“Can you sedate him?” Z asked.
“Tried.” Kaede frowned, wishing their clan’s healers were here. “His runes burned through the compound in seconds. Whatever’s happening to him—it’s beyond standard medical intervention.”
Selena took a step toward Ryzen.
Kaede’s hand shot out, catching her elbow. “Don’t.”
“He’s in pain—”
“He’sunstable.” Kaede shifted, placing himself between her and the Verya, every protective instinct screaming. “Those daggers aren’t discriminating. If one catches you—catches the baby—”
He couldn’t finish. Wouldn’t give the thought a shape.
Selena’s breath hitched, anger fighting fear. “Then what do we do? Leave him here? Abandon him?”
“We get him on the ship.” Kaede’s gaze tracked the daggers’ orbit, timing the stutters, the sudden violent drops. “Contained. Celyze can monitor him during transit. But we need to move—now.”
Z was already coordinating through his comm unit, his voice a low rumble of authority. “Royak, status on fleet positioning. I want a full tactical briefing the moment we’re airborne.” A pause. “Yes, on theShadowClaw. V’dim and Z’fir will join us for strategic planning. We need to map every possible response before I deploy to the front.”
The Circuli princes exchanged a glance. Leaving Selena’s immediate side went against every protective instinct they had—Kaede saw it in the tension of V’dim’s tentacles, in Z’fir’s rigid shoulders—but Z’s command wasn’t a request.
They’d served under him before Kaede was even rescued. A respectful past, forged in war.
And now the three of them would build strategies again—not just for the empire, but for the nestqueen at its center.
“We’ll be in the War room,” V’dim said, his gaze lingering on Selena. “If you need us—”
“She won’t be unprotected.” Kaede turned to the one male he’d been refusing to acknowledge as anything but a complication. “Zyxel.”
The serpent straightened, chartreuse eyes wary. Crimson scales caught hard light. His tail coiled tighter beneath him like a spring.
Kaede tasted his own reluctance. Felt the cost of what he was about to do.
This male had maneuvered. Positioned himself close to Selena. Worn his bond like a crown Kaede hadn’t approved of.
But war didn’t care about Kaede’s approval.
Enemies were coming.
And Zyxel—whatever Kaede thought of him—was sealed to Selena. That bond meant the serpent would die before he let harm touch her.
Now wasn’t the time for grievances.
“You stay with her.” Kaede’s voice came out flat, controlled. “The Sovereign and the princes will be occupied with Royak, coordinating war efforts. I’ll be following on myAbyss. Until I dock at Destima, her protection falls to you.”
Zyxel’s eyes widened a fraction. He hadn’t expected this. Kaede watched him realize what it was: not trust.
A weaponization of the bond.
“You’re trusting me with her safety?”
“I’m trusting that your bond means you’ll protect her with your life.” Kaede stepped closer, close enough the serpent could see his own reflection in Kaede’s visor. “Don’t make me regret it.”
A long moment stretched.
Then Zyxel inclined his head, and something in his expression shifted—respect, maybe. Or understanding of what it cost Kaede to concede anything at all.
“I’ll protect her,” Zyxel said quietly. “With everything I am.”
