“Of course they will. We didn’t do all of this for nothing,” Z’fir said.
“We will soon be free from her,” Xylo agreed. “No longer embarrassed by having a nestqueen who isn’t a Circuli.”
I opened my mouth, but words refused to come out. Gasping, I felt my throat closing on itself, making it harder to breathe. Tears streamed down my face as I struggled for air.
What was the point of living when everything you believed in was a lie?
CHAPTER THIRTY
Zirene
“Has the threat been terminated?” Zirene growled.
The Fab Five were kneeling in front of him, Kaede and Bryeca in front of the other four, all six unable to meet his eyes.
Good.
They had failed and should be ashamed of themselves. It was an embarrassment that someone could easily get something past them. They were at the brink of war, and his special agents had decided to take a night off, and Selena had paid the price for their failure.
“Yes, Sire,” Kaede whispered. “For now.”
“For now?” Royak asked, his voice hard.
“The one responsible offered his secrets for us to spare his life,” Bryeca explained.
“And did you accept the prisoners deal?” Zirene snarled.
“No, Sire.” Kaede failed to mute his chuckle. “Prey doesn’t get the right to pick their punishment.” He smirked. “He told us what we wanted to know, and I had the pleasure to give him a dose of his own torture… before I injected him with myVusyte andkilled him.”
“It should have been my killing blow,” Bryeca muttered.
Kaede glanced at the leader of the Fab Five.
“I had to clean up your mess. Something that shouldn’t have happened if I wasn’t dismissed—”
“Selena doesn’t have the power to dismiss you. Ever,” Zirene injected angrily. “You are my agent, first and foremost. Selena has no rights when it comes to you guarding her. I am not wasting your capabilities on the battlefield for you to have a night off. There are no nights off—not when her life is linked to mine,” he hissed and slammed his fist on his desk. “This is your only mission, Agent Kaede. Don’t let others tell you any differently.”
“Not even me, brother?” Royak chuckled.
Zirene’s eyes hardened as he turned toward the Aldawi Heir.
“Try me.”
Royak’s tail flipped in the guest chair as he gave Zirene a gentle smile.
“You know I wouldn’t override you—I never have—and I won’t start with Selena’s safety.” His smile dropped as he faced Kaede. “One would be a fool to mess around with your Nova.”
“Indeed,” Zirene agreed, relaxing. “Now… tell me what important information you gathered from your interrogation.”
Kaede stood swiftly and fell to attention. He dared to try to raise his head to meet Zirene’s gaze, but Zirene’s anger continued to fuel the weight of his dominance. Kaede may have a strong mind, but he couldn’t win against the thickness of Zirene’s aura in the room.
Only Royak could move freely as if nothing was amiss. Zirene knew his brother could feel the effects but was strong enough to ignore them until Zirene used his full force, which he rarely did. Not even their father could resist him then.
“The Quaww hired him to keep tabs on your dealings, especially Selena. He didn’t know that Selena was who she is until my sisters defended her against his… tasteless actions,” he growled. “When they called Selena by name and told him she was their new sister, he knew he needed to find a way to create havoc. If he could make her attack someone, the Quaww could use it against her and try to overturn the vote. He came up with a better plan to drug her with a new aphrodisiac on the market and get her alone. He would use his connections to kidnap her undetected and escape the space station.”
“Her connections with her nestmates would allow us to find her,” Royak murmured easily.
“Exactly,” Zirene purred. “Once again, I am glad she is bonded to her nestmates. Taking in the banished Circuli princes works to our advantage since they are the most powerful males aboard theDestiny. Xylo’s mental strength was enough for me to tolerate, but having him paired up with the princes will only aid in protecting Selena.”
