“No, father,” Royak replied mockingly. “I’m afraid you are wrong.”
Zirene could feel Royak’s aura crawl over his skin, nearly tangible but still weaker than his. Flicking his ears back, he heard multiple thuds and groans. He assumed the strength of their combined auras had knocked the guards to the ground, though he refused to break eye contact to check.
The older male’s eyes flicked behind him, widening slightly though a sinister grin spread on his face, teeth bared.
Zirene didn’t need to turn to know what his father was looking at. There were only three others within the room that would be able to stand against his aura.
In the blink of an eye, his sire disappeared, and a scream ripped through the chamber.
Spinning, he saw both Xylo and Odelm fall to the ground, stunned. Their appendages lay severed upon the floor, blood seeping out to surround them. His sire hissed as he held Selena by her hair, neck exposed.
“Xylo! Odelm!” she begged. “Please! Help them!”
Without thinking, Zirene shadowstepped behind his father and gripped the back of his mane, digging his claws into his sire’s neck. “Let her go,” he ordered, throwing the full force of his aura behind the command, not caring if it prevented Royak from approaching to help.
The fallen guards’ groans were barely audible over Selena’s screams. His sire had chosen a cheap and dishonorable move, shadowstepping between Selena and her Favored and mauling their backs to eliminate the threat their venom posed.
Now his Nova hung in the hands of the male he’d grown to hate but had been too much of a coward to face. If only he were Sovereign, he wouldn’t have needed to hide his clan, and none of this would have happened.
“Let. Her. Go,” he ordered once more, squeezing his sire’s neck tighter, his concern for Aldawi law long forgotten.
Shaking, his father’s hold on his Nova loosened ever so slowly, until his paws finally opened, freeing her from his grasp. She fell to the ground, slipping in her Favored’s blood as she dashed to their sides. She didn’t spare a glance for the blood smearing across the floor and her clothing.
“You have crossed an unforgivable line, Sovereign,” Zirene growled. “And it’s time you paid for that mistake.”
“What are you going to do?” he hissed, thrashing in his grip.
Zirene’s gaze met his brother’s, who nodded.
They had both known this day would come, though they had hoped for a less gruesome transfer of power. The Stars had led him to this moment, but no matter how many times he tried, he couldn’t force himself to take over . . . and put a larger target on Selena’s back.
“I declare a challenge to your rule. If I win, you shall grant Royak and me the freedom to choose our Seedbearers and future offspring. Since I have both, Selena and her clan shall receive immunity within the empire—no harm shall come to them.”
“And if I refuse?” his sire spat.
“You never refuse a challenge; that would be a sign of weakness and unfitness to rule,” Zirene mocked. “I will withdraw my challenge to your precious title as long as you leave my Seedbearer’s clan and me out of your schemes.”
“I accept your challenge,” he growled. “Now drop your aura and release me at once. I can’t wait to put you in your place.”
“You first,” Zirene demanded, jerking his hold.
Zirene felt his sire’s aura fade to its dormant state, and Royak’s soon followed before he reeled his own in. When the auras receded from the room, the royal guards stood slowly.
“Kaede, port Selena to my ship in the hangar,” he ordered, refusing to loosen his hold on his sire until he knew his Nova was safe. “Then return with the infirmary’s medical staff.”
“No!” Selena shouted, holding both of her nestmates' heads on her lap and combing their hair with her hands. “I am not leaving their sides.”
“Selena,” Kaede snapped. “They won’t survive if you don’t listen. We must get you to safety, for the benefit of both Prince Zirene and your Favored.”
“But—”
“No, nestqueen,” Xylo begged as he tried to cup her face, his weakened arm flopping to the ground. “We will survive as long as we can regenerate, but we will rest easier knowing that you are safe. Please listen to Kaede—you promised.”
Zirene saw her resolve slip as she wiped her eyes and nodded. “Fine, but only because you want me to.”
Leaning over, she kissed them both on the lips before carefully lowering each of their heads to the floor. Standing, she stared at her hands and ruined clothes, taking in a shuddering breath.
“Okay, Kaede. Lead on.”
Chapter Twenty-Two Selena
I felt my heart shatter with every step I took away from my nestmates.
When I gripped Kaede’s offered hand, he wrapped his cape around me. A moment later, I blinked as I heard a pop, and we landed outside a ship similar to Masmi’s.
Kaede pressed his hand upon the side panel, lowering the ramp as he led me inside. We passed the storage bay and went down the hall, passing some rooms until we came upon the room at the end. The door automatically opened, revealing a basic cabin with a lavatory.
“Wash up and get dressed in fresh clothes,” Kaede ordered. “By the time you’re done and you’ve taken a nap, hopefully, we will be on our way.”
“How am I supposed to take a nap while Zirene is fighting his deranged sire and my Favored are slowly dying?” I demanded. “You’re asking for the impossible.”
“I don’t have time to argue with you,” Kaede snapped, already retreating away from me. “If you care about your nestmates, then let me go and get them help.”
“Okay,” I muttered, closing my eyes.
The familiar snap sounded before I opened them again.
I sat down on the corner of the small bed and dropped my face in my hands to cry. The tears never came.
My loved ones had suffered so much just because they were a part of my life. When would I
