She clasped a handcuff onto my wrist and stilled, narrowing her eyes. “You sure know how to drill in a point, don’t you?” B snapped the other into place, tightening both just enough to sting.
“You know how much I love when you get tough with me,” I cooed, making her cheeks darken.
“If you don’t stop it, I will make sure you remain in these cuffs,” she snapped as she turned to open the ship’s bay door.
The ramp lowered, revealing a sunset against a darkening sky.
Oceanic winds blew against my robe, threatening to reveal my bare head in the moonlight. Another time I would’ve welcomed the wind, but now its brush was just another bitter reminder of my crew’s betrayal.
Vagren and Oeta welcomed us, dressed in Aldawi uniforms with stern looks on their faces. Instantly, I schooled my expression to reflect the seriousness of the situation as I followed B down the ramp.
Vagren snarled, and his puffed-up tail swished wildly. “You dare betray my brother after everything he’s done for you? You are lucky your feathers are plucked out already, or I would’ve done it myself to make toys for the cubs to play hunt-and-prey with.”
“I will have none of that here.” Oeta glared at the Aldawi male and flared her purple, stained-glass-like wings, blocking Vagren’s view. “You’re not in charge here; I am. Until I need your help concerning the moon and its citizens, you may go.”
“I am completely within my rights to be here—”
“Sovereign Zirene put me in charge of Qraniebi’s fate, not you,” she hissed, turning to face the angry male with both wings fully extended. Her black skin’s fuchsia glow flared brighter, along with her mohawk. “I am fully capable of handling this male. You may think me weak, but my mental powers are strong enough to mute the entire island if I see fit.”
“And my brother trusted you?”
A burst of chilly laughter rolled from the Chamber Master’s daughter.
If I didn’t know how strongly both her and her father worked to remain neutral in all disputes, I would’ve feared Oeta’s power. But they never abused their powers, beyond sometimes accidentally overhearing loud thoughts and unshielded conversations.
The Circuli princes had told me they struggled to constantly block out their population's mental web, though their shields had grown stronger since they had joined Selena’s clan. Mwe and Oeta had a harder time even though they were more powerful because their mental range was much more extensive than the Circuli princes’. Everyone within range was a part of their web, whether they liked it or not.
It was fortunate that Oeta had discovered the mental signature of Selena’s stalker and had passed it along to her father. The two of them would be able to prevent the male from ever attempting to contact her again, as long as she remained within their range.
The farther she traveled from Mwe or Oeta, the harder it became for them to accurately trace her, which was why the Fab Five only had a general idea of Selena’s location.
However, I had great faith that she would be quickly found. Knowing a general area saved time and energy, so the Fab Five weren’t aimlessly searching every direction.
Kaede and Z had doubts about trusting Oeta and her father because they held many secrets they’d gathered over the years, which was why both of them had avoided the area around the CEG Space Station until Oeta had been invited to join Xylo’s research team. Her extensive medical knowledge and mental capabilities were a great asset to the clan. Now Z and Kaede were forced to deal with Oeta living on Destima with access to any information its citizens held.
“Why wouldn’t Zirene trust me?”
“Because—”
“I would bite your tongue if I were you,” B snapped. “Making accusations without evidence can get you in trouble. I understand everything went through a black hole two days ago, but that doesn’t mean you can turn on each other. Your brother is now the ruler and has put you in charge of overseeing this moon while Selena is missing, and the Circuli princes are dealing with their clan falling apart. You know you don't belong here, but you’ve come anyway because Qraniebi is a Quaww.” She cocked her head to the side. “If I had to guess, you’re hoping he is guilty, so you get an excuse to sink your teeth into his throat. I get it. Emotions are high, and you have been stuck managing this moon for many years, itching to protect what’s yours. Well, at this moment, Qraniebi is your brother’s property, and Oeta and I are his keepers. So unless you want me to report to the Aldawi Sovereign what a sorry ishing frax you are and how a lone female had to put you in your place, I would advise you to run off while you have some pride left.”
A loud snarl broke through the air, but the lack of a dominant aura proved that he knew she was right. If Vagren attacked either of them, he would have to answer to his brother.
No one in the Aldawi Empire wanted to be the focus of their ruler’s attention, at least until his Nova, the new Beacon, had returned safely.
After a few moments of silence, Oeta folded her wings, tucking them tightly against her back.
A pang of jealousy coursed through me, my robe’s weight upon my bare wings, reminding me of what I had lost. If only I had wings like hers—solid and featherless like the Caurg and Euvrel—then I would at least still be able to fly.
A grounded Quaww was like an Ulax in the desert or a Wudox in the middle of the ocean—worthless and unable to survive without help.
Oeta turned toward me, her face filled with a wave of fierce anger as her fuchsia eyes locked onto mine. “I am sorry you had to deal with that. No matter how many times I told him he wasn’t needed, he still
