Zirene didn’t comment because he agreed with him. Every day brought more pressure, more stress, and more hardships that might ruin what they had with Selena.
Growling in frustration, Zirene shadowstepped to his desk, plopped down on his chair, and studied the outsiders. He needed to personally question them and figure out whether it was worth all the hassle and headache to fulfill Selena’s dream of relocating the refugees from their base. He would require an enormous favor from Mwe to show support for their cause at the Assembly, not to mention handling all the drama the Primary government officials would incite.
Selena had a point; the asteroid base held genetically unaltered humans from the time Earth was still under protection from outside interference, before the Yaarkins war. They were an endangered species. Since the Aldawi had sanctioned the presence of demi-humans on Destima, the Assembly ought to also grant him permission to declare the humans citizens and relocate them to live with the demi-humans.
“Tell me why I should bother fighting the CEG and investing the resources to relocate five thousand refugees to Destima,” Zirene demanded of the three outsiders in the room. “Selena and Kaede have already voiced their opinion on the matter, and I’ve taken note of what you’ve told me, but I want to hear your reasoning. As you have seen, a lot has happened since you arrived just yesterday afternoon. Your request just adds to the pile of problems I’m dealing with.”
“If I may, Sire?” the Cosmic Soul asked meekly. He shot a glance at his fellow companions, who nodded in reply, before boldly stepping forward. “My clan was captured, rescued, and then prevented from returning to our home planet, due to risking the safety of our species and the other refugees saved at the base. The commanders were concerned the pirates—or the governments they were hiding from—would learn the base’s location. Unfortunately, it was discovered anyway, and we had to relocate to an asteroid base that wasn’t equipped to handle the number of refugees needing to be rehomed.
“My Tori has taken a liking to your Selena and has fallen in love with the little of Destima she has seen from Selena’s villa. The same goes for my clan. We will wait for permission to fly amongst the clouds but will respect the restrictions placed until then. I hope you would grant my clan, and the rest of the refugees, sanctuary. There are plenty who are trained in valuable professions—healers, engineers, mechanics, pilots, and even warriors within their ranks, who would love to use their skills in exchange for the opportunity to have a new home. I beg for you to consider us.”
“And you?” Zirene raised an eyebrow. “What do you have to offer?”
“I’m a Cosmic Soul, a reader of the Stars. You can tell by my coloring”— Celyze raised his arms and rotated them, showing off his silver speckles covering his sapphire skin—“and as a result, I’m capable of doing things our royals and dulls are incapable of doing. I’m a powerful telepath, capable of communicating long distances, but my commanders and Oeta have a greater range than me.
“My people harvest energy from the stars to give us the required nutrition to stay healthy, but being a Cosmic Soul, I can use any extra energy I’ve harvested to heal most minor injuries. Whenever the Stars decide to speak to me, I get detailed readings from them, which have never been wrong.”
“I already know all of that.” Zirene waved him off, unimpressed by the lack of new knowledge. “My agents are thorough. So, tell me, why are your clan members a different color than you? Do I need to be worried about their abilities, as well?”
“Your concern is unwarranted.” Celyze shook his head. “My clanmates are green because they are dulls—capable of harvesting energy from the stars but unable to use it. Instead, they find a profession based on their skills to excel in. Auro was our clan’s Captain, and Luwyn our Weapons Master, before we were captured.” He nervously glanced at the vidscreen. “I know you just provided us with limited access to your lifts and infirmary, but if we are welcomed as citizens and you provide my clanmates with a merchant’s vessel, we would be a valuable asset to Destima and forever in your debt.”
Rolling his claws on his chair’s arms, Zirene tilted his head as he studied the nervous male.
It was evident he wasn’t built like a warrior, unlike his emerald clanmates. He was leaner than most Circuli warriors and lacked their sleek, muscled build. If he stared at his translucent, delicate wings too hard, he wondered if he could destroy them.
If he oversteps, he could be a hunt-and-prey toy for my cubs. Even they could overpower him.
“Your abilities would be useful to have around, even unofficially until you are approved to become a citizen. I assume you want a chance to work with your clan instead of a profession in a different location?”
“It would be an honor to serve—”
“You will not abuse his powers for selfish reasons or to benefit your empire,” Ryzen snarled. His emerald tattoos flared as he stepped in front of the gentle male. “While I am grateful for your hospitality, we won’t escape from one corrupt government only to align ourselves with another. My people may be seeking a new home, but we aren’t desperate enough to become slaves.”
