Chapter 10
Rezor
Iwaited until the sun had fully risen before summoning Vax to my chambers.
I’d spent the past several nights turning over the evidence in my mind. The sabotage Cleo had found in the underground chamber. The timing that perfectly coincided with the sky people’s arrival, designed to make their presence look catastrophic.
Only a handful of people had the access and knowledge to pull this off. And of those, only one had been vocally pushing for the sky people’s exile from the beginning. I’d asked questions, considered every angle for several cycles, but each time, I landed at only one conclusion. One suspect.
The knock came precisely when I’d requested. Vax’s sense of duty had always been impeccable.
“Enter.”
He stepped inside, his posture rigid, his eyes already shifting to that wary orange that meant he knew this wasn’t a routine meeting. “Lord Rezor. You summoned me.”
“Close the door.”
He did, and I watched him carefully as he turned back to face me. Twenty sun-cycles we’d worked together. Twenty sun-cycles of trust, of loyalty, of him standing at my back through every crisis. I’d thought I knew this male better than almost anyone.
Apparently, I’d been wrong.
“I need to ask you about something,” I said, keeping my voice level. “About the underground power chamber.”
His eyes flickered. Just once, barely noticeable. But I saw it.
“What about it, my lord?”
“How many people have access?”
“Aside from you?” He paused, calculating. “Myself. Zelana. Three senior engineers. The council members, technically, though most haven’t been down there in cycles.”
“Were you aware that someone entered that chamber and tampered with some vital connections?”
He had gone completely still. It was the kind of control that took effort. “Tampered, my lord?”
“Don’t.” I stood, moving away from the window to face him directly.
“Don’t insult both of us by pretending you don’t know what I’m talking about.
Cleo found evidence of intentional tampering in the power distribution system.
It was haphazard and sloppy, but it would have caused system failures over time. ”
“Perhaps the human made a mistake in her assessment—”
“She didn’t.” My voice hardened. “I had Venith verify her findings independently. The damage was deliberate. Someone went into that chamber and altered the connections to create problems that would look like they were caused by the sky people’s presence.”
Vax said nothing. His jaw worked, but no words came out.
“It was you.” I made it a statement, not a question. “You’re the only one with the access and the motivation to do this.”
The silence stretched between us. I could see him weighing his options. Deny and risk my wrath when the truth inevitably came out. Or confess and face the consequences now.
He chose confession.
“Yes.” The word came out flat. “It was me.”
Something in my chest cracked. Even though I’d known, even though the evidence was clear, hearing him admit it still hurt. “It’s no secret that you want the three sky people gone, but why?”
“To protect the valley.” His eyes flashed red with conviction. “To protect our people from the disaster those sky people will bring.”
“By nearly destroying our food supply?” Anger surged hot in my veins. “By sabotaging the systems that keep everyone alive?”
“The damage was never meant to be catastrophic.” Vax’s hands clenched into fists. “Just enough to create problems. To make it clear that their presence was causing harm. To give you justification for exiling them before it was too late.”
“Too late for what?”
“Before everything changes!” His control finally cracked. “Can’t you see what’s happening, Rezor? The storms are getting worse. They’re encroaching into the valley. Our protection is failing, and instead of focusing on that, you’re distracted by three aliens who fell from the sky.”
“Cleo has been fixing our systems, not breaking them,” I said coldly. “She saved the water purification facility. She’s been working herself to exhaustion repairing the systems from that lighting strike.”
“And what happens when she leaves?” Vax challenged. “When she and her people find their crew and return to the stars? We’ll be dependent on technology we don’t understand, maintained by someone who won’t be here.”
“So you thought sabotage was the answer.”
“I thought giving you a reason to send them away before you became too attached was the answer.” His eyes met mine, and I saw the fear beneath the anger. “But I was too late.”
My marks pulsed with warmth beneath my shirt. I didn’t need to confirm what he already knew.
“How long have you known?” I asked quietly.
“About your marks?” Vax let out a harsh laugh.
“Since the first day. I’ve known you for twenty sun-cycles, Rezor.
I know you as well as my own self, and I caught a glimpse of those marks glowing when you held her by the pod.
And other times since.” He ran a hand through his hair.
“And then, there’s your eyes whenever you look at her. ”
“Then you know I can’t simply send her away.”
“I know you think you can’t.” He moved closer, his voice dropping. “But you’re the lord of this clan. You have responsibilities that go beyond personal desire. You have to think about what’s best for everyone, not just yourself.”
“And you think exiling my mate is what’s best?”
“I think taking an alien mate will destroy you.” The words came out harsh.
“The people won’t accept it. They’re already afraid of the sky people.
If they find out their lord is bonded to one of them, they’ll lose faith in your leadership.
They’ll question every decision you make.
