“I have my ways.” He smirked, but the cocky expression didn’t reach his eyes. “I’ll tell you what they are since I’m not in the position to bargain. While Kaede and I may not see eye-to-eye when it comes to completing missions, I do respect the male. Even though his fashion sense is questionable.”
Crossing my arms, I raised an eyebrow. “I’m not here to discuss whether my brother needs a change of style. A mercenary like you shouldn't be interested in technical breeding mechanics unless—”
“I’m fully capable of producing young; I have no worries regarding that," Qraniebi chuckled. Instantly, he lost his smirk as his gaze flicked to my pressed lips. "I wasn't hitting on you!" He tried to raise his hands in surrender, forgetting that his wrists were bound. "Look, all I was saying is that I overhear things. A few members of the Assembly’s crowd were speculating about possible outcomes in Selena's future, including Zirene using Kaede's essence to inseminate her eggs, producing a super race. The Assembly fears what could come of that combination, while some are interested in making more of her kind, even if that’s illegal within CEG."
The rumors about Selena and her clan were nothing new. I had heard it all, from rumors that she was some powerful psychic like Mwe, controlling her mates as puppets to do her bidding, to stories that Zirene had funded the Yaarkins experiments and they had created Selena as a gift, only for him to betray them and steal the rest of the experiments away.
The CEG’s citizens were dim stars in that regard. Even during peaceful times, someone seemed to be itching for a battle—perhaps even an all-out war—sowing misfortune for their personal gain. The warrior species tended to create skirmishes with neighboring territories on purpose to tame that itch.
The Quaww’s attacks on the Aldawi along their shared border were more aggressive, however. I suspected that Zirene would declare war once he gathered proof of his allegations against the Quaww, especially after they had placed a price on Selena’s head.
"Are you willing to testify to the Quaww's involvement in Selena's kidnapping to the Assembly?"
I needed to know where his allegiances lay.
Would he support our cause? If he wasn’t willing to make an official indictment of the Quaww, he would no longer be useful to me or Z. My job here would be done, and as difficult as it may be for me to recover from his betrayal, I wouldn’t defend him against Zirene’s wrath.
Yet deep down, a glimmer of hope simmered that he would stand by the Aldawi and speak the truth about what had happened. He had sworn himself to Z a long time ago, wanting nothing to do with his own kind.
Had he experienced a change of heart?
I had denied his advances for so long, believing he wanted me as a trophy mate to add to his flock like other males of his species did. My oath to Z prevented me from entertaining the idea of being with Q, and my hatred of the idea of living as a prize—being treated like a sexual object for a male—made me want to stab him for even suggesting a mating between us.
Was everything he had told me the truth? Or had he taken part in this scheme as revenge for my rejection?
It was hard not to believe him—we’d been so close for all these years—but the betrayal of Zirene’s sire was proof that close ties didn’t matter to some.
Anyone could backstab their family to come out on top.
His mouth gaped open as he stared at me in shock like he couldn’t believe I had asked him such a question.
“It hurts that you would question my loyalty,” he muttered solemnly as hurt flooded his eyes. “Ever since I denounced the Quaww and swore myself to the Aldawi Empire, I have been nothing but loyal to Sovereign Zirene. It was my crew that betrayed us all. Not only am I paying their price, but Selena is too. I would do anything to show my support to the new Aldawi leader.”
“You never told me what happened to her—or my brother, for that matter.”
“As hard as it is for me to say: if I ever become half of the male your brother is, I would die happy. I wouldn’t want to stand between him and his female, because there is nothing he won’t do for Selena,” he sighed, letting those words hang between us. I refused to believe there was hidden meaning to them. “The fact that he allowed me to live should be enough proof that I wasn’t involved. He was the one who untied me and gave me his blaster to stand guard as he freed Selena from the medical table.”
What he had said rang true.
Kaede would never have let him continue breathing if he was a threat . . . Unless Qraniebi had betrayed them while my brother had turned his back.
"Then, where are they?" I asked, gesturing to the room around us. "I know both Kaede and Selena were on your ship—and injured, judging by the blood samples left there. Did you have them ejected, hoping that you could get away with your crime?"
"No, Bryeca. How dare you accuse me of such a thing? After all the years we’ve known each other, you would think so badly of me?" he snapped as his eyes hardened. "Yes, Kaede was injured, but only because I missed when I didn’t anticipate my target would dodge my shot. Sadly, he was able to take a shot at Selena, and Kaede blocked the lethal blow with his cape, absorbing most of the damage. That was why you found his blood.
“Taking full responsibility for the situation, I escorted them to
