Lihvan made a sound of agreement in the back of his throat.
“I feel vanquished,” Cruxan told him. “An unsettling feeling for a Luxirian…but one that I welcome nonetheless. Especially if it is at her hands.”
“I am happy for you, my brother,” Lihvan told him, wading to the edge of the bathing pool before pulling himself out. “You deserve happiness after much has been taken from you.”
Cruxan didn’t say anything. He didn’t know how to tell the other male that he feared hisluxivawould still leave. He didn’t know how to tell him that he feared it would destroy him.
“You wished to speak with me,” Cruxan said.
Lihvan dried himself off with clean furs and then pulled out a fresh pair of leg coverings from a hidden compartment in the wall.
“You remember the blood sister of the warrior who stole the Luxirian crystal from the command center?” Lihvan asked.
Cruxan’s brow furrowed. “Tev. She had gone to seek out theMeviraxbecause she heard rumors that their females were cured.”
Her blood brother had stolen the Luxirian crystal because theMeviraxhad asked it of him. They had told him that if he stole it, then they would heal his blood sister.
Cruxan’s lips pressed together, remembering having to extract that information from the young warrior. He was still housed in the dungeons in the Golden City, awaiting trial for his betrayal.
But truthfully, Cruxan didn’t know if he could blame him. If his own blood sisters had wanted something so deeply, wouldn’t he have done anything for them?
“Well, Vaxa’an informed me just now that she has returned to the Golden City,” Lihvan said.
“What?” Cruxan hissed.
“She claims theMeviraxlied. Their females cannot bear offspring. That there were not many of their females left even,” Lihvan said, his nostrils flaring. “She said they are dishonorable, that they no longer follow the path of the Fates, that they only seek to live from one span to the next. She said…they abused her.” Cruxan’s belly burned, thinking of his female, his fists clenching at his sides. “They are no more Luxirian than the Jetutians are. Not anymore.”
“I do not want to believe it,” he said. “Many Luxirians have gone to seek them out over the rotations. From all outposts. What did she say of them?”
Lihvan shook his head. “She said most never made it. She said she only found theMeviraxwith her blood brother’s aid and that she escaped them by the Fates’ mercy only. It is a miracle in itself she managed to return to the Golden City. Vaxa’an said she had almost wasted away from crossing the Black Sands.”
Cruxan blew out a sharp breath. “And her brother?”
“Reunited, for now,” Lihvan said. “He still must go through trial. You know that.”
And it likely wouldn’t be a happy outcome. His best chance was exile. Perhaps his blood sister would accompany him.
“What need do theMeviraxhave for a Luxirian crystal of that power?” Cruxan questioned out loud, something he thought of often. “Did she say?”
“Nix, she did not,” Lihvan said, but something in his voice made Cruxan look at him. “She did report, however, that they have a Com communicator.”
Which meant they had access to off-planet systems.
“They could be in contact with any number of species,” Cruxan realized.
And many, many species would pay generously for a Luxirian crystal of that size, the most reliable fuel source to reach as far as the Fourth Quadrant.
“Vrax,” he cursed, running a hand through his hair.
“My thoughts exactly,” Lihvan said. “We have to get the crystal back before they have a chance to sell it.”
“I know,” Cruxan gritted out.
“Vaxa’an is preparing an infiltration of their camp in the coming weeks,” Lihvan said. “He wanted me to tell you to ready your best warriors and send them to the Golden City at the first opportunity. I will be doing the same here inKroratax.”
“You should have told me earlier when you received the message,” Cruxan said.
Lihvan said, “You deserve a rest, brother. You most of all, especially with your female. I am telling you now.”
