“The Aldawi Sovereign will slowly slip into darkness without his Nova, his light to balance him. With the recent change of power over the Aldawi Empire and the hostile developments with the Quaww, it is only a matter of time before he becomes irrational and declares war against them, thus breaking up the CEG for the first time since the initial Yaarkin invasion.”
“Are you saying that countless lives are on the line because of this Selena?” EYN waved to the collage of her best moments repeating on the multiple displays. “This female demi-human is the center of the galaxy’s problems, and once she is returned to Destima, everything will settle once again?”
“I refuse to give you a definite answer when it’s impossible to know what the Stars and Fates have written for us.” Kaede’s gaze landed on a recording of Selena sunbathing in a bikini while her nestmates played with their cubs in the sanctuary’s pond. Her dazzling smile was contagious as she watched her clan enjoying their time together. “She has sacrificed so much to give others a chance to be happy and live their lives. She deserves that opportunity too, without outside forces taking it away.”
“Kaede is right,” REI announced, stepping between him and the others. “I have seen her sacrifices in his memories and confirmed them in the same recordings all of you have seen. We have sworn ourselves to Kaede and must do what is best for his cause.” She peered over her shoulder, meeting his eyes. “Even if he tends to endanger himself for reasons we can’t comprehend.”
“If that is the price I pay to succeed, so be it, but we both know there is no way for me to stay safe.” He sighed, becoming aware of the heat returning to his veins. He licked his fangs, feeling the bloated weight of hisBahzylsac threatening to overfill once again. He would need to drain it soon before it became even more uncomfortable. Now wasn’t the time to lapse into the mating cycle he’d been trying to delay all this time.
He feared what would happen once he found Selena. It would be foolish to believe he could keep prolonging the inevitable, especially since he needed to drain his sacs and ease his arousal more frequently each time he did it.
Gripping his commander’s seat’s arms, he growled in annoyance at his body’s betrayal. He couldn’t afford to be aroused when he was busy searching for his target.
“There is one thing I need you to understand,” he announced, scanning the six ethereal forms. “Selena isitfor me. All the troubles and sacrifices I’ve made to be assigned her bodyguard were in service of having a chance to be with her. The Fates have brought us together and the Stars have led me to her once, so they can do it again. This time, I have the six of you to help me.
“Just know: Once I get her back in my arms, I’ll make sure she will never leave my sight again.”
