Chapter Thirty

“Move…stars?” I asked, staring at the Y’serdyn.

“I’m not gonna claim to be an astronomy expert…but what?” Aldiner demanded, forgetting whatever fear it was he had of the green-eyed man. “Stars? Actual stars? Please tell me you’re speaking metaphorically.”

The Y’serdyn smirked, causing Aldiner to groan and hide his face in his hands.

“Uhm…is this some kind of Depthwalker or Abysstouched magic? Technology? …both?” Ciheri frowned, his eyes ticking back and forth as if reading something.

The Y’serdyn shrugged. “Only in the sense that not many clans have gone deep enough into the Fringes to have their concepts of space challenged. Are you familiar with solar showers?”

This time, Rel spoke up, “They’re a form of rare space weather where objects akin to suns rain through a system, burning life and atmosphere off most planets and moons present.” He paused to glance at me, “You can think of it as droplets of plasma rather than rain…but the ‘droplets’ are larger than some moons. We have yet to, officially, determine the cause of this phenomenon.”

“Unofficially,” the Y’serdyn began with a devious smile, “it is a hunting mechanism for a space-dwelling species found in the Fringes. You could say they prefer to cook their meals. They’re actually quite friendly and docile. One of the ones I’ve befriended is more than happy to use its abilities to threaten this system and force mass evacuation.

“We are still calculating where they need to attack from to give us enough time, of course, and there’s the matter of deciding if you would prefer to save the natural order of this system.”

I stared at him in disbelief. That was such a ridiculous combination of concepts thrown at me all at once, that I had no idea how to respond.

Ciheri, at least, was quicker, “What does that have to do with moving stars, if they’re not stars?”

“Ah, that,” the Y’serdyn chuckled. “If Elara would prefer this system isn’t destroyed, I will relocate it as a gesture of goodwill and respect. I don’t believe the Creshe should be permitted to remain in this system, as such…”

“So…what, we evacuate everyone… How, exactly, does that separate us from the Creshian Empire? They’ll still—”

The Y’serdyn held a finger up to his lips and winked. “We can’t tell you the entirety of our plans, you understand. For now, I simply need to know if you want us to burn this system out of existence…or save it.”

“…save it?” I sighed in exasperation. “It’s not as if the animals and the plants have done anything to slight us. So, if we could conserve them…”

“Consider it done,” the Y’serdyn smiled. “With that decided, I should get to work. I think it would be best for everyone involved if you were evacuated sooner rather than later.”

The Y’serdyn disappeared in a shaft of green light, and Aldiner let out a distressed groan. “What is he thinking? That much effort…”

“Hmmm, maybe a little overzealous…or maybe just right in this situation?” Ciheri murmured to himself. Then, he perked up and looked at me. “Is there anything I can do to help, Elara? I’ve compiled information on queens and how to control those kinds of powers, but I feel like I should be doing more.”

“There is one thing,” Rel remarked, “Elara is being harassed by the humans to participate in a propaganda campaign. Would you mind visiting Lynir and speaking with him about her modeling options? I doubt she will want to wear human clothing.”

“Sure!” Ciheri exclaimed excitedly, and just like that, he was off.

“Uh… I never agreed—”

Rel slid an arm around my waist, chuckling. “The humans don’t understand how much danger they’re in. If you cooperate, the other queens will see it as a powerful move on your part once your true nature comes to light. Send them a message.”

“Is this really the time for that?” Aldiner crossed his arms. “Like, I get that she needs to establish herself as a strong, independent queen to make sure she doesn’t get absorbed into some other clan herself. But, right now those crazy cunts may just see it as hostility. And—”

This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

“For better or for worse, Citomy seems taken with Elara’s existence. We can use that,” Jysel murmured, his eyes becoming unfocused. “But we’ll have to break that connection as quickly as possible.”

“Agreed.” Rel nodded, then looked to Aldiner. “I want you to work with Casair to make certain any visitors we receive aren’t bringing problems with them.”

“Right… And here I dared to hope you might let me do something fun,” Aldiner complained, biting his lower lip as he eyed me. Then, he looked to Rel. “You know, four is a good number~”

“Not right now, Aldiner,” Rel reprimanded him.

Aldiner promptly stuck his tongue out at us before spinning around and taking the transport out. The twins released heavy sighs and both put arms around my waist, seeming to relax with everyone gone.

I looked between the two, an eyebrow raised, as I lifted my plate of food off my lap. “At this rate, Sal’aphel will get the rest of my food because you two are going to knock it in the floor.”

