This was all wrong.
Zirene couldn’t rule the empire and be with Selena at the same time! The palace was located across the galaxy from Destima, and he highly doubted either of them would enjoy a long-distance relationship, or that the advisors would like Zirene visiting Destima regularly.
Once Royak submitted to Zirene, Kaede hurriedly did the same, afraid of triggering some ancient punishment. Who knew with this species and their ancient savage traditions—he hadn’t realized a new Aldawi leader ate his predecessor’s heart to take over.
“I want all available pilots to disembark at once!” Zirene ordered, his voice rumbled throughout the room. “Send an order to those patrolling to search any spacecraft they come across. Someone was foolish enough to conspire with my dead sire to steal my Nova and your new Beacon from me. I want them captured. If they refuse to cooperate, slaughter them, and search their ship. I want my Nova returned to me at once!” He turned his attention to his fallen comrades, bending down to check their pulses, and snarled from his discovery. “You fools! Why hasn’t anyone given them any aide? Their species are allied with us, and these two are my Beacon’s mates. I will not allow your failure to be the reason for their deaths. Send for our healers! Now!”
The once silent room became alive as the royal guard and those who gathered to witness the change of leadership scrambled, leaving to do his order as quickly as they could. The new Sovereign gave them an order, and no one wanted to be his next target, whether he meant it or not. It wouldn’t be the first time that a Sovereign snapped and killed someone. Hopefully, Zirene wouldn’t do the same.
“Zirene, a word?” Kaede asked, feeling uneasy with so many high alert royal guards moving around them.
“It’s Sovereign Zirene to you, soldier,” a random nearby male called out near him.
Kaede bit back hissing at the stuck-up guard, who was already trying to get into their new leader’s good graces.
Zirene raised his hand at the bystander, halting any further comments. “He can call me whatever he wants because he is one of mine,” Zirene snarled. “He’s my top soldier, and you’re lucky he doesn’t kill you on the spot.” Turning to Kaede, he asked, “What is it? Why haven’t you left to rescue Selena?”
Kaede bit his tongue. He knew emotions were high, and now wasn’t the time to be snappy with someone who had just killed his own sire for power.
“I need you to summon my sisters. Tell them Q’s crew stole Selena, I have the recording to prove it, and ask them to intercept his ship. My sister’s personal cruisers are equipped with a tracking device programmed to Q’s cruiser’s signature,” he explained. “I am going to teleport to my device embedded in the gem’s encasing, but depending on the distance . . .” He flicked his gaze to the fallen Circuli males. “I may not make it.”
Zirene’s amethyst eyes seemed darker—as if a shadow lurked behind them—as he stared Kaede down. Clapping his hands onto Kaede’s shoulders, he nodded. “I will take care of Selena’s clan. Xylo and Odelm will have the best healers. Even if I have to make a deal with Mwe himself, I will,” he sighed. “I will do as you request and give your sisters new prey to hunt. Whatever you do, get my Nova back in one piece. That is your only mission. I don’t care who you have to kill or pay to do so. We both have failed her, and now I place her rescue in your hands.” He swallowed, averting his gaze as he released his grip upon Kaede’s shoulders. “Even though the ringing in my head is telling me to go to her, I can’t.” He shook his head. “Not after claiming the throne, this is why I need you to find her once again.”
Kaede knew the words he’d refused to say.
Before it’s too late.
He was going to make sure it wasn’t.
Nodding, he gave both Royak and Zirene one last salute before fading out.
Groggily, Kaede held the wall as he tried to regain his balance.
He had never tried long-distance teleportation before.
He knew it worked in theory, if the gem had enough power and he had an accurate reading on where he needed to go, but he didn’t want to risk teleporting Selena out. He trusted his invention, but if she was injured, even internally, he feared moving her might cause more harm or permanent damage. That was why he needed his sisters to get here—wherever he was.
Kaede glanced around the ship and shook his head in defeat.
Q’s ship was just like he remembered. Dark and sleek on the outside, a party of color on the inside. He believed that females loved bright colors and unique patterns, but to Kaede, staring at the walls too long only ever gave him a headache.
Contributing to his headache was the fact that Selena was nowhere to be found. Her necklace was thrown haphazardly on the cabin’s bed. Whoever had her took her elsewhere.
He hoped he wasn’t too late.
Kaede hadn’t teleported his drones here. They hadn’t been updated for long-distance teleportation, so he hadn’t even wanted to attempt bringing them.
Why waste perfectly good technology on a mission that was probably doomed to fail anyhow?
He grabbed the necklace, dropping it into his side pocket and hoping he wouldn’t need to use it yet again today. Taking inventory, he confirmed all his weapons and gadgets had indeed made it and hadn’t gotten lost amongst the stars.
Closing his eyes, he focused on the one homing beacon he had—her blood.
He hadn’t meant to lose control when he’d been alone with Selena several nights ago. His reaction had been a result of the cocktail of mating hormones coursing through him. He suspected he was in heat; his Bahzyl sac felt fuller, and whenever he pressed his tongue against it, drops of Bahzyl arousal
