“It’s okay, Agent Bryeca,” Oeta replied, her voice sounding slightly tired. “It’s understandable.”
I stared at the male stretched out on the bed. “And the verdict?”
Activating LUO’s target chart, I prepared myself to turn his threat status from neutral yellow to his new designation.
“He was telling the truth,” Oeta confirmed. “Qraniebi is entirely innocent.”
Smiling in victory, I changed his status to a friendly green.
I felt a weight lift off my shoulders that I hadn’t known was there.
“Is there anything else I should know?”
Oeta’s eyes locked onto mine as I felt the familiar pull of a mental thread trying to contact me.
Demi-humans naturally shielded their minds. Even though I couldn’t expand my mental thread to contact another, I had learned how to allow and deny access to my mind.
Opening a small door, I allowed her to connect with my inner self.
“This is a breach of privacy and uncharacteristic of me, but I believe if I don’t say anything, both of you will only fight and waste what little time you may have together.”
“What are you saying?” I asked, narrowing my eyes at the confusing female.
“As you know, I work with Master Scholar Xylo on his research team. Recently, your sister Kaica joined our efforts to heal Selena’s injured Favored. Xylo’s Master Healer fathers will also land here in a couple of days.”
“What does that have to do with Qran and me?”
“I know your secret—why you keep resisting this male. My advice is to stop avoiding him. Sit down and have the much-needed conversation you’ve promised him. The last I heard, the Fab Five were a group of honorable females who kept their word.”
“How would you know how I feel?” I demanded.
“My mother died during childbirth while she was working to solve my species’ fertility problems,” she hissed, her fuchsia glow brightening. “I am the only female born in my generation, and if I don’t find a solution, I will soon be the last remaining member of my species. So take it from me: Stop wasting time you don’t have, or you will end up like your brother and never get a chance at love because you are too busy worrying about the future.”
Her words stung.
I couldn’t muster a response, and she had to know that, for she left my mental shields.
Oeta stood, fluttering her wings to stretch them.
“I’ve completed my task, and my presence is no longer needed,” she announced, already heading toward the door. “It’s getting late, so I would like to report to Sovereign Zirene as soon as possible from the comfort of my room.” The door slid open at her approach, but before she crossed the threshold, she stopped and glanced at Qran. “I applaud your commitment to proving your innocence. Lesser males would be too scared to allow my father or me the freedom to scry their minds. I hope I won’t have to do it again—no offense.”
“None taken,” Qran replied. “I am just glad you were willing to help.”
She smiled. “I know.” Holding her hand in the air in a farewell gesture, she left the room and the door slid closed behind her.
“What was that about?” Qran asked me, sitting up and swinging his taloned feet over the edge of the bed to the floor. “I didn’t miss the glare you two exchanged.”
I rolled my eyes and sat in the stool Oeta had vacated, studying Qran.
“She gave me a warning,” I mumbled, gaze falling to my hands as I leaned forward. “I was upset that she was trying to meddle in things that don’t concern her."
"Like what?"
"Like us," I sighed, my gaze moving to the male, who stiffened. "She gave me some harsh advice on how I need to be honorable and live up to the moral standards of the Fab Five. She told me not to go back on the promises I’ve made."
"What promises?" he asked, battling a smile.
"You know exactly what she was referring to," I grumbled. "Don't act like you haven’t already guessed what she was talking about."
"Oh, I know," he chuckled. "I just like hearing you admit you aren't perfect and can still make mistakes."
“You already knew that, too.”
“So when are we going to have the conversation you promised about our future?”
“Tomorrow.” I stood up and yawned, stretching my arms. “Oeta was right; it’s getting late, and I’m tired after everything that has happened today.”
“Where will I sleep?”
“You can stay overnight in—”
“Your bed?”
“In here,” I growled, glaring.
He raised his palms in the air in the universal sign for surrender. “Fine, here is okay with me. No need to get angry.”
“I’m not,” I sighed. “Just . . . never mind. Do you need anything, or are you set until tomorrow?”
He scanned the room. “I believe the only thing I need is a good night’s sleep.”
I walked to the door, glancing over my shoulder to meet Qran’s intense stare. “If you do need anything else, my room is the one next door.”
My room was dark as I lay on my bed completely nude.
Qran was the only other being on the base, as the rest of my siblings were searching for Selena, and Kaica was still in the villa’s infirmary. I assumed she was staying in a spare room there, tirelessly working on her research, instead of returning to base every night.
The knowledge that he was next door was both frightening and refreshing. I no longer needed to worry about his innocence or whether I would have to witness Oeta execute him.
Instead, he was safely in bed and probably excited about tomorrow, when we would finally talk about our future.
The image of Qran lying in full display on that bed with his vision blocked by Oeta’s intrusion was a turn-on. I couldn’t stop thinking about how fun it would have been if I sucked him off while Oeta’s mental thread trapped him in place.
Closing my eyes, I pictured Qran naked as he had been earlier, but without his loincloth. His pale-green
