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The Vast Collective Series Books #9-13
Xelan's Verse Entry 10.3 My Ultimate Weakness

Xelan's Verse Entry 10.3 My Ultimate Weakness

The Shadow had converted my study into a pajama party since the last story had taken us into the evening. It settled my nerves to see everyone I loved so comfortable, and it reinvigorated me for this underhanded entry. Without preamble, I went straight into the story.

Tumu released me into Triss' custody. She escorted me, Lucas, Iuo, and Seps back to Mon3. Razor was magnanimous enough to let me sleep in his Queen's Fare apartments below ground. The place housed several rooms. One I glimpsed was painted the same violet as a pair of eyes I hadn't seen in a thousand years. The bed inside was a single, and the room was decorated in trinkets from across the Vast Collective.

T.a.o.

How could my Progeny ever be far from my mind? Wouldn't it make for a lovely story if my afflicted child had spent the last millennia here, with Razor in safety as opposed to the fate she'd likely met?

Stretching the kinks of sleep from my neck, I endeavored to ask Razor about whose room it was. Later. Triss returned to the Lyriks in the Emporium back on Gait. While I'd been considering my Progeny, I wondered if Triss and Razor had ever raised children of their own, as old as they both were.

When the Pain Curator found me trying to sort out some kind of practical clothing from a room he'd dedicated to clothes—A combat suit, shirt, normal pants, anything—I asked, "Are you a father, Razor?"

I think I made him snort as he shooed me away from the door. He said, "No. I am not interested in extending my lineage." He handed me a suit meant for a technician.

Without thinking, I changed in front of Razor, asking, "Does Triss not want children—"

I stopped.

Razor was peering at me with his bizarre eyes, assessing.

"Forgive me. Was I being too inquisitive?" I finished dressing and found some way to pull my hair back. I was ready for the next leg of my journey to stop Celindria.

"Xelan, how long have you been under my employment?" Razor asked, taking a seat on the bed.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

I sat down on the edge with him, quirking a brow at his line of questioning. "A decade, now. Most of it in the Emporium. Why?"

The Pain Curator... blushed. His cheeks went yellow. Thailean yellow. He said, "Your personal questions prompt me to ask, why do you rarely take partners? Keep in mind I have noticed your methodical fetish for different races, but that is not the same as a relationship."

Razor's coloring distracted me from his questions. I was burning with curiosity. What was Razor? Some form of Mystic? Or something older? Could he truly be Korac's brother—

The Pain Curator brushed my hair from my face, bringing me back around. He said, "There is so much tension in you. Too much pressure boiling under that altruistic surface. You may not think you deserve release, but I am happy to change your mind."

I only realized I'd leaned toward Razor because his lips crooked into a smirk.

Searching my eyes, he said, "Young Prince, when you return from your next errand on Reipon, we can invite Triss and cross off two more races on your list. But I'm afraid if I kiss you right now, we would neglect my siren, and I could never live with myself if I lost her."

Korac said from the doorway, "I'm so glad I have arrived in time for this."

"Were you trying to make Korac aware of how similar he is to Razor?" you ask with a little crinkle in your forehead, trying to understand.

I can only shrug.

Sometimes adults are just petty. I wanted Korac to feel how uncomfortable he'd made me.

In truth, the entire room looked uncomfortable. Except T.a.o. She was smiling.

And Echo whistled happily in her bassinet.

Tameka scratched my back. I wasn't expecting the comfort and poured my appreciation into my eyes as I leaned down and kissed her cheek—

"It's okay. You can still hold my hand," Pax muttered to Bethany.

Korac, Matt, Lucy, Ross, and Kyle peered at them, checking. The quiet girl was seeking comfort from my son. With a nod, she took Pax's hand once more.

Damn me for letting my spiteful vendetta hurt someone unintended.

You level your eyes at me. "Hurting others because your spite is mightier than you expected? That sounds like Nox."

I say nothing because we both know you're right.

Sagan was supportive, as always. "I understand you, Wingmaster. How about you get us to Thailea? It's the only planet I haven't visited, and I'm dying to hear about the rainbow rings."

Thailea.

The source of so much...

The source of everything.