“Does their story check out?”
“From what I can tell by the evidence they provided, what Dipl—Wing Captain Lian said is true.” Erlyn regarded him from the display table’s screen. “All of it, including the Vresqoxk tributes.”
Idris shuddered.
The Vresqoxk were a disgusting species who planted their eggs in any orifice large enough to support them. Recently they had been trying to breed with their war captives, in hopes of creating hybrids. They were the reason why some female warriors purposely sterilized themselves before flying into active duty. There were enough fertile females at home, and males beside them, to keep the population steady.
But the soldiers fighting on the frontlines and protecting their territory still sought comfort in each other’s arms. Idris wasn’t blind. He saw the lovers, friends, and flings race off together after combat to purge their sorrows and battlelust the best way they knew how—with each other.
This was the reason why some thought Idris and Erlyn were involved sexually. Not only was he his assistant, but they were always together.
Erlyn had been taught the basics of piloting and combat, but he never fought in the war. His skills were needed only in case of an emergency, when no one else was available to pilot a vessel. It was his job to relay commands and provide battle support from the starbase or command ship. Idris assumed that was why he never felt the need to relieve himself after combat. Erlyn was more likely to blow off steam on his tablet, coming up with some new ideas.
Idris refused to seek another’s company after a battle, mainly because he didn’t want to give anyone the wrong impression. He had purposely posted himself on the starbase to escape females who only wanted him for their own gain. A sense of detachment served him better than meaningless sex in times of war. In order to burn off his battle lust, his hand and tail had become his best friends since he had arrived.
And thenshehad shown up, twice in his life.
When he’d met her on the battlefield, he had been smitten from the first time she had glared at him through the comms and snapped back in Dzexet. No other pilot had taken the time or energy to study his language, and yet, she had done so in order to yell profanities back at him.
And he had loved it.
It was a thrill to come across her in battle and dance that deadly dance. He never aimed directly at her, missing shots on purpose to prolong their game. Every battle they fought, she had devised a new threat or insult to spit at him to try to break his focus.
And she had.
She’d been the first person to ever hit him in a duel, even though her shot had not been to kill.
In the end, seeing her face beam with glory had been well worth the disabled starstorm.
And then soon after that, she had come to him, disguised as amale.
He had found something about him familiar, but it had never dawned on him that the diplomat he dealt with was more than just the twin of the female he’d become obsessed with.
Her diplomatic skills weren’t spectacular, but they were good enough to get the job done. It was her skill with the beamblade that should’ve tipped him off. While most diplomats did take self-defense classes, her prowess with a weapon had allowed her to protect him against five attackers at once before she had received any help.
His discovery of her true identity had ungrounded him. He’d spent days agonizing over what he was attracted to—when instead, he should have been askingwho.
Jaiya made him question himself in ways he never imagined.
At one point of time, he’d been on the verge of asking Erlyn to kiss him, just to see if he was indeed attracted to males. Idris quickly dismissed that notion, not wanting to cross a boundary with his assistant by accidentally pressuring him into an uncomfortable situation.
That was an abuse of power he never wanted to commit. Idris knew he couldn’t have made it as far in life without his assistant. So the fact that he was even considering breaking that boundary made him realize just how deeply she affected him.
And now Jaiya Lian had arrived once again in his life. Her wing had risked their lives and turned their backs on their careers to save their captain; that spoke volumes about their character. And instead of worrying about herself, she had risked retracing the journey that started it all, just so she could have the opportunity to help his people.
She hadn’t cared if he hated her, or that their relationship was still raw and unresolved. No, she had stormed right in to demand sanctuary in exchange for all the information they had.
And he would be a fool to decline the offer.
“Ajexk, open a com to Hwonk. I need to speak to my sister immediately.”
The commander nodded.
A moment later, the display flickered, and a silver-scaled male with golden hair answered.
He scanned the room before tilting his horns in greeting. “What can I do for you, Prince Idris? Your sister has just begun a meeting. If this isn’t urgent, I can have her com you back at her earliest convenience.”
“This is an emergency. I need to speak to her right away.”
