“Do you think it’s possible?”
“Now that I am with you, it is possible, for it’s my sole mission to make sure you are safe and happy.”
Chapter Four Kaede
“We are about to leave the Euph Galaxy,” ZYU announced, fabricating beside the star map. “Would you like us to continue?”
Kaede faced the silver projection and the hooded ethereal form glanced over, waiting for his answer. He flicked his hand, signaling to his Helmsman to stand by. Drumming his fingers on his captain chair’s armrest, he weighed his current options.
Kaede didn’t like speaking with the Nyaviel. Their minds were too powerful for his liking. Mwe was the Head Chairmen of the Assembly, which was problematic for anyone with secrets, especially those that could win a war should one break out. He could turn the tide toward anyone’s favor if he believed it was for the benefit of the galaxy. Thankfully, the male had shown favor toward Selena and taken her under his wing. Oeta mentioned that her father viewed her as a second daughter, making her the sibling she never had.
Kaede knew that despite Selena’s relationship with the most powerful Nyaviel family, he would not receive special treatment from Mwe. Oeta was the better option to reach out to, especially since she already had a habit of checking in with him. The persistent female loved getting on his nerves with her constant requests for updates. The only reason he tolerated her inquiries was that she was willing to provide news about Destima.
Gripping the armrests, he leaned his head back against his chair and closed his eyes as he tried to prepare for what was to come.
< REI. AID ME, PLEASE. I NEED TO REACH OETA. >
< DO YOU GIVE YOURSELF TO ME? >
Kaede hesitated. He knew that she didn’t mean anything other than asking for permission to twist her mental thread with his, extending his short range with her psychic strength. REI had saved Oeta’s mental signature during all the times she had reached out to him, so it shouldn’t be a difficult task. He was incapable of sending mental threads outside of a dreamdome. REI gave him the ability to expand his awareness over great distances. Only a few species within the CEG could match her, and even among them, only the strongest members.
Even knowing all this, Kaede didn’t want to give himself to anyone but Selena. Her name was like a mantra on his tongue every time he spoke it.
It didn’t matter that REI was now a sentient being living inside him; his heart belonged to his star. Yet, he knew that his new companion didn’t mean anything malicious.
< AFFIRMATIVE. MY MENTAL THREAD IS YOURS TO WEAVE AND REACH FOR OETA. >
A sense of calm settled upon him as REI coiled her teal mental thread around his neon-green one. Sucking in a breath, he felt the strain as she pulled his mental thread, reaching over great distances. Instantly, REI found Oeta’s special black-fuchsia signature and gave her a tap to request a conversation.
A pop sounded in his head when Oeta tied their ends together and established the private connection.
“Are you well?” Oeta’s mental voice rang urgently. “Did you find Selena? Just give me the word and I will send you some aid.”
“I am well enough. And no, we haven’t found Selena, but I sense us closing in on her location.”
“There has to be a reason why you are contacting me,” she pressed, some of the edge fading from her tone. “Even though I leave my thread out for anyone to contact me, you have never sought me out before, and our conversations have always been… straining.”
“Your constant need for updates when there aren’t any is draining and interrupts my concentration on the task at hand,” Kaede accused, not in the mood for her sass. The female had always been opinionated about mindspeaking. “Never mind that. The reason I’m contacting you is to inform you that I will be leaving the galaxy soon. I know that your range is limited beyond its perimeter. I am hoping you will contact my sisters and share my location. Selena’s captors have stopped. I want to take the opportunity to find them and grab her before they even attempt to escape.”
“I can sense your location,” she muttered. Her mental voice sounded as distant as their physical forms. “Do you really believe you need all of your sisters? Would they suffice or should I ask Z for more support?”
“With my Abyss, I should be able to move in and out undetected without a problem. I want the Fab Five here in case they discover Selena is missing sooner than I predict. My sisters are the only backup I will need, so we can clear any resistance as fast as possible before returning to Destima.”
“That may be a problem.”
“Why?” Kaede asked, alarmed. “Has something happened to my sisters since the last time we spoke?”
His sisters were a part of the Fab Five for a reason—they were highly trained assassins, each with unique abilities, and almost unbeatable. What could have happened to them while he was gone that would render them unable to join his journey home?
“Kaica has been busy with Xylo’s team, managing the conditions of Selena’s mates. I fear if you pull her away from her duties, there may be dire consequences.”
Once again, Oeta was speaking in riddles, answering one question by creating more. This was why he hated conversing with the female. It seemed to be a common trait amongst the Nyaviel. They liked to hide the truth in plain sight so only those who knew what they were asking for would understand. If he’d had any other choice, he would never have spoken to Oeta.
He had played enough of these mind games with his sisters, but at least they knew when to stop pestering him. If Oeta knew too, she didn’t
