Chapter Thirty-Four

The next morning, I found myself pacing about Rel and Jysel’s sanctuary, feeling a little lost. Both because I couldn’t find where I meant to go—perhaps I was feeling a bit distracted after recent events—and because the twins hadn’t said much of anything during or after their bath. The blood hadn’t been theirs, thankfully, but they did have bruising and what appeared to be rope burn marks. A doctor had made short work of those problems, then ordered them to bed for rest. They’d obeyed without fuss, and were still asleep a few rooms over.

Sal’aphel had taken to following me around, and finally I turned to look at him. “Sal’aphel…where is the main room?”

He perked up excitedly and levitated me gently onto his back before prancing down the hall. A few turns later, we entered the large room, and he set me down. After rewarding him with plenty of cheek scratches, I looked around for what I’d come for.

The prior night, I had been so busy taking care of Rel and Jysel that I’d neglected to check the extent of my change. Now that I was finally awake and a little less nerve wracked, I sought out the large mirror they had set into the wall in the main room.

What the fuck…? I stared at myself, even switching to my underwear to check for sure.

Yep, every part of me I could see was now blue. I had white freckles here and there, including a smattering of them across my face. Much like my forearms, my body was accentuated by mottled patches of glowing skin in varying sizes.

My hair remained rich blue, but the underside was now luminous. Likewise, my eyes remained bright yellow…but my pupils had fully returned, and my sclerae were black. Much like my hands, the nails on my feet had hardened and become both pointed and iridescent.

Pointed ears, and a pair of short skin-covered horns that gradated into more glowing skin was the final…touch. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to know what else glowed.

Maybe? I pulled my bra open a bit and eyed my nipples to be safe, then sighed in relief. Good…no rave light nipples.

I resummoned clothes and stretched, feeling much…lighter. So light, I wanted to hum to myself while I searched for food for Sal’aphel and I…but, remembering how that went last time, I stopped myself. Zafir had been so damned worried the last time he caught me humming, I wasn’t sure I wanted to risk whatever the negative outcomes might be.

“Nothing here either…?” I grumbled, pulling open another cabinet. All empty. I looked at Sal’aphel, then back the way we’d come. It was tempting to have him go wake his masters…but no. I could listen to the TV and work through the documents Lynir had sent me while I waited.

I needed to familiarize myself with how Clan V’shir functioned and, whenever Rel woke up, make sure he understood I still saw it as his to run. The same was to be said for Jysel’s branch of the clan—if he wanted. There were some other ideas I wanted to look into as well, but those could wait until I had a better understanding of what I’d come to…possess. I sighed. While accurate, and something I needed to come to terms with, I disliked the word.

Frowning, I glanced toward the TV when the sounds shifted to something a bit more…panicked, than usual.

“—due to the incoming solar shower, Imperator Julien has entered talks with Creshe’s allies to secure safe passage out of the system and relocation to a new one. With mere weeks to finalize this decision, many of Creshe’s citizens are taking the first flight they can book. Others think this rare weather phenomena is a hoax and refuse to leave their homes. More on this developing story after a word from our sponsors.”

I stared at the image of fucking fire hurtling through space, then promptly shot a message off to Lynir. [What in the ever-loving fuck is a solar storm? Do we have time to prepare? How do we prepare?]

Lynir’s laughter wasn’t quite the answer I expected. [Easy now. It was us who tipped off the Creshe Empire, on your behalf, even if they’re spinning it another way. Our preparations are well under way—you can focus on those troublesome boys. I’ll let you know if anything requires your direct attention.]

[Right… Thanks,] I grumbled. Fine. I’ll look it up.

By the time I was done reading through a few short articles on solar storms and the way they charred systems, my anxiety had skyrocketed. I paced around the room a few times, stopped, then promptly headed back in the vague direction of the bedroom. Sal’aphel trotted after me, and gave me a firm bump when I almost didn’t take the right turn.

“I feel like I was worked over by a nalzirn…” Jysel’s groan caught my attention as I walked into the room. I arrived just in time to see him turn onto his side, pat around on the bed, and suddenly realize he had nothing to cuddle. He shot up straight into a sitting position, startled. “Where is Ela—?”

“I was watching TV with Sal’aphel,” I spoke up, causing them to both stop what they were doing to look at me. Jysel even went as far to crawl across the mattress, place his hands on Rel’s shoulders, and peer around him at me. “They’re saying something about a solar storm on the news, but Lynir said we’re already preparing. I…may have gotten antsy after reading a few articles.

“Are you two feeling better?”

