I mumble my assent, but my eyes are already closing, and I know we aren’t going anywhere anytime soon.
Link
Saxon makes the trip down in the pod with no adverse effects. I don’t like keeping him sedated this long, but I agree that Lila needs time to make a decision.
This has not gone over well with his clan members, Radella and Estrella. They are demanding to speak to Saxon themselves to confirm what I told them about Lila being Saxon’s blood rose. They don’t believe my truth because it almost never happens with a non Vilaxian.
“I don’t know why you two care so much. We know very well that neither of you are his blood rose,” Velorina sneers at her clan members. “You can’t force that connection. You’re just worried about what’s going to happen to our clan now that Saxon’s mate is not a sanguinista.”
Hale looks between the three women with amusement but stays quiet, not wanting to get involved in the argument. Smart man.
“Why don’t you shut up, Velorina? Don’t think I didn’t see you with the slutty Skarrian at the club the other night, and we know you’ve used that pathetic Aquilian as food too,” Estrella snaps.
“Yeah, gross. What does she taste like, fish?” Radella adds, her lip curled up in a sneer.
“Well, at least it’s better than pathetically pining over someone who has no interest in you.” Velorina crosses her arms over her chest and quirks an eyebrow. “I kind of feel sorry for Hale. How does he feel about you two being so upset over his best friend, yet when he feeds outside the clan, neither of you blink?” The two women splutter but have no good response to that. Hale runs a hand through his hair before finally stepping into the argument.
“I think all four of us know, and Saxoncertainlydid, that this clan has grown tired of each other. Now that Saxon has found his blood rose, the timing couldn’t be more ideal for us to start looking for a new one. Velorina isn’t happy, and neither are Saxon and I. You two were the only ones who didn’t see it, or maybe you did and that’s why you’re trying to cling so hard to Saxon.” The deadpan look he gives them both almost makes me laugh.
“Well, that’s for the five of you to work out,” I interject, waving my hand around. “But you can sort it out once Saxon is conscious again. For now, the four of you are going to have to work out how you can do your act without him.”
“But why can’t we just wake him up? He must have made a mistake. I’m sure Lila isn’t his blood rose. He hasn’t been feeding properly, and he must have just gotten hungry,” Radella argues and tries to step around me, but I grab hold of her arm firmly.
“Don’t,” I warn her. She bares her fangs and steps into me, crowding my space. She’s almost as tall as I am, and she has some serious musculature. To be honest I’m not sure I would win in a fight against her.
“Who is going to stop me?” she threatens, and Hale and Velorina step up.
“What is going on here?” a voice behind us bellows. William steps up next to me with his arms crossed and a look of fury on his face. “You weren’t threatening my doctor, were you?” he growls, and when a stubborn look crosses Radella’s face, I know this is not going to go well—for her at least.
“He won’t let us see Saxon, and I demand to, or I will be calling the queen, his aunt, and letting her know that you are holding her general and nephew hostage.”
William starts to chuckle, and it’s kind of scary. Both Hale and Velorina step back out of the crossfire. Smart move, because Radella and Estrella start to rise into the air, and when they try to fly back down, they are unable to, because William’s telekinesis is holding them in place.
“I have already spoken to the queen and explained the situation. I assured her we are looking after General Saxon, and she was thrilled to hear that my granddaughter is his blood rose. She is sending someone to replace him for the time being. I can easily call her back and request a few more be sent. It seems that maybe your time with the circus is done.”
“I’d like to stay,” Hale quickly requests, and Velorina chimes in her agreement.
“Very well, and we are happy to have you.”
“We are not leaving until we hear it from Saxon’s mouth himself,” Estrella continues, being stubborn and mouthy. She doesn’t know when to cut her losses and move on.
“Very well, then you will stay and finish out the show, and you will wait until Lila decides she is ready to form their blood bond and Link lifts the sedation. I have been given permission by the queen to throw you into the brig if any of you cause problems until we pass Vilax. The new Vilaxians will be arriving at the mothership this evening and will be transported down.” He turns to Hale and Velorina. “You have the next twenty-four hours to get them up to speed for tomorrow night’s show.”
“How many are coming?” Hale asks, nodding his head in acknowledgement. “And do you know who?”
“Yes, Saxon’s brother, Xenos, and his small clan.” I watch as a myriad of emotions crosses Hale’s face. I’m not sure what is going on in his mind, but I watch as Velorina reaches out and puts her hand on his shoulder.
William groans. “Is this going to be a problem?” he demands gruffly, and Hale quickly shakes his head.
“No, it’s fine. I’m just surprised. He was originally part of our clan, but they split from us when we got assigned to this ship by the queen. He said it was beneath him to perform in a circus. I’m kind of curious about what changed his mind.”
“Fucking hell. I swear if you give me any more headaches, I’ll kick the lot of you off and find a new act. I hear the Jelliads are quite entertaining. Now go find John and see which rooms are available for them.” He lowers the two girls to the ground. “Remember that I’m watching you,” he threatens, and the aerial troupe takes off, disappearing in a blink of an eye.
“Link, my friend, I am getting too old for this shit,” William grumbles as we move from my waiting room to the clinic. “All this drama is more than we’ve had in years. First Dylan, then the lightning cats and your damn nurse. Now we’ve got two new shifters, a fresh bunch of sanguinistas, a dead harem member, and one who has been stripped of all their powers. It’s been nothing but cleaning up messes that all seem to stem from Lila.”
Wait, is he saying that the source of all of the drama is Lila?
I bristle, narrowing my eyes on him, and start to defend her, but he shakes his head. “No, you don’t need to get upset, I’m not blaming her. She is but a catalyst for people’s insecurities and neurosis. It could have been anyone at any time. It’s just interesting that she has all these powerful partners,” he muses, and that reminds me of something.
