Chapter Twenty-Nine

“What do you mean, ‘this isn’t a good time to visit Erik?’” I crossed my arms at Rel, glaring back at him in defiance.

Rel sighed in exasperation. “Elara, he is known among us for a specific reason. You may not be able to hear it from here, but there are many who’re very happy to have him aboard.”

“Happy…? Uh?” I glanced up at the building beside us, then to Rel. “If they’re fucking, you could just say they’re fucking.”

“I’m not sure that’s an accurate description, but we’ll go with that.” Rel shook his head and offered me a hand. “Come. We should say hello to Ciheri, Aldiner, and the Y’serdyn. They’ve been worried.”

“You’re making this a whirlwind of a tour,” I remarked, stepping past his outstretched hand and close to his torso. He looked a little surprised by my approach, or maybe by the piercing gaze I’d fixed on him. “Rel. If you’re worried…what are your instincts telling you?”

He released a shaky sigh, his eyes creasing as his lips pulled into a gentle smile. “You’re learning to see through me. Elara, my ‘instincts’ say I should take you back to the sanctuary so that Jysel and I can lavish you with affection until you’re so delirious that you can’t remember your own name.

“Our ‘instincts’ aren’t quite what you seem to think they are. At least, not when you’re involved.”

I blinked at him for a moment. Somehow, his forwardness managed to surprise me time and again. After a moment, I placed a hand on his abdomen and gave him a pointed look.

“Which means you know what I’m asking. Why did you avoid the question?”

“Heh.” This time, Rel’s lips pulled into a devious smirk. “You are learning. Good. The answer to that, is that I wanted to test you. The answer to your original question, is that I don’t feel you’re safe outside the sanctuary. It’s uncomfortable to walk you around with only me and the patrols to protect you.”

I frowned, considering my answer for a moment. “Then…shouldn’t we return? You can always permit them to visit instead of making yourself uncomfortable by exposing me to the outside prematurely.”

“…you’re certain?” Rel hesitated. “You dislike being coddled.”

“I am, and I do. Your feelings and comfort are important to me too,” I stated, giving him what I hoped to be a comforting smile. “We can continue our conversation there.”

Rel pulled me into a hug and immediately transported us. When he loosened his grip and took half a step back, I spotted Jysel lounging on the bed with a book in one hand. He looked over the top of it at us, his eyes sliding from Rel to me and back.

“‘I don’t want to be coddled,’ she says,” Jysel remarked, sliding an intricate metal bookmark between the pages before setting it aside.

The corner of my eye twitched. “When you say it like that, it’s a little too close to your whole, ‘are you going to be interfering in Syldrari business’ schtick.”

He just shot me a smirk and swung his legs over the side of the bed, rising to his feet. The two of them exchanged a few glances and, a moment later the two of them were guiding me to some other room in their sanctuary, with Rel to my right and Jysel to my left.

“We decided to make use of the living room.”

“We don’t like the idea of them visiting you in the bedroom quite yet.”

“At least, not when the Y’serdyn is involved.”

“We’re still not certain we can trust him.”

“Besides, Jysel is still miffed that he hardly gets to spend time with you. This may be a good opportunity to fix that.”

“…Rel,” Jysel groaned.

I raised an eyebrow. “Can’t you at least message me?”

“We aren’t sure how safe Syldra-made neurochips are,” Jysel grumbled, glancing away. “Until you’ve absorbed my clan into you own…we… I won’t take the risk. You could be heavily punished if Citomy discovers you’ve been interacting with me without turning me in.”

Right. He’s a ‘criminal.’ I studied the distressed man, then did the only thing I could think of to perhaps put them both at ease. I took their hands in each of mine, intertwining my fingers with theirs. “Okay then. Where’s the living room?”

“Careful now, you’re going to overload him,” Rel remarked, shooting a smirk over my head at his twin.

Jysel shot back a murderous glare. “I’m not that helpless. It’s just…it’s just so strange for an iri to…”

The more Jysel tried to explain himself, the darker blue he turned, until finally he stopped. Seemingly satisfied with that development, Rel spoke in a cheerful tone, “Would you like a snack and a drink, Elara? Before I fetch the others, that is.”

“Hmm? Sure?” I gave him a questioning look. “Maybe a sandwich instead of a snack? I’m still a little hungry.”

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That seemed to catch both their attentions. “Is your appetite fully returning now?”

“I thought you’d change more before that happened.”

“Perhaps there’s internal changes we can’t see?”

“The doctor should have her scans, we can determine how much of her had reverted internally.”

“Perhaps we should delay our visitors?”

“No, no… The cute ones are worried, and the other one did save her life.”

“Then, instead we can keep their visit short. Food, rest, and relaxation would be best for Elara, for now.”

I glanced between them once they fell silent again. “You said before that people struggle to differentiate between you two. Is it because you do that when together?”

“Ah—”

“No…”

Rel cleared his throat. “We refrain around others because they find it difficult to track, or unnerving. If you would prefer we didn’t…”

“That’s not what she’s saying, I don’t think,” Jysel spoke up, his expression a smidge bashful but mostly hopeful as he looked to me for confirmation. “Right, Elara…?”

“Mhm. I was just curious.” I squeezed their hands briefly. “There’s the differences I’ve noted before to Rel, but you’re also standing to either side of me. I’d have to be significantly distracted to get confused. I think.”

“You think?” They asked.

I tilted my head. “It doesn’t seem like a topic that I should speak in absolutes about. Especially with you two. I get the feeling if I did, you’d go out of your way to see how you can confuse me.”

