“On my way.” I pushed my touchstone into my pocket and forced Wyn from my thoughts to focus on my responsibilities.
I was just sitting on Monqilcolnen’s couch, waiting for Bobbinvoxlyn to wake up. Cincin had demanded pets for a short amount of time, but now, she was asleep on a fluffy bed. I flicked over the coding on my screen. It was my special project. I was creating a code that could destroy an artificial intelligence.
Normally, I would’ve never thought of creating such a thing—I was close friends with Edith, after all—but she had asked me to. Edith had seen the concern from the Council of Seekers about her, and it worried her too. She never wanted to harm us, to harm anyone, so she’d requested I make a failsafe which could destroy her if she ever hurt someone. I hadn’t wanted to at first,but, in the end, I saw the wisdom in having something to protect us, not only from Edith, but from any artificial intelligence intending to hurt the Drakcol Empire.
My fingers flew over the screen, making important tweaks, as I watched the simulation. I was getting close to succeeding. I was sure of it. I would, at some point, have to test it, but it would have to be done in a controlled environment so no harm was done to our own NAID system.
A beep was my sole warning before a face appeared on screen across from me—Cincin’s screen to watch something called “cat TV,” which Lucy also enjoyed. But that man wasn’t whatever cat TV was. He had dark green scales with peeks of white and black mottled skin. His soft features and light purple gaze made something inside of me relax, though his eyes were oddly familiar. He himself wasn’t someone I knew on sight, but he had to be someone Monqilcolnen knew well enough to simply allow to ping without waiting for acceptance, as was the norm and required by privacy laws.
Mouth opening and closing, I tried to think of something, anything to say, but nothing except a panicked squeak escaped.
The man didn’t appear surprised to see me, which shocked me almost as much as his sudden appearance. He shifted his head slightly, and his silver hair fell over his shoulder. My soul pounded. I knew who this was. That one movement was enough. Prince Jemtonkilsol, older brother to the emperor as well as his advisor, and Monqilcolnen’s father.
I instantly offered my throat and babbled, “This is not what it looks like, Prince. I am watching Prince Bobbinvoxlyn while Prince Kalvoxrencol and Prince Consort Seth sleep. Commander Monqilcolnen is allowing the kit to nap here. Right now. Nothing else.”
He chuckled, shaking his head, and I was struck with the thought of how little Monqilcolnen looked like his father,who had a soft, gentle bone structure and narrow shoulders. Monqilcolnen resembled his uncle and cousins far more. But I realized why Jemtonkilsol’s eyes seemed familiar—they were the same shade as Kalvoxrencol’s.
In a deep voice, Jemtonkilsol asked, “Are you Wyn?”
My pulse picked up, and my tail twisted. “Y-yes. How did you know?”
“I have heard about you.”
By the stars, had Monqilcolnen told his parents about the puking incident? I certainly hoped not, but I doubted they’d remain oblivious. He’d told everyone. I swallowed. “You have?”
“Monqilcolnen speaks of you often.”
That warm, not uncomfortable feeling returned. “He does?”
“Yes. Very often. Almost daily.”
A smile tugged at the corner of my lips as my tail writhed. Monqilcolnen spoke of me, and not to just anyone, but to his parents. Why that sent bolts to my chest, I had no idea, but I liked it. A lot. I wasn’t sure how to respond, so I remained silent.
Jemtonkilsol simply stared at me with a soft smile for several long moments before asking, “How old are you?”
“I am twenty-four, Prince.”
“Interesting.”
Was it? Why?
“Do you like serving on a ship?”
“I do, though I’m not permanently assigned to a ship. I work with Prince Consort Seth and Edith on her independence.”
His eyebrows went up slightly. “That is an honorable and important posting.”
“Seth—I mean, Prince Consort Seth gave it to me. We’re friends.”
“I believe you’re not giving yourself enough credit, Wyn. If you were not up to the task, someone would’ve tried to reassign you.”
Possibly, but I highly doubted it. Seth was very important to the Cohort, to the council, and to Edith. It would’ve taken a great incompetence on my part for anyone to go against Seth’s wishes. But I wasn’t going to contradict the prince; he could believe whatever he liked.
“My son wouldn’t tolerate anyone incompetent, nor would he praise you so effusively in front of me and his xapher as much as he has,” Jemtonkilsol remarked.
That warmth flooded me again. “He praises me?”
“He does,” Prince replied, smiling again. “Often.”
