Crossing his arms, he faced the six who had decided to return home with Selena.
The two emerald Swynemi males kept staring at the sky in wonder as their wings buzzed, filling the air with an annoying hum. The Cosmic Soul and the psy-dagger-wielding pretty boy were fixated on Oeta with stoic stares. Zyxel’s tail was twisted in a defensive stance at the rear while he watched Oeta warily. The Earth-born human appeared excited about the situation, scanning her surroundings with bright eyes and an open mouth.
He’d forgotten they hadn’t been planetside in a long time, so this had to be a refreshing change for them, especially since they had been refugees for so long.
“What do you need us to do, Oeta?”
The fuchsia female stepped beside him with wings tucked neatly behind her. Her aura had dimmed again, and he caught the stress lines that circled her eyes and her grim expression.
“If your Oetsae didn’t sense anything from these six, then I most likely won’t pick up anything, either, unless I dig deeper.” She peered at Q, who wrapped an arm around B. “But I won’t need to do that unless I pick up stray thoughts or feelings indicating a threat.”
“I can vouch for those with me. We don’t mean any harm,” Ryzen announced, stepping in front of his companions. “We only want a chance to plead our case to your Sovereign and ask for aid.”
“Even if the Sovereign accepts your request, you will have to go through my father and the Assembly before receiving any help.” Stepping forward, Oeta offered her hand to him as her wings opened, shielding them from prying eyes. “Give me your hand, and let me decide your fate before you continue any further.”
“My people don’t freely… touch.” His eyes dropped to Oeta’s outstretched hand, his emerald tattoos flickering. “At least not with strangers.”
“Touch is the least painful way for me to enter your mind.” Oeta’s tone was laced with a hint of annoyance. “I am being polite by offering this procedure and only sifting through your outer thoughts. You are now in the hands of the Aldawi empire. He gave me the freedom to vet you by any means necessary, including ripping through your mental shields, parsing through your memory banks, and gathering any information I deem of interest.”
“You don’t seem to leave me much choice,” he muttered, taking a hesitant step back, his hand hovering over his sheathed psy-daggers.
Kaede narrowed his eyes at the tattooed male, preparing his drones for defense. While he believed Oeta had the power to kill swiftly, he didn’t want to depend on her, in case her kind nature made her pause.
“Security drones are on high alert and ready,”REI pathed, answering his silent request. Their symbiont-host relationship had grown stronger recently. She knew what he needed from her before he had to voice his demands, making his job, and his life, easier.“Selena and Z have landed safely on the base port without incident.”
“Got it.”
Glancing at his drone feed, he saw Zirene carrying their mate down the shuttle’s ramp, her head resting on his chest. Soon, she would see her Circuli mates’ conditions, which would wreck her. Kaede would make sure to comfort her once he completed his duties. Until then, she had her Shadow for support.
“Let me know if any problems arise.”
“I will make sure you know if she summons you.”
Kaede nodded imperceptibly, sending a quick ‘thanks’ as he returned to the present and focused on the two strong telepaths staring each other down.
“How about you get over yourself and proceed,” Kaede growled, annoyed by the delay. “I know you’re still adjusting, but I would like to return to my room and join Selena’s side sometime today.”
“I don’t know what resistance you have to touch”—Oeta hedged, her voice calm and soothing as if she were trying to take control of the situation before it spiraled—“but I promise, I will only take what I need, and nothing more.”
Kaede carefully studied the tattooed male’s sleek movements when he wordlessly grabbed her hand, locking eyes with her. He seemed to dare her to accuse him as they stared at each other without blinking. Kaede admired the male’s determination and was glad Ryzen didn’t continue to resist the procedure. He’d been stupid to try since they had been warned about the vetting beforehand.
The other ambassadors studied Ryzen and Oeta alongside Kaede in silence.
He wondered what was taking so long. Other than Oeta’s father, Mwe, no telepath could rival her strength… at least, not that he had met. The Nyaviel were a dying species; their mental strength and long life expectancy hindered their fertility rates. They would rather live in isolation, in their sol system just beyond the Aldawi borders, than having to tolerate species they deemed inferior with their poor mental shields. Kaede was content he didn’t have to deal with them, since they kept to themselves, for the most part, while protecting that side of Aldawi space. This allowed the Aldawi to focus the majority of their forces along the border they shared with the Quaww.
Sooner or later, they would have to address the Quaww’s traitorous actions, for they had a hand in Selena’s kidnapping. Kaede bared his fangs in a silent snarl as he watched the two telepaths face off in silence.
“That’s how she brought you back from the void,” Oeta muttered, dropping her hand. Shaking her head, she sucked in a deep breath. “We can discuss your brother later. For now, give my sister the space she needs.”
“My purpose is to secure a home for my people,” Ryzen clipped, his voice controlled, emerald tattoos flaring to life. “I mean no harm… especially not to Selena, her clan, or the Aldawi.”
“I believe you.”
“Is that it?” Kaede huffed, somewhat annoyed his time was being wasted. At the same time, he was flooded with relief that he wouldn’t need to take hostile action. Ryzen had been his primary concern, and if Oeta deemed he was not a threat, he could put his attention elsewhere.
“No, he promises to not reach for his twin brother while he is within Aldawi territory unless asked.” Oeta’s glowing, serious stare fell upon him. “My father and I will know, if he does.”
“I said my piece with my brother before we crossed into this galaxy. I promised to contact him when I have our answer about relocating,” Ryzen explained. He dropped his hand from his psy-daggers and peered at the sky. “He needs to deal with the consequences of his actions and trust me to fix the mistakes he has made.”
