He opened his eyes and locked his gaze on Qraniebi. His drones marked him yellow—an ally, but could be a potential threat. The others in the room glowed orange— nobodies who could be either friend or foe. There were no reds—enemies—in the room, and the only greens—friends—were his half-sisters on the second floor, looking down at him.
He hissed but refused to look up and acknowledge them.
They were playing a game —something he didn’t have the time or need for.
Licking his fangs, Kaede flipped his wrist, snapping his infused blade into his hand as he stepped behind Qraniebi. Kaede grabbed hold of the blue and green feathers on top of Qraniebi’s head and pulled it back, pressing his blade to his neck.
“I don’t care who you are, but you won’t get away with whatever you did to Selena,” Kaede hissed in his ear. “Release her before I slit your throat right here on the dance floor for all to see.”
Qraniebi jerked and halted his movements, pale green eyes widened.
“I don’t know what you are accusing me of. I am teaching Selena how to dance and have done nothing to her.”
Pages from his half-sisters pinged frantically. He ignored their desperate pleas, not caring what they had to say, for they did not protect Selena during their watch.
“Release. Her. Now,” Kaede growled, pulling Qraniebi’s head farther back. “Do it.”
Qraniebi glared at Kaede as he opened his wings, revealing Selena and released his grip on her ass.
She fell slowly to the ground as her limbs failed to keep her position. When her ass hit the hard floor, her head rolled back, dropping her hood, revealing her silver hair for all to see. Her hazy eyes kept closing as she moved her head side to side, confused with her surroundings. Her hair shimmered in the club’s lights as the spots on her face glowed bright pink.
“What is wrong with her?” Qraniebi asked, his melodic voice laced with concern and confusion.
Kaede removed his blade and shoved Qraniebi out of the way into the nearby crowd. Yells of protests didn’t mean a thing to him; everyone on the station knew who he was and what he was capable of. He dared someone to start something with him. Kaede didn’t care if Qraniebi tried to escape—he had drones aimed at him if he tried to run without being questioned.
“Where are you going?” she asked, confused as she searched for Qraniebi with her hands. “I need youuuuuuuuuu,” she said in English.
Kaede knelt and grabbed her wrist, bringing it to his lips, and took a bite.
Alarms blared in him when Selena didn’t flinch at his touch and was completely unresponsive to his bite. Her blood tasted impure, laced with something that did not match with her blood he had stored in his system.
Someone had drugged her.
He released her wrist and licked it, sealing his marks, and picked her up off the ground, his arms wrapped around her tightly as he cradled her in his arms.
Kaede cursed his luck. The one night he listened to Selena and put her wellbeing in another’s—five others’—hands, she was taken advantage of. Now he didn’t know what was in her system or who had put it there if Qraniebi was telling the truth about not being involved.
“If you wanted to dance with her, you could have told me,” Qraniebi muttered as he stood nearby, watching him.
Kaede ignored him and walked away, needing to get Selena out of the club and somewhere safe. He couldn’t port out without knowing what affect it would have on Selena with the unknown substance in her system, and the nearest safe location was the apartment he shared with his sisters.
“Don’t worry, Selena, I have you now. Everything will be all right,” Kaede whispered into Selena’s ear
She tried to grab his face but missed and caught his hair instead.
“Kaede… I need you,” she pleaded as she rubbed her face with his hair.
“Kaede! Wait!” B yelled behind him.
Kaede could see his sisters closing in on him on his radar, his drones easily confirming their locations. He turned around as soon as he exited the club onto the empty floor.
