I opened my mouth to argue before snapping it closed again. Whoever had called in the original assignment paid handsomely, but they’d also left no way of alerting them once the job was complete. They’d simply assured Astrum Force they would “be in contact.”
A full-scale attack certainly would have been one way to make contact…
At this point, it could’ve beenanyonemasterminding this series of events and, judging from the lack of updates coming from Honnor, I wasn’t the only one fumbling in the dark here.
How many imperial blind spots do we have?!
“No one is untouchable in our world, Stellarian—never forget that,” Uulvin effortlessly addressed my unspoken thoughts, making me narrow my eyes.
I tightened my mental walls before replying. “Except Hydrassians, hmm? Your kind are toovaluableto worry about attacks or manipulations from other species.”
Uulvin glanced at Pedro again before returning their focus to my face. “Mmm… so valuable that others will stop at nothing to covet our talents to advance their own empires. Perhaps we should have followed in the footsteps of the Trols and disappeared completely.”
There was abitternessin their tone that caught my attention, but something more important took precedence. “When you say ‘disappeared completely,’ do you mean their planet no longer exists, or…”
The Hydrassian stared at me for a long moment before laughing humorlessly. “Your defenses are almost as good as your mate’s.”
“Stop trying to read our minds and answer the question,” I growled, proud Micah had apparently locked them out but still angry this sorcerer had somehow trapped my tendrils inside me.
“We want you to remember how it felt.”
Oh, I’ll remember.
“The answer depends on your intentions,” Uulvin replied, continuing to judgmentally observe me. “Do you mean to return this youngling to their home and leave them be, or is there another reason you wish to locate the Trols?”
I froze, oddly unsure how to answer, and a slow smirk stretched across Uulvin’s six faces.
Micah hurriedly came to my defense. “Ofcoursewe want to return Pedro to their home! I mean, I’m probably gonna cry when we do it, no lie, but it’s the right thing to do.”
The right thing to do…
“Pedro?” Uulvin repeated, snapping me from my existential crisis.
The latest existential crisis.
“Uh, yeah… I named them.” Micah rubbed the back of his neck, his delicious blush distracting me as always. “I wanted them to feel like they had a family, you know? Like they belonged,even if it was just temporary.”
You belong with me.
Forever.
Pedro rested their little chin on my shoulder and purred, settling my agitation in a way I thought only Micah was able to do.
Uulvin hadn’t taken their eyes off me. “Family is vital to survival—a universal truth across species—although sometimes, that family is one you find along the way.”
“We know a thing or two about that, don’t we, Zig?” Micah laughed nervously, no doubt picking up on the tension still lingering in the air.
“We do,” I replied, holding Uulvin’s gaze, daring the seer to challenge me. “And I protect what’s mine.”
All mine.
To my surprise, the Hydrassian nodded, seeming satisfied with my reply. “Well, then you will understand why we cannot give you information on the Trol’s home planet?—”
“What?!” I shouted, making Pedro skitter down my back.
“…but my sibling could,” Uulvin added absently, ignoring my interruption.
“Very well,” I snapped, determined to keep us on track. “Then we would like to speak to your sibling.”