Some might even challenge your right to rule. ”
“You have so little faith in them?”
“I have realistic expectations.” Vax’s expression was grim. “This clan survives because we’re united and let no one in. Because we trust our leader to put the community first. If you choose her, they’ll see it as you choosing an outsider over them.”
“They’ll see it as their lord finding his mate.” I kept my voice steady despite the emotions churning through me. Disappointment. Hurt. Anger. And, yes, a little worry that he could be right, but I didn’t think so. “Something that happens to every lord eventually. It’s not unprecedented.”
“An alien mate is unprecedented.”
“So we set a new precedent.” I moved to stand directly in front of him. “You should give our people more credit, Vax. They’re stronger and more adaptable than you think.”
“Are they?” He gestured toward the window, toward the valley beyond. “Or are you just hoping they are because you don’t want to give her up?”
The accusation stung because part of it was true. I didn’t want to give Cleo up. The thought of sending her away made something in my chest howl in protest. But that wasn’t the only reason I was defending her presence.
“She’s the only one who understands the technology that’s kept this village operational for generations,” I said. “The only one who can repair systems our own engineers can’t fix. If she leaves before teaching them everything she knows, we’re vulnerable in ways we’ve never been before.”
“So you’re keeping her for her skills.” Vax’s tone made it clear he didn’t believe that for a second.
“I’m keeping her because she’s useful, because she’s proven herself trustworthy, and because my marks recognize her as my mate.” I held his gaze. “All three of those things can be true simultaneously.”
“And when the people find out? When they see those marks glowing for an alien female?”
“Then they’ll accept it or they won’t,” I said. “Cleo has saved our water supply and she’s on the brink of repairing the power to our grow facility. She’s proven that not all outsiders are threats.”
“You’re gambling everything on that assumption.”
“I’m trusting our people to see what I see.” I paused. “What you apparently refuse to see.”
Vax was quiet for a long moment. When he spoke again, his voice was weary. “I did this because I was afraid of losing you. Of watching you make a choice that would destroy everything our ancestors built here.”
“And instead, you nearly destroyed it yourself.” I let the disappointment show in my voice. “You betrayed my trust. You endangered our people. You acted alone, without counsel, because you were convinced you knew better than everyone else what was best for this valley.”
“I was trying to protect you.”
“I don’t need protection.”
“Fine.” His shoulders slumped. “Either you keep her and risk the people’s trust, or you send her away and deny what your marks are telling you. There’s no path that doesn’t end in pain.”
“Then I choose the pain that comes from following my marks rather than denying them.” I held his gaze. “If I’ve found my true mate, I won’t give her up because of fear.”
“Even if it costs you everything?”
“Even then.” I moved back toward the window, looking out at the valley.
“But I don’t think it will. I think our people are stronger than you give them credit for.
I think they’ll see that Cleo is an asset, not a threat.
And I think they’ll understand that their lord finding his mate is a blessing, not a curse. ”
“I hope you’re right.” Vax’s voice was quiet. “Because if you’re wrong, I won’t be here to help pick up the pieces.”
I turned back to face him. “What does that mean?”
“It means I’ve broken your trust. I’ve acted against your wishes. I’ve endangered the clan I swore to protect.” His eyes had gone gray with resignation. “The council will want my head for this. And I won’t fight them.”
“The council will decide your fate,” I agreed. “But Vax…for what it’s worth…I understand why you did it.”
“Understanding doesn’t change what I’ve done.”
“No. But it means I won’t forget the twenty sun-cycles you spent at my back before this.” I moved toward the door. “You’ll be confined to your quarters until the council meets. Guards will be posted.”
“Rezor.” He stopped me with my name. “Whatever happens with the council, whatever they decide…I meant what I said. I was trying to protect you. I just…went about it the wrong way.”
“I know.” I looked back at him, at this male who’d been my right hand for twenty sun-cycles. Whom I’d trusted with my life countless times. Who’d betrayed that trust because he was afraid.
I opened the door and gestured for the guards who were waiting outside. “Escort Vax to his quarters. He’s to remain there until the council convenes.”
They looked confused, but moved to flank him, and Vax went without resistance. But at the threshold, he paused.
“She must be extraordinary,” he said quietly. “For you to risk so much.”
“She is.” I met his gaze. “And if you’d given her a chance instead of trying to drive her away, you would have seen that.”
He nodded once, then let the guards lead him away.
I stood alone in my chambers, the morning light streaming through the window, and felt the weight—no, burden—of my position settle heavier on my shoulders. I’d lost my most trusted advisor. The council would be divided over this. The people would have questions that even I couldn’t answer, yet.
And through it all, my gut tightened with the steady certainty that Cleo was mine.
Whatever challenges came next, whatever opposition I faced, I would not deny what my marks knew to be true. Even if it cost me everything.