Page 76 of Cheating Fate

“Thank you for being candid with me and not giving me the silent treatment,” she whispered.

“I will always be straightforward and honest with you. I love you, Zhara.”

She beamed at me and rubbed her nose against mine. “I love you too, my gentle giant.”

The long journey to Dantor proved to be yet another eye-opener. The business management training my father gave me came in handy. Vahl had been right to worry about all the logistics and administrative workload associated with running his own army. But for me, making plans for our future fleet, barracks, weapons, provisions, and staffing was a breeze. As my father heavily involved me in the planning and setting up of our combat arenas on Venus Hive—among other things—I already knew how to handle large-scale projects. In no time, I had configured and filled out multiple spreadsheets.

Granted, as suspected, the Veredians had already done a lot of the legwork for us. They’d provided a vast inventory of ships, weapons, and various other necessities for us to pick from. More importantly, it thrilled us to find out that the core planets of our growing alliance had created a fund, some of them individually, others jointly. Those credits had been reserved specifically for Vahl’s army. Once the Seers confirmed he had overcome the challenges that might have led him down a dark path instead of becoming the Great General, most of the allies merged those funds. They were now at our disposal.

We didn’t plan on tapping into it until it became necessary. The work we accomplished during the trip remained at a high level. It would require significant fleshing-out later. For now, we were defining the foundation atop which we would build the greatest army of all time. Vahleryon’s gratitude and awe at my contribution touched me deeply. He knew how to make you feel seen, important, and valued. Sometimes, a single look or a smile from him sufficed.

My respect for him grew exponentially. Vahl truly listened to his team. He involved us in a lot of the decision-making processed, weighing the pros and cons of dissenting voices or alternative suggestions. Before coming to the Western Quadrant, I dreaded that he might have a God complex after a lifetime of being told he was the prophesied Great General. But he had no qualms about being wrong and admitting it. He welcomed pushback, attentively listened, and decided based on merit and not ego.

The journey also gave me the opportunity to bond with the others. It warmed my heart how welcoming they acted towards us. I didn’t doubt that saving them from the Talabor mission played a role in it. But there seemed to be genuine chemistry between everyone. Even my boneheaded Braxian companions settled nicely with the rest of the team.

However, on the day before our arrival, I managed to get Trehvus alone on the crew deck so that we could have a heart to heart. Although he’d shown nothing but kindness and respect towards me, I wanted to get a better sense of his true feelings. Everyone always assumed that the older of the two Dervhen twins would become Vahl’s First Officer. I didn’t want there to be any resentment.

Like most Xelixian-Veredian hybrids, he was ridiculously handsome. He’d inherited his Veredian mother’s brown skin and markings, and his Xelixian father’s crihnin, ridged ears, and silver eyes.

“Hey Trehv,” I said, walking up to him while he was grabbing a drink.

“Hey Gavin,” he replied warmly.

“I was wondering if you had a second,” I said.

His smile instantly vanished, and he studied my face with a hint of worry.

“Of course. Is something wrong?”

“No, not at all. I just wanted to have a quick chat,” I replied quickly.

“Okay,” he said, still looking a bit confused.

I grabbed a bottle of flavored water and led the way. We settled at one of the booths lining the edges of the room. A massive window next to it gave a breathtaking view of the void of space outside.

“I’m not going to beat around the bush and dive right in,” I said carefully.

“Please do. I like things straightforward,” Trehv replied calmly.

“I was wondering how you feel about Vahl asking me to be his First Officer,” I asked gently.

His eyes widened. It struck me then that this was the last question he’d expected me to lay at his feet.

“How I feel about it? Wait, are you worried I might be jealous?!” he asked, incredulous.

“Everyone seemed to believe you would occupy that role,” I said.

“Yeah, and that freaked me out!” he exclaimed.

It was my turn to look stunned. He burst out laughing.

“I have zero interest in shouldering that type of responsibility,” Trehv said with a conviction that erased any doubt I might have had. “If Vahl had asked me to do it, then of course I would have stepped up. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do to support him through what lies ahead. But I just want to blow shit up and wipe out enemies. Point me at them, and I’ll set them on fire.”

As he stated that last sentence, he held his right palm facing upward, and a flame shot upward, burning brightly before he snuffed it out. Although I had yet to see him in action, I had heard what an incredible pyrokinetic he was. His younger twin, Dhaxius, was a cryokinetic and could turn anything and anyone into ice in a blink.

I chuckled and stared at him with genuine wonder. These Veredians and their psionic powers seriously blew my mind. It was not just the awesomeness of their abilities, but also the ease with which they cast them that took my breath away.

“Honestly, I couldn’t have been happier than when you joined us,” Trehv continued more seriously. “That day, as soon as the rescue ended, I knew you would be the one. I wanted you to be the one. And the others share that sentiment.”