“He did?” I whispered, my heart clenching at the story. “My brother finally admitted his feelings?”
“And then some.” Qraniebi nodded, glancing down at his bound wrists. “He’s more determined than ever to return her to her rightful place. I just hope she makes it.”
“Me too,” I muttered, following his gaze. “Is it safe to assume that he escaped before we commandeered your ship?”
“Last I saw, he was slumped against the wall beside me, muttering to himself as he frantically worked his wristband. When my ship jolted as yours attached to the hull, I turned to tell him that we would be okay, but he was gone.”
“It worked?”
His pale gaze flicked to mine. “I believe that was how he boarded my ship, since there was no evidence of another ship until we came into combat. Somehow he was able to tether himself and teleport to our location.”
“The necklace.” I banged my hand on the table, frustrated with myself for not thinking of it before. “He must’ve embedded a tracking beacon in her gem’s casing, knowing she would always wear it. It all makes sense now.”
Qraniebi watched me with widened eyes.
“You mean that glowing orb?”
“Yes, why?”
“There are a lot of crazy, unexplainable things in this universe, but this tops them all.” He shook his head in disbelief. “Your brother placed the orb inside her open chest, and instantly, her spots came alive. As I watched, her injuries slowly healed and her skin sealed itself. It was like a miracle gifted by the Stars!”
Jerking to my feet, my chair fell over as I reached over the table, gripping Qraniebi’s soft chin. His eyes flew open as I leaned forward. “If you want to survive, don’t repeat what you saw to another soul. Do you understand me?”
He nodded slightly, struggling to move in my grasp. “I would never,” he swore. “Even though you’re questioning my loyalty due to the current circumstances, I have sworn myself to Sovereign Zirene and will always follow him.”
“Remember that.” Releasing my grip, I backed away and scanned his body one more time. “You are to remain detained until I can confirm your story, but I will make sure they treat you well.”
“What can I do to prove myself to you?” He stood and tried to take a step, but his bindings prevented him from leaving the table. “I’m willing to allow Prince V’dim and Prince Z’fir—even Chamber Master Mwe—to scan my mind. You know I can’t hide my memories or thoughts from them. They will be able to confirm that everything I’ve said is the truth.”
“You’re willing to do that?” I shook my head, confused. “Why?”
“Because I can’t allow Kaede to take all the credit for what happened on my ship.” He sent me a sad smile. “I’ll do anything to get in your good graces once again.”
Pursing my lips, I studied him as I tried not to jump to conclusions.
“Let me see what I can do.”
Three
Qraniebi
She was more magnificent every time she graced me with her beauty.
It didn't matter that she was currently angry at me; I would’ve been in her place. No, somewhere within those bright-blue eyes, I saw hope for our future.
B was the only female I wanted in my nest. No other could compare to her beauty and fierceness . . . well, perhaps her brother had her beat in the latter, but only because he never held back in a fight.
But no matter what I did, I could never convince her to be mine.
I had tried courting her like all Quaww males did, by flashing my feathers and performing a mating dance around her. However, I could only take so many rejections. After she had denied me for the fifteenth time, I had decided to try a different approach. . . I just didn’t know what yet.
Not that it mattered now.
Now I was stuck here, imprisoned until I could officially prove myself to B and the Aldawi Empire that I had been a victim of mutiny and had nothing to do with the terror my former crew had caused.
Praise the Stars, they were all dead now, for if they had lived, I would have personally seen that their life force were reduced to mere stardust.
I shook my head, unable to shake the nagging question of why she didn’t want me.
Was it because of Kaede or Z? Stars, I needed to remind myself that I could no longer refer to him as Z until I was declared innocent and in his good graces once more.
I had always wondered if Kaede and Sovereign Zirene had prevented B from pursuing a relationship with me. I had realized that Kaede was obsessed with Selena, fixated on her as more than an assignment, and addicted to protecting the one he secretly loved from those who meant her harm.
I respected the broody assassin more than I had before yesterday. In a way, I saw myself in him. We were both males working behind the scenes for Sovereign Zirene, assigned to protect his citizens and do his bidding. Though Kaede protected the one he had fallen for, I’d been blessed with missions that complemented the Fab Five’s.
No, something else still prevented her from uniting with me, becoming the first and only to join my flock. I wished she would just tell me why. I hadn’t missed the yearning in her eyes, how she’d struggled not to touch more than my chin.
I glanced at my pathetic display and sighed at the loss of the feathers that I had groomed into perfection. Now only my blue layer of down remained, leaving me looking like an overgrown fledgling, a mere fraction of the gorgeous male that I had