“I am, he isn’t,” Rel answered dryly, before nudging his twin hard enough to cause him to topple over. “Why don’t you say what’s on your mind and get it over with?”

“That’s…” Jysel grumbled, pulling a pillow over to hug. He peered at me over it for a moment before asking, “Did I…did I not please you, or am I unpleasant? Is that why you only kept us as court members?”

I raised an eyebrow at him in disbelief. “What?”

“That woman planted seeds of doubt well before you came on board,” Rel informed me with a shrug. “She knows how to prey on Jysel’s insecurities.”

“Jysel…” I sighed, walking over to the edge of the bed and placing my hand on his head, letting my fingers intertwine with his hair. “We’ve only just started ‘dating,’ if you will. I refuse to make an executive decision and remove all choice of romantic partner from either of you. Furthermore…the court level of binding is as high as you two taught me.”

That got a chuckle out of Rel, who promptly pulled me into his lap and away from the sulking Jysel.

“The three of us need to discuss where to go from here. Sal’aphel, fetch Jysel and bring him.” Rel lifted me up with ease and walked out of the room, his gait surprisingly bouncy. “Elara, how are you feeling? Your change was so abrupt, we were worried about you.”

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

“I’m a little overwhelmed. Lynir sent me documentation for Clan V’shir while you two were asleep. I’ve been reading up on it because I don’t want to step on anyone’s toes.” I looked at Rel. “Which reminds me. Under other circumstances, I don’t think I would need to clarify, but I intend for you two to continue running your respective branches as you have been, and if that’s what you want to do. I have some things I’ll be looking into in that regard. For now though—mmmph!”

Rel interrupted me with a deep kiss, and didn’t stop until I started tugging at his hair. He smirked, running his tongue over his lips. “Now that I have your attention, Ath’isrin, don’t discuss work before breakfast.” He paused long enough to sit me on a stool. “If I need to throw Jysel at you to keep you occupied, I will.”

Rel glided behind the counter with a sly smirk.

Jysel promptly pouted on my shoulder and looped his arms around my waist. “Elara, you’re sure you don’t find me…repulsive?”

For a moment, I considered dragging Jysel onto the counter and fucking him right there just to make a point. A thought they both seemed to sense, seeing as Jysel turned a pretty shade of blue and Rel started chuckling.

I took a deep breath. “Jysel, if I found you any degree of undesirable, you wouldn’t have had any role with me in the bedroom the other night, and I sure as hell wouldn’t be talking to you. “

“You’re here, talking to me, because I find you interesting and pleasant to talk to despite our past problems. Citomy is who I find repulsive. Playing along with her plans even a little pisses me off.”

“Then…can I have my morning kiss too?” Jysel asked hesitantly.

“Yes?” I blinked at him, a little confused by his remaining hesitancy.

[He wants you to kiss him,] Rel informed me, laughing. [Sometimes that is what it takes to prove a point.]

Oh for fuck’s sake. I grabbed Jysel by the collar of his shirt and pulled him into a kiss, in which I nipped his lower lip. To my surprise, he lifted me fully out of my seat and pinned me back against the wall, taking over the kiss.

“You are a strange iri, and an even stranger queen,” Jysel stated as he gently lowered me to the ground, breaking into a huge, boyish smile. “But you’re our strange queen.”

“Indeed. Damn the circumstances—we should be celebrating,” Rel remarked, shooting us a look. “If you’re done, your tea is waiting.”

“So, are you two willing to tell me about the events leading to you capture?” I asked as I reclaimed my seat. When they shot me a questioning look, I explained, “All I know is that you two responded to a report of criminals in the…Sector? City? I don’t know what to call this place anymore.”

“Nulan-kyrd. It’s a reference to the name of the lantern carved by a legendary warrior who led his clan into the caves buried within trench walls,” Rel informed me cheerfully, a smile spreading across his face. I blinked. Right. That sounded like a name he would pick.

“So, you responded to criminals in? On? Nulan-kyrd and then…something happened, you were captured. Citomy passed on a message and left a shuttle for me. That’s all I know,” I finished, flourishing one hand.

“It was clearly a trap. We aren’t sure how her soldiers arrived, but they were on us within moments of slaying the criminals,” Jysel answered, frowning. “We didn’t have the chance to fight back. When I regained consciousness, we were bound in a cell and one of Citomy’s husbands was threatening the three of us with torture.”

“Then we were called to the ‘throne room’ because you were on your way to the ship,” Rel added, nodding as he turned over several slices of sizzling meat. “Citomy lectured us to ‘not ruin this for her’ and attempted to sow doubt in us regarding your character.”

“Do you have any idea what her interest in me is?” I asked, leaning forward.

“We aren’t entirely sure…she kept going on about your potential, and how much you could grow.” Jysel rubbed his chin.

Rel put aside the meat to rest and turned to face us while mixing something in an opaque bowl. “If she wants you to be the ‘daughter she never had’ it means she wants you to grow to a point where you’re confident enough—or cocky enough—to challenge her for the seat of Jalan-ki. If she has other motives, I’m not sure what they might be. Unless…”

“Unless?”

“You think Citomy may know what Elara is?“ Jysel’s brow creased with worry. “But, that means she could exile Elara on a whim or worse! We—”

“We should question Suisuni…though, perhaps first, it would be a good idea to see what needs of his need to be met in the clan, and what he has to offer.” Rel slowed to a stop, giving ne an odd look. “I’m not certain what his business was with the Y’serdyn—or if it was another clan he spoke to—but it’s strange that he would have done so while acting as Citomy’s ‘lead’ husband. The whispers on the ship claimed he reached out because of you. If that’s true, he may be distraught that his ‘risk’ didn’t warrant you accepting him into our constellation. You will need to explain your decision again to him most likely.”

‘Our’ constellation… I felt heat rise to my face. “Well, about that… I don’t know if I can help ease his mind. He’s been with Citomy for a long time, hasn’t he?”

“No, about that…” the twins exchanged a look, then Jysel continued, “She goes through husbands faster than Sal’aphel goes through jighsar. Suisuni has only been with her for half a century, and his appointment to ‘first husband’ was within the past two years. He is a little younger than Rel and I.”

“He’s a talented politician. It’s why Citomy got her hooks in him early,” Rel added.

“Which means what in Syldran culture?” I asked pointedly.

Jysel shook his head. “That he loves learning about and understanding cultures, including those of Syldra. He knows how they form, how they grow and change over time, how they can be influenced toward a better outcome, and more. Because of his cultural skills, he also excels at interacting with other clans and forming alliances. I’m not sure Citomy quite understands just what she gave you by giving the three of us to you.”

That just made me more uneasy. Between the three of them, what else did I need to begin running a successful clan? I would have to check and see what else the V’shir Elders were capable of.

“And, what was this about Citomy possibly ‘knowing what I am?’” I asked, making them both stiffen. Smirking, I added, “What, did you think I was going to let that comment go?”

“You…appear to be from a clan of Depthwalkers, and maybe even Abysstouched,” Rel began slowly, placing his mixing bowl down and turning to face me fully. “If you are ‘Abysstouched,’ that means you were born in the abyss and altered by the aetheric difference there. How you would have gone from there to here is what makes us struggle to determine if you’re truly Abysstouched. If the stories we’ve heard are to be believed, it isn’t supposed to be possible to return from the abyss with sound mind and body.”

“We did, however, find proof you’ve been on this planet for a few centuries at least,” Jysel murmured, causing me to stare at him aghast. “This planet was home to a clan that raised and trained royal guards. We don’t know exactly what happened to them or how the Creshians came to own this planet, but we do know that your team and Aisu belonged to that clan at one point.”

“And you were planning to tell me this when?” I demanded.

They both pointed at different spots of my body and answered, “Once you changed.”

“Which you have.”

“So, we told you.”

“There are a few things we haven’t told you yet, because we want to confirm that the Creshe Empire is letting go first.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Why would they let go?”

“Because their other choice is death. You’re a queen, with a clan, and that means you lead one of the Celestial Houses,” Rel answered smugly. “Once it’s safe and we’re certain our friend won’t overreact, we will fill you in.”

“Until then, there’s so much more to discuss…” Jysel tilted his head as he looked at me. “Would it be helpful for me to compile information on courts for you? I could have Ciheri assist with that.”

“Ah yes, have the pups work together to please their mistress,” Rel drawled, responding to his brother’s glare with a devious smile.

“Yes, that would help. I still don’t understand ‘courts,’ and Ciheri is always looking for a way to help,” I interrupted their moment with a dry smile. “Rel, we should figure out how much trouble your clan members are going to be now that you’re…” I paused, not quite liking the ‘bound’ term. “…hmmm. Now that you’re a member of my court.”

“I would offer an alternative word but, much like Ter’suline, it’s fallen into disuse and for similar reasons,” Rel answered as he turned to plate our food. “You’re right, we should make rounds and see how people react. Or…hmm, I could open the cafe today…”

“Let’s see to Suisuni first.” I shook my head. “I don’t want to leave him fretting or feeling abandoned, especially not if she kicked him to the side because of me.”