Ryzen.
“He’s been brooding since boarding,” Kaede pathed. “Unstable. Dangerous.”
As if I didn’t already know. As if I couldn’t feel the way his energy sputtered through that faint connection, erratic as a dying heartbeat.
Zyxel waited near the lobby’s entrance, his massive naga body coiled with deliberate stillness. Crimson scales caught the ambient lighting, the serpentine length of him taking up more space than seemed possible. His chartreuse eyes tracked me with an intensity that still made my breath catch—part scholar’s curiosity, part predator’s focus. He’d stayed close since Zirene left, sensing my turmoil through our new bond before I’d even named it.
Eshe stood at attention near the door, armored and alert, ready to escort me wherever I decided to go.
I was about to do something that would complicate everything.
Again.
“Zyxel.” I crossed to where he waited, pressing my palm against his cheek “I need to speak with Ryzen.”
Our bond pulsed with his concern. He’d felt my decision before I’d made it—maybe even before I had. That was the nature of these connections. They revealed us to each other in ways that should have been terrifying.
Should have been. Wasn’t.
I didn’t shield him, leaving our connection open like my other clanmates. He needed to get used to being a part of something more, and we both needed to learn more about each other. And fast.
The universe didn’t slow down because I wanted it to.
Was this another test from the Stars? Or something written by the Fates?
“You’re going to him.” Not a question.
“I have to.” I held his gaze, willing him to understand. “Meet me in the nestroom after. I need to do this alone.”
His forked tongue flicked against my wrist—tasting my resolve, maybe. Or memorizing my scent for the hundredth time. “He’s not stable, enax. His spirit daggers may slice you—”
“I know.”
“His twin bond was severed. For his species, that kind of loss—”
“I know.” I rose on my toes, pressing a kiss to his jaw. “I understand loss, Zyxel. Better than most.”
Something flickered through our connection. Not quite agreement. Not quite acceptance. But trust—fragile and new and fierce enough to let me go anyway.
“I’ll be in the nestroom.” He sighed, nodding. “Waiting. If anything feels wrong—”
“You’ll feel it.” I stepped back, letting my hand trail down his chest before pulling away. “Trust the bond. Trustme.”
He didn’t argue. His tail uncoiled, massive body shifting toward the corridor that led to the residential wing—to the nestroom where I might have a sliver of normalcy away from it all. But his eyes followed me as I turned toward the opposite hall, and through our thread, I felt the weight of his worry like a stone pressing against my ribs.
Eshe moved to follow.
“Beacon.” My guard captain’s voice carried the particular tone she reserved for moments when she thought I was being reckless. Which meant most moments. Perhaps she’d heard about how trouble was attracted to me by Kaede. “Allow me to escort you.”
“That won’t be necessary.” I kept my voice gentle but firm. “I’m safe aboard theShadowClaw, Eshe. We’ll be on Destima in time for dinner.”
“Beacon—”
I turned to face her. Eshe was Aldawi—tall, swift, lethal in every way that mattered. She hadn’t been assigned to me. She’d sought me out. Fought for the right to stand here. Earned her position through blood, discipline, and refusal to back down.
She was protecting me barely a day after claiming her place as the Captain of my Royal Guard, leaving her mate and family behind without hesitation. And now she stood between me and the universe like it was the most natural thing in the world.
She deserved honesty.