“You’re assuming the Aldawi Sovereign gathered everyone on Destima to make them do his bidding, which is not only insulting but also humorous,” Oeta growled, stepping beside Zirene’s office chair and shuffling her wings in anger. “He is the sole reason why the refugees on Destima are living their lives happily, with the freedom to seek employment based on their skills. Do you honestly believe he controls me?”
“No, I don’t,” Ryzen retorted, shooting her a heated glare. “There aren’t many who can overpower a mind as powerful as ours, but that doesn’t mean there are none.”
“He doesn’t have to overpower us. We all swore our allegiance to him and the Aldawi empire because we came from slavery. We also know what else is out there.” Kaede waved his hand at the vidscreen, minimizing the view of Selena nestled safely between her Circuli mates and replacing it with a map of the galaxy. “We share a large border with the Quaww, a feathered avian species who enjoy conquering anything they encounter and bending the laws in their favor. They are the ones you should fear enslaving sentient beings. If they weren’t in the midst of a civil war, and our Sovereign wasn’t transitioning into power, we would’ve already announced our complaints to the CEG Assembly and declared war on them for their increasing acts of aggression.
Kaede faced the outsiders and exposed his neck, displaying his fresh mark for the room to see. “I believe you mistake the Sovereign’s kindness for something nefarious. He rescued my people from the Yaarkins and gave them a new home, only requesting their allegiance in return. We are free citizens of the Aldawi empire, with the freedom to work where our skills allow for an income. I may be Selena’s guard—and now her mate—but that doesn’t mean he has any more control over me than the miners or the farmers.”
“You say that, but the both of you have submitted to him—”
“Out ofrespect!” Kaede hissed, curling his hands into fists as he straightened his head. “The one you speak of is sitting right before you! I believe you have forgotten why you are here. You’re speaking to Sovereign Zirene Darcaw, ruler of the Aldawi empire, one of the most powerful territories in the galaxy. He rescued my siblings and me when he could’ve stood by while the Yaarkins executed us. I may have my grievances with him regarding our mate, but that is between us. It doesn’t mean I’m not thankful for all he’s done for us or that I respect him any less. Choose your words wisely before you dare to open your mouth again.”
“You are right,” the commander muttered, his emerald tattoos dimming as he nodded his head. Ryzen turned and stepped up to Zirene’s desk. He kneeled, bowing his head. “I am sorry if I’ve disrespected you; it wasn’t my intention. I’m overprotective of my people. They’ve been through enough. I don’t want to be blinded by a shooting star because it’s the first bright thing that has crossed my path.” He raised his head, refusing to lock eyes before he glanced at Oeta. “I would like to speak to your father—the CEG’s leader—about what it would take to establish ourselves as citizens.”
“You will need a sponsor.” Oeta crossed her arms and stared down at him, shuffling her wings. “The Aldawi sponsored the demi-humans after the CEG turned their backs on their ancestors on Earth, abandoning them to their terrible fate.”
“You mean, Zirene sponsored them with his credits and the support of his brother, Royak,” Kaede corrected. “The rest of the galaxy didn’t give twofraxesabout us.”
“Kaede is right; my father can confirm as much.” She sighed and looked up at the vidscreen, her wings drooping. “Most territories stick to themselves or form alliances with those who share their borders. It would be wise to reunite the Earth-born humans with Destima’s demi-human citizens. They are considered an endangered species and should be protected. The Assembly accepted Zirene taking them in because they didn’t want to deal with the hassle themselves.”
“I will protect the humans,” Zirene announced as all eyes turned to him. “Once Chamber Master Mwe arrives, I will fulfill my promise to my Nova and sponsor your people. If he accepts, you will be free to roam the main island and speak with Destima’s citizens about all your worries. Once they confirm they are indeed free and treated well, you can return to me and make plans to retrieve your refugees. I will deal with the politics.”
“I’d like to remain here regardless of my commander’s decision.” Zyxel slithered forward and bowed until his torso hovered above the ground. “I wish to prove my use by helping in the infirmary. The Fates have blessed me with Selena as my mate. I am forever grateful that the Stars have led her to me and refuse to lose her after all these years.”
“After the stunt you pulled, I hope you wait many more years before she even entertains the idea of accepting you into our clan,” Kaede hissed. “You’ll need all our forgiveness if you believe you will become one of us.”
