple through him, a warmth that settled the storm of nerves inside. “Now, we give the crowd what they’ve come for and afterward... we’ll talk.”
Talk. The word felt loaded, but he nodded. There were many things he wanted to tell her once they were alone. “I look forward to it.”
Zirene stepped closer, his presence commanding as he placed a possessive paw on Selena’s shoulder. “Don’t waste the opportunity, Zyxel,” he warned. “Time with her is precious. Don’t take it lightly.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it,” Zyxel replied, meeting Zirene’s intense gaze. “I know how much her clan, cubs, and friends mean to her. I’ll use my time wisely.”
Selena’s hand lingered on his arm for a moment longer before she pulled back, turning her attention to the crowd. “Let’s give them what they came for,” she said with a smile that was both regal and genuine as she grabbed his hand. “And then get out of here.”
Zyxel stood beside her as the applause grew louder, but his focus remained on her—and her hand.
She was everything—an impossible dream. And no matter how out of his element he felt, he wasn’t going to squander the chance he’d fought so hard to win.
Selena raised their joined hands and waved at the crowd.
“Let us wish the Beacon a restful reprieve and extend our congratulations to Zyxel, victor of today’s honorable event,” Masmi’s voice rang out again, instantly shushing the crowd. “There will be a short intermission before the open rounds begin. Females, prepare yourselves for the brave males venturing here to earn a chance at your favor for the remainder of the Harvest Festival!”
The crowd erupted into applause and cheers, but the sound felt distant to Zyxel. Selena’s warmth beside him, her presence so close, her hand in his, was the only thing grounding him amidst the chaos.
How was he ever supposed to grow accustomed to this kind of attention?
Selena bit her bottom lip, her spots shifting faintly between yellow and brown as her attention shifted to her mates. Zirene, V’dim, and Z’fir stood a step behind her, all staring at her, their presence a silent vow of their loyalty and love.
“I guess now it’s time for me to reward Zyxel,” she said, her voice light, though a flicker of uncertainty danced beneath it. “I’ll miss you.”
V’dim’s tentacles twitched with amusement as he inclined his head toward Zyxel. “We’ve prepared a tent and nestbed outside, in the Beacon’s private backyard beside her suite’s pool,” he explained. “It was meant for the clan to share tonight, but since you won, it’s only fair that you not waste our efforts and treat our nestqueen there.”
Selena shook her head, her cheeks darkening slightly as her spots shifted to pinks and purples. “It’s too much. I don’t need—”
Zirene stepped forward, his paw cupping her cheek. “You do,” he interrupted gently. “I refuse to have you stay in a royal guest room when there’s a private space designed for your comfort and enjoyment. It’s for you, Selena.”
Zyxel straightened, grateful for the Sovereign’s words. “Thank you,” he said, dipping his head respectfully toward the three males. “I promise to take good care of her. And you’re right—it would be a shame if she didn’t get to enjoy it.”
Internally, he cursed himself for not being better prepared for this. Every interaction he’d had with Selena seemed to end in missteps or misunderstandings. The last thing he wanted was to upset her again. Hesitant, he cleared his throat and added, “Perhaps we should head back to the villa so you can rest, Beacon, while the suns are the hottest. We can spend time on the poolside—”
Selena raised a hand, silencing him with a soft laugh. “I’d rather explore the market,” she said, surprising him. “Now that I don’t have to keep an eye on my cubs, I’d like to spend time among my people and get a good look at what the market has to offer. It’s not every day I get to do that.”
“Then allow me to escort you,” he offered, tugging her hand gently. “Are you ready to go exploring?”
Selena nodded, a smile curving her lips as she turned to her mates. One by one, she kissed each of them—both brief and tender. “I love you,” she whispered, her voice carrying a soft, genuine warmth.
V’dim’s tentacles brushed her shoulder in response. “Enjoy yourself, my nestqueen. We’ll keep our cubs entertained.”
“We’re only a thought away.” Z’fir inclined his head, his petal-like wings fluttering slightly. “We’ll make sure everything is in order when you return.”
Zirene’s paw lingered on her lower back as he leaned in. “I’ll keep Kaede in check.” Zirene let out a deep chuckle, shooting her a sly smirk. “Or at least, I’ll try.”
Selena rolled her eyes, though her smile widened. “Good luck with that. We both know Kaede does what he wants.” She waved them off before grabbing Zyxel’s arm.
Zyxel’s breath hitched slightly at the contact, but he composed himself quickly. “Shall we, Beacon?”