“I fear that the Jetutians will come. Soon. If they are not here already.”
Vaxa’an looked at him like a stranger. His brother had remained unchanged—at least physically—but Jaxor knew thathewas different. Jaxor felt the long rotations like they were lashes against his back, felt them stretch tight.
“Do you believe me?” Jaxor asked, looking him straight in the eyes. Through their blood connection, he felt Vaxa’an’s unease.
“I do,” his brother said, without hesitation. Relief made Jaxor close his eyes. “But I worry what I will think when you tell me everything else.”
Jaxor nodded. “First, ensure Luxiria is secure. Only allow those you trust in the command center until Kirov arrives.”
“Why come to me now with this information?” Vaxa’an asked. Jaxor sensed his rage then. A tangible thing between them. “You have known this entire time. You have put countless at risk in not telling me.Why?”
Jaxor felt the metal biting into his wrists. He knew the answer but he didn’t want to say it. He knew it wouldn’t make a drop of difference in his brother’s eyes.
“The Jetutians have only ever come to speak with theMevirax,” Jaxor told Vaxa’an. “Three times that I know of.”
“Were you there during these meetings?” Vaxa’an asked him.
“Nix,” Jaxor said. “They happened after I had already broken away from theMevirax.”
After he learned what Tavar had planned to do with the Luxirian crystals…
Vaxa’an was shaking his head, frustrated. “You need to tell me everything.”
“And I will, brother,” Jaxor said, that same frustration rising in him. “But theMeviraxhave Erin.”
“Rebax?”
“They took her, just yesterday, from my base.Thatis why I need your help. To get her away from them. To keep her safe.”
Vaxa’an was already walking over to the wall of Coms. “I will send for Kirov.”
“And the others?”
“There are already plans in place, Jaxor’an,” he said and Jaxor flinched at his proper name. It mocked him now, a symbol of his family, of his lineage, of his place in their world. “We were planning to storm theMevirax’s base in seven spans. This will move up the timeline, but I am not certain how much. But tonight, with the exception of Kirov, I will allow the Ambassadors their night. Tomorrow, I will send for them.”
“Seven spans?” Jaxor rasped. “Erincannotwait that long!”
Vaxa’an turned from the Coms after he’d presumably called for Kirov, studying Jaxor in the dim light. “I will ensure the planet is secure now. Kirov will double-check when he gets here to tonight. I will send warriors to scout near the Caves of thePevrallix,” he paused, “if that is still where theMeviraxare.”
“It is,” Jaxor said, distracted, unable to shake the feeling of dread and unease. Was Erin safe? Was she fed, cared for?
His only comfort, if it could be called that, was that Tavar wouldn’t abuse her. He needed her for the Jetutians. As long as the Jetutians had not breached their atmosphere already, it would give them time to prepare.
Vaxa’an turned back to him, looking at him with a blank gaze, as if preparing himself for what would come next.
“Now tell me everything,” his brother ordered softly. “From the moment you left the Golden City, ten rotations ago, until the moment you stepped inside here, this span.”
“Even though you will hate me more for it?” Jaxor asked, his tone quiet. He was exhausted, but this could not wait.
“I could never hate you, brother,” Vaxa’an said, approaching him again.
There he was. His brother. Inherently good, always better than Jaxor could hope to be. His love for him burned brightly in that moment, love Jaxor was not worthy of.
“Even still,” Jaxor said, feeling his heartbeat drum in his chest, “you might, after you learn what I have done.”
Chapter Thirty-Six
The Luxirian female returned later that night. Only this time, she came back alone, carrying yet another tray of food—though Erin hadn’t even touched the first one.
