Zirene
The gentle ringing in the back of his head subsided as he stared at his tablet, reading the reports he’d neglected the last month. Now that Selena was awake, he used his implant more freely, not worrying about any sudden headaches or problems from being bombarded by two sides.
The reports confirmed his senior officers could manage the fleet while he was away, patrolling their sectors within the Lunkai boundary without his constant supervision. News about the Caurg officially accepting the trade deal he offered allowed him to contact his head engineers about increasing the rate at which his new fighters were being produced.
The attack on Selena made him wary. It wasn’t a random act or an accident. Something or someone out there reached out to her, not once, but twice, searching for something.
It was his duty to make sure that whatever it was stayed away from not only Selena and her clan, but the Aldawi Empire too. He had just finished cleaning up after the war that had recently ended, and now, the Quaaw seemed like they were preparing to start another, this time forcing members in the CEG to pick sides.
Zirene feared the Quaww would declare war with yet another foreign species invading the galaxy, resulting in a war on two fronts. It was his job to make sure the Aldawi Empire would be victorious, whatever future the Stars threw at him. If it came down to it, he would protect the Aldawi Empire first and foremost, letting all the other species handle both the Quaww and another invasion. The CEG was behind the Aldawi in technology as a result of refusing to clean up what was left of the Yaarkins—now, many leaders were upset about it.
And they would continue to be, because they were lucky he gave them anything. There were already species begging for certain tech and to engage in exclusive trades with him, in hopes he would give them something others didn’t have.
A notification popping up on the corner of his tablet, so Zirene reached out and tapped it.
Xylo was paging theDestinyon Selena’s master bedroom vid-screen as Odelm was contacting their Head Maid, Symi. The minimap on the lower right confirmed all three were awake, while the readings showed they were well.
Good. They were meeting her needs.
Selena was well within her rights to contact the Circuli princes and calm their doubts. That was the reason he made sure her villa had access to all the important locations, including the ability to directly call his tablet at any time. Moments like this proved he was correct with his decision to allow the princes to confirm with Selena herself that what happened between them was an accident. Now Selena could relax as she waited for them to arrive.
Zirene locked his tablet and attached it to his loincloth’s belt. Odelm had paged for food to be delivered. He may as well take this time to introduce Selena to the staff and give her a tour of her villa’s property grounds.
Soon, he would need to stop neglecting his duties andleave Selena behind onDestima. He hoped they could work out their differences beforehand. They were going in the right direction, but he needed to make sure everything was right between them. If war broke out, he didn’t want to be distracted by what ifs and regrets if it was the last time he would be with her in the flesh for a while.
She didn’t need to be told about the war—she had overheard enough as it was. It was his duty to make sure she was protected and hidden away from others; Selena ending up in the wrong hands was not an option. Not only could they use her as a pawn to get their way, if they knew what she was capable of, she would fall back to the ways of her past—an object to be experimented on.
Zirene growled. He would make sure that never happened.
He hoped by giving her this moon, she would keep herself occupied, spending her time building it to her vision while being protected. Once things calmed down, and he found out who was reaching out to her, he would allow Kaede to fly her around the Aldawi territory. Their technology was advanced enough, it shouldn’t be an issue.
Zirene walked past the dining hall and nodded at its workers. All three watched him in shock as he passed by as if they didn’t believe someone of his status would acknowledge them. That was something they would have to get used to.
Selena’s villa had twelve staff members employed to keep it running smoothly. Each one was vetted and trained by his senior staff from his palace on Lunkai. They didn’t want to work at the gem mine or any of its support companies and were among the first to request a chance to prove themselves worthy. Vagren said they had passed all the tests and were hard workers.
Secretly, Zirene hoped Selena would get used to the idea she wasn’t alone anymore and form friendships with thosearound her. There were over five hundred demi-humans onDestimawaiting to meet its owner. Because of her past, he would not pressure her to introduce herself publicly, but it was expected of her. Once theDestinyarrived and its crew settled, he would try to convince her to host an assembly. Until then, she could relax and explore whatDestimaoffered.
The doors to Selena’s master bedroom were open as an empty delivery cart waited in the hallway. Zirene was pleased to see Odelm’s order had arrived at an acceptable time. These next few weeks would determine if the staff members were serious about their responsibilities. It would be interesting to see who survived the pressures over time.
Silently, Zirene walked into the doorway in hopes of watching the worker in action.
Zirene was glad to see the Villa Headmaster Symi proudly describe the dishes before Selena, Odelm, and Xylo. Her tan Aldawi ears framed the top of her long, light brown hair, which traveled to the base of her matching tail. Dressed in the modified Aldawi service uniform, Symi wore her violet and silver clothes confidently as she worked hard to impress Selena.
“Is there anything else you want? Or can I clean up your dishes?” Symi asked, her cheery voice ringing throughout the room.
Selena glanced at both of her nestmates, who both nodded in reply.
“I believe we are done for now. Is there a set time for meals here, or do we request it?”
“Lady Selena, I don’t know to explain this to you, but this property is yours.” Symi picked up multiple empty dishes as her bushy tail twitched behind her. “If you wanted a multiple course dinner in the middle of the night, it might take some time, but they would make it.”
Symi curtsied and turned around, halting as her golden flecked green eyes met his. Her mouth gaped.
“Sire, I didn’t know you were here.” She gulped as her hands trembled. “Is there anything I can do for you?” she asked softly, dropping her gaze.
Zirene pushed himself off the doorway and advanced over to the table, smiling gently at Symi. “No need for titles. Selena doesn’t like it, and this is her home after all.”
Zirene chuckled to himself as she glanced between Selena and him, her face scrunched in confusion as if she was trying to figure out if it was a test or not.
