Chapter 44

I clutched my touchstone, weaving through the crowd of the marketplace to meet Wyn for lunch. Urgg was busy today, leaving the two of us alone, which was kind of perfect. NAID had spoken to Dr. Qinlin about Wyn joining NAID’s independence project. The doctor hadn’t been opposed. She’d merely said Wyn was adequate, and a recommendation from me would guarantee his invitation.

So it was up to Wyn. If he wanted me to, I would offer my recommendation, and if he didn’t, I would let it go. I loved the idea of him staying on Kal’s, and soon to be my, planet. Living in a new place was overwhelming enough, and I imagined relocating to a new planet was a thousand times worse. Having someone familiar besides Kal and NAID would be nice.

I lowered onto the stool next to Wyn in his favorite restaurant. It sold a variety of noodle soups that reminded me of ramen, but the noodle texture was closer to hair. The noodles could be hair for all I knew, but I didn’t dare ask.

“Seth,” Wyn said, gripping my wrist with his tail in greeting. “I already ordered. I didn’t think you’d mind. I got you the same thing you always get.”

I liked predictable things. I rarely ordered something new once I found a food or drink I enjoyed. “Thanks. How’s the phase variance?”

His tail thrashed. “It’s floating around the ship, which makes no sense. It shouldn’t be able to travel from system to system, but it does. I’m beginning to believe there might be something else at work.”

“Like what?”

“I’m not sure, but I have sent multiple reports to my superior. It could be because the ship is unfinished and there’s a system-wide coding error. When we dock on Tailyn, the space station orbiting Tamkolvanloknol, it will have to be purged.”

I opened my mouth to reply, but a waiter put two bowls down on the table. Wyn’s soup was a deep green with white noodles and bright red radish-like veggies. Mine was brown with the same noodles, but chock-full of meat.

Poking at the soup, I asked, “What are you going to do after we return?”

“What do you mean?” Wyn slurped up the noodles, liquid dotting his chin.

“Are you staying on the Admiral Ven or going somewhere else?”

“It depends on my orders.”

I focused on the metal rivets on the table, my fingers curled into a fist.

Wyn asked, “What’s wrong, Seth?”

“Would you consider staying?”

“What?” he asked, his forehead creasing.

“Kal’s in charge of the project overseeing NAID’s independence, and Dr. Qinlin is giving the project head over to an engineer. I was wondering if you would be interested in joining the team.”

His mouth fell open.

Words shot from my mouth in rapid fire. “I’m not trying to force you into anything. I thought it would be nice if you were around. I mean, if you want to be around. If you want to be friends after this. No pressure, you know. Whatever’s fine. It’s cool.”

“Seth. Breathe.”

“I am,” I said, laughing nervously.

“I’m not mad. This would be a step up for me.”

I shrugged. “I don’t really know how all of this works, but I thought you would like it. Dr. Qinlin said if I recommend you, you would get the job.”

“You’re mated to royalty, and some believe you’re responsible for NAID’s independence. No one is going to deny you anything.”

“I have nothing to do with NAID. She is who she is.” NAID had picked Edith Smith’s face before she’d even spoken to me. I might have been the catalyst for her revealing herself to other people on the ship, but this was all NAID.

“That may be so, but you can ask for whatever you want.”

I poked at my noodles. “So are you interested?”

“I am. I don’t want to leave you either. You and Urgg are my closest friends. Besides, after the Ensign Puke incident, it would be nice to get reassigned.”

I agreed, though I didn’t comment about the fact that Monty was part of the royal family and he was likely to be around.

I made small strokes, trying to layer the colors to bring Seth to life. My skills had gotten rusty over my long sojourn, but overall, I was pleased with the results. I would have plenty of time to paint Seth in a variety of positions since he was coming home with me.

“Prince,” NAID said. Lucy squeaked in annoyance because NAID had turned off her bird videos to manifest.

“Yes?”

“Empress Vyn would like to speak to you.”

She was the only one of my family I hadn’t spoken to since I’d retrieved Seth. Mother had pinged me, but I’d refused her. But now, I had something to share.

“Put her through,” I told NAID, going back to painting my lovely Seth.

A moment later, she appeared, and I didn’t bother to turn around, knowing what I would see. Her long white hair, perfectly styled. Her green eyes would be on me and her thin lips would be smiling. Mother was always happy; Hallonnixmin took after her.

“You’re painting,” she whispered.

“Yes.” Tension seeped under my scales, making my back straighten.

“Your Seth Harris?”

“Yes,” I said, adding more texture to his hair. I couldn’t quite depict its perfection.

“I quite like the look of him.”

Finally, I turned toward her. “So do I.”

“I figured as much. What brought this about?”

“Seth. He likes my paintings, and I wanted to capture him.”

“I love him already. Where is he?”

“Having lunch with a friend. What can I do for you?” I moved to the couch. Lucy was crouched directly in front of me, tail flicking as she stared at the screen.

“Your father is concerned about your lack of communication,” she said