A loud snap sounded as his head jerked to the side from the impact. He dropped my arm and shuffled backward. I cradled my arms on my chest as tears from the pain assaulted me.
Gasps and shouts filled the area before it fell silent. I could feel the weight of the room on me.
“You told me you would never use your position of power against me. You lied! You just did. You no longer have the right to touch me, Prince Zirene Darcaw. Do not try to ever again,” I snapped. Glancing over at my nestmates, I took in their shocked expressions. “I wish to be alone. I will let you know when I am ready to talk.”
Without waiting for their reply, I turned from the scene and walked away.
The crowd parted, letting me through as I stormed by with my head raised. I didn’t care that the station saw the tears falling down my face. How could I when they all probably witnessed the chaos that happened during the Assembly?
It was one thing to be led on, but to bring my nestmates into his bullshit was the end of a comet’s tail for him.
Each step I took, I felt my anger lessen, replaced with sadness.
I felt lost. Alone. On my own, to figure out what exactly my future would hold now.
Since the first time I met him in my dreams nine years ago, I hoped to meet him in person. Now that I had, I didn’t know who he was. What happened to the male who visited me in the dreamscape? The male I finally met in person wasn’t him. I didn’t know who or what to believe.
In the end, it was always about Zirene. The answer to all of my problems—my salvation. Have faith he would come for me, believe he would make everything all right, and trust he would fix things.
Why should I keep blindly following him? He had an ulterior motive this whole time.
Had I fallen for a trap set by him? And did I just sign my fate—and by extension, my clan’s fate—to him?
Suddenly, a black-cloaked figure materialized directly in front of me and grabbed me, holding me tight to their chest as their cape wrapped around us. My ears popped as a wave of nausea passed through me. I jerked, trying to get out of their hold.
“Selena, it’s me,” Kaede whispered. “You are safe. Everything will be all right.”
I stilled. “Kaede?”
He’d changed. This wasn’t the man I was familiar with.
His conforming black bodysuit was different—newer. It still covered him neck to toe, but it was sleeker, lacking the hardened plates he had before. An updated matching black armband wrapped around his left wrist as dual blasters hung from his utility belt. Gone was the face cover. Now, his suit ran up his neck to the visor that covered his eyes, leaving only enough space on his face for his nose, mouth, and ears. Theblack cape hung behind him as his dark hair rested on his shoulders.
“Is it really you?” I asked. After what happened, I could be dreaming all of this.
“You are very much not dreaming,” Mwe chimed in.
“Thanks for the help earlier,” I replied sarcastically.
“It was my job.”
I rolled my eyes. Either he didn’t understand sarcasm, or he was anishing fraxtoo. Slight guilt pinged through my rage.
“Once I calm down, I want to have my connection with my nestmates back. The princes don’t deserve to be attached to this drama… and I want to hear what the other two have to say.”
“I am here to assist you. Just let me know when you want me to unmute you.”
“Thank you. I will keep in touch.”
“I should ask you the same question,” Kaede replied, pulling me into the present.
I tilted my head and studied him before surveying the room. It was dark and styled like Zirene’s Royal Apartment, but with a much smaller bed and no personal belongings to be found. From the scene of space outside his glass wall, we were on a much lower floor in the Aldawi sector of the space station.
“Why is that?” I asked, curious, as I watched shuttles coming to and from the space station.
“Because the Selena I know wouldn’t have had it in her to stand up for herself, not caring if she followed protocols or offended anyone,” he said pointedly.
“When everyone wants to control every aspect of your life, you learn to adapt.” I turned and smiled. “Isn’t that what we were designed for?”