“We’re tired.”

“We were thinking about bringing you back to bed with us.”

“Or perhaps a movie, if you aren’t tired?”

“I don’t know. I feel like I should be doing something.” I shook my head.

“You should be resting,” Rel informed me, sliding his fingertips along my thigh.

“Agreed. You lost a lot of blood, you shouldn’t worry about fighting or hunting quite yet. Our soldiers will handle it.” Jysel traced patterns on my other thigh, his gaze a little hazy.

“I’ve decided. We’ll continue watching a movie,” Rel declared, levitating me off the seat and placing me on my feet. He and Jysel promptly followed, steering me back toward the bedroom.

“Uh…? Even though Jysel isn’t caught up?” I asked.

“I’ve watched it before,” Jysel mumbled, flushing. “…but thank you for your concern. I’ll be fine. I’m going to keep reading while you watch it.”

“If you say so.” I tilted my head.

“Change into something more cozy,” Rel stated with a smile. “I’ll bring drinks and snacks for us momentarily.”

Rel kissed my forehead, then let Jysel pull me over to the bed. The latter switched his wardrobe to nothing but pants before promptly hopping under the covers. Then, he shot me a hopeful, expectant glance.

“Fine, fine, you don’t need to pout.” I gave him a lopsided smile. After changing into nightclothes, I slid in next to Jysel and rested back against the wall of pillowy fluff. “What are you reading, anyway? You seem quite absorbed.”

“Ah…” Jysel looked at the worn book in his hands for a moment, then back to me. “It is the first part of the first volume of a famous Syldran novel. Most people read the digital, AR, or VR copies in this day and age but…” he flushed and showed me the title page, which appeared to be signed and numbered in iridescent ink. “…I have the entire series signed in physical format. It’s difficult to replace the feeling of a real book…even if Syldran tales are so long that digitized formats make more sense.”

“…first part of the first book?” I asked, watching as he flushed deeper. “Just how long is this series?”

“I think…” Jysel’s eyes unfocused briefly. “…the eighth part of the 456th book in the series came out a few weeks ago. I’m rereading it all before I start the newest one.”

I’m not even going to try and do the math for that. Amused, I smiled at him. “You must enjoy the series a lot. I have a hard time comprehending such a long series exists.”

“One of the benefits of our long lifespans,” Jysel informed me with a bright smile. “I’ll have to show you my library. I’m something of a collector, see. I have books from many different peoples throughout the universe. I prefer fictional works, but I collect non-fiction too. Rel likes to see how other species perceive and understand the universe, and we both enjoy ancient histories.”

“For fiction, I prefer audio and visual formats,” Rel offered as he returned. “I am usually listening to some story or another while at work.”

“So much to catch up on…” I murmured to myself, causing them to exchange a glance.

“You have plenty of time—”

“—to pace yourself.”

“You should focus on you first.”

“Don’t think we didn’t notice that you’re troubled.”

“If you need to talk, we’re happy to listen.”

“…how about for now, we just relax?” I asked dryly. “I’d rather not focus on other topics until I’m certain I’m thinking clearly.”

Again, they exchanged a glance, but it was Rel who spoke, “You’re uncomfortable with the fact your team has fully changed while you’re still ‘stuck,’ right?”

I shot him an annoyed look. Hadn’t I just said I didn’t want to talk about it?

He smiled at me. “Elara, everyone has been careful to not expose you to stimuli that would hasten the change. That is all. There is nothing ‘wrong’ with you. Once we escape this planet…we will assist you in your full shift. We promise.”

“We can tell you’re not comfortable in human or mixed skin,” Jysel added softly. “We wouldn’t help keep you in this state if it wasn’t important.”

“I understand,” I grumbled. “Let’s just relax like you two suggested, alright? I said I don’t want to talk about that problem. My…’jealousy’ is stupid. I’m aware.”

“To quote Ciheri, ‘don’t be mean to you,’” Rel stated dryly, crawling into bed beside me. Then, he paused and gave me a questioning look. “We never did discuss ‘boundaries.’”

I eyed him. “If you think sleeping in the same bed will keep my nightmares away, I’m open to try. Anything else…we’ll play by ear.”

“Fair enough.” Rel smirked. “I’m not sure my dear brother can handle sharing a bed with you in any meaning of the phrase, yet.”

“I’m reading, don’t provoke me…” Jysel murmured distractedly.

Rel shrugged and scooted over until he was pressed against my side. [And just like that, he’s lost in his own world. Now then, let’s see where we left off…with the movie, that is.]