“Maybe…”

“…a little bit.”

I snorted. “Uh huh. That was so convincing. What should your prize be?”

“You?” They suggested, and I sighed.

“Let’s get lunch before I decide if I’m entertaining that suggestion.”

* * *

Sometime later, I found myself nestled onto a comfortable seat shaped like half a sphere. I sat cross legged, a plate of food on my lap, and a drink on a side table within reach. Nearby, Jysel reclined with his book while we waited for Rel to return with the others.

I flipped through my thoughts, trying to remember what I’d wanted to discuss with them. Once it clicked, I looked over to Jysel. “I have a question, if you don’t mind.”

He peered at me over his book for a moment, then tucked his bookmark into place. “I’m listening.”

“You and Rel told me that Citomy was trying to get the leaders of the Resonance Project replaced. What is she doing now that all this happened?” I asked, frowning slightly. “Aside from threatening the pirates with a resonance cannon, I have to assume she’s still got her fingers in other portions of Creshian business…”

“Yes…about that,” Jysel murmured, rubbing his chin. He summoned a data pad to hand and flicked the screen a few times. “Our last report states that she is trying to replace the entirety of the staff with women, save for more menial or trivial jobs. She wants the teams to be ‘expendable males’ and for the women, such as yourself, elevated to the status of nobles within the empire.

“She’s still offering Rel, myself, and one of her husbands to you, along with the promise of building you a cityship and initial fleet once the gate to Syldran space is up and running again… It looks like she’s currently in discussions with her advisers for how to expand the offer further.”

“That’s a bit…desperate, isn’t it?” I frowned. What is she really after? Are her funds and her husbands really of so little value to her?

Jysel twitched and shot me a glare. “I hope you’re not thinking that because you don’t value yourself.”

“It’s more accurate to say that I don’t assign value to people, including myself?” I raised an eyebrow, watching as he set his book aside and padded over to me. “What…?”

Jysel promptly squeezed into my seat with me, lounging back to my left. I shifted a little to look back at him questioningly, not sure what to make of the move.

“They’re almost here,” Jysel stated. “We need to consider if we’re going to flee this planet while everyone is distracted. I want you to strongly consider that possibility. We haven’t been able to confirm the design or accuracy of Citomy’s weaponry.”

“Uh…” I arched an eyebrow at him, then tugged one of the blankets over him. “That doesn’t explain why you decided to join me, but sure. I’ll keep that in mind.”

Jysel flushed, linking his hands behind his head. “You could say I’m still a little jealous of how much more time Rel has gotten with you. We haven’t had many opportunities to get to know each other, even though…even though I made the decision to join my clan with yours. It’s a mix of emotions really, but the word doesn’t translate…ah…”

“I think I get your meaning,” I remarked, shifting to offer him a ludrán.

Jysel reached out to grasp my wrist, guiding my hand to his mouth to feed him. I decided to oblige him, pressing the bright red candy between his lips. The cheeky bastard startled a laugh out of me when his long tongue flicked out to slurp my wrist, his mouth pulling into a broad, boyish grin.

[Adorable as the antics are, you might want to be a little more serious for our guests,] Rel warned, giving me just enough time to return my attention to my plate. He appeared with Ciheri, Aldiner, and the Y’serdyn in tow, his gaze flicking over me and his brother quickly. [Would you like another drink?]

[Yes, please,] I answered, perking up a little as he approached. Hmmm, there might be room for the three of us in this seat-chair-thing…

“Elara!” Ciheri exclaimed brightly. He darted over and placed his hands on the edge of the seat, leaning over to peer at me. “Are you feeling better? No lingering aches and pains? If you need more treatment, I’ve met some great masseuses here! I could recommend—”

“Or you could ask me,” Aldiner interjected with a sly grin. “Let me know if you need any entertainment. I’ve been teaching Ciheri all kinds of fun things.”

“Honestly…” the Y’serdyn rubbed his temples, his simple statement causing both Aldiner and Ciheri to stiffen before hiding behind my seat. “Elara, I really should apologize. It was unforgivably arrogant of me to think my clan was fully under control and free of outside influences. My error nearly cost you your life. If you believe some form of punishment is necessary… I… I will not like it, but I will understand it. Do as you will.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Why would I punish you? You saved my life, so I consider us even.”

The Y’serdyn paused, exhaling a long breath. “Forgive me. I find it easy to forget you are an unusual iri.”

“How is your clan? I thought you would be busy tending to them?” I asked, earning an oddly surprised look.

“You wish to know…? Hm. The ship you visited is lost. We confirmed that there are no loyal members on it. The rest of my fleet is fine and remains in hiding while we recheck every member’s identity and loyalty.” The Y’serdyn linked his hands behind his back, his expression contemplative. “My closest allies and I are working on…a distraction, if you will. Have Rel or Jysel briefed you, yet?”

“I thought it best to have you explain it to her,” Rel stated as he walked over. He placed my new drink on the side table, then nestled into my right, pulling a blanket over his lap as well. Then, he levitated Jysel’s book over and passed it to him. With that done, Rel focused on the Y’serdyn again. “I want Aldiner and Ciheri to hear this plan as well.”

The Y’serdyn frowned briefly, then nodded his head and returned his attention to me. “To successfully evacuate you, the V’shir, and Jysel’s clan—an apocalyptic distraction is needed. Being Abysstouched as my clan is…we know precisely what is needed to move the stars.

“In this case, I mean it quite literally.”