It was a half-truth and I wasn’t lying.
I just wasn’t telling the whole truth.
“That’s what the engineers reported too.”
He pressed a finger to a sheet of paper and slid it to the front of the desk.
He never picked it up.
“What sort of weapon did he use? We’ve never seen an electronic pulse like this before. To the best of your knowledge, was it a new type of weapon?”
So that was why he’d brought me there.
To ask me about how they’d shut down the computer system.
My shoulders relaxed.
A little.
“It certainly felt that way, my lord. The computer systems went off completely. We ended up falling toward the planet. But the weapon must have backfired somehow as the M’rora didn’t descend to finish me off. We had enough time to fix the ship and return to the atmosphere, but by that time, the M’rora had recovered too. He attacked and used the same electronic weapon to knock out the computer systems. He took my fated mate and by the time I fixed the computer system again, he was long gone.”
“You refer to ‘we’. Who is this other person?”
“My fated mate, my lord. She was in my possession for the majority of the time.”
“And while you were on the planet’s surface, did your relationship with her… develop?”
He paused over the word ‘develop,’ making it clear what he was referring to.
Did I claim her was his question.
Now I was at a fork in the road.
I was meant to bring my fated mate back to the Citadel to carry out the mating ceremony.
That way, I could achieve full social status.
By taking her earlier, I had dishonored myself and reduced the prize I would receive.
I had to make sure my response didn’t signal the love I had for her.
“Yes, my lord. I claimed her on the planet’s surface. I was certain the M’rora would descend and finish me off and take her away. I decided to claim her for myself first. I realize that isn’t ideal, my lord. It has always been my dream to carry out the mating ceremony at the Citadel. I fully accept any punishment you wish to administer. I did what I did out of love for the empire and my duty to the Elders.”
I gave him a deep bow out of respect.
He wore a thoughtful expression.
“If that’s true, you must still feel the bond you share with her?”
I felt at it.
I’d smothered it so thickly it felt numb.
The last thing I needed was to be reminded of her every moment of every day.
It was just too painful.
I let through a trickle.
My eyes bulged at the realization…
“She’s close!” I said.
The Grand Elder’s nose quivered.
In my shock, I glanced into the darkness of his hood and met his gleaming red eyes.
I immediately pulled them away, regretting my lapse of concentration.
Now I would turn to stone…
Or lose my mind and slit my throat…
Or a thousand other terrible things…
My heart raced, doubled first by the realization Ava was so close that she had to be somewhere in the Citadel, and then doubled again out of fear I would soon perish.
My heart rate slowed and my cold sweat grew dry.
I was still alive…
“She claims she stole a M’rora ship and followed the bond you share, seeking you out.”
My heart thudded so loud in my ears, I could hardly hear his words.
“Why… Why would she do that?”
“The bond is a mysterious and powerful thing. It affects species differently. Some try to hide it, others barely even feel it. Some, such as this female human, feel it so strongly, she is drawn to it no matter where she is in the galaxy.”
He pushed off the edge of his desk, his hands once again behind his back.
“It appears your fated mate has completed your mission for you. This means she will take part in the mating ceremony, and you shall be elevated to the rank of First Class.”
So many breaking pieces of news, so much I never thought would happen.
I was to be considered equal among the upper echelons of Shadow society.
It’d been taken at the last moment, and now Ava had returned it to me.
But she would pay a terrible price.
The mating ceremony…
“My lord?” I said.
“The rules of the mating ritual are clear. You must return with your fated mate. But nowhere does it say you must return at the same time. If she comes later, you’re still entitled to your full reward. You will receive your titles and honors.”
He reached into a baggy sleeve of his cloak and came out with my two rolls of parchment.
I felt lightheaded.
“The ceremony has already passed but there’s no reason for you not to receive your honors here and now. By the power invested in me by the Citadel, I grant you full Shadow First Class citizenship. Congratulations.”
He gave them to me and shook my hand with his claw.
“Go and prepare for the mating ceremony. I look forward to seeing your… performance.”
And with that, the Grand Elder rounded his table and returned to his chair.
I was still in shock.
The Grand Elder seemed surprised to see me still standing there.
He squinted at me through his reading glasses.
“Is there anything else?”
“No, my lord. I just wanted to thank you.”
“Don’t thank me. Thank your fated mate. You must have had a powerful impact on her to come here of her own free will. Perhaps other Shadows might learn from your example.”
My hand shook violently as I saluted, then turned and marched toward the door.
My hand hesitated on the doorknob.
“Uh, my lord?”
He paused once more in reading his document.
There was an air of irritation in him now.
Our business, as far as he was concerned, was over, and I was only wasting his time.
“Yes?”
“May I see my fated mate before the mating ceremony? I wish to check her condition.”
The Grand Elder pursed his lips.
“I don’t see why not. Speak to my assistant. He’ll arrange everything.”
“Thank you, my lord.”
He waved a claw and had already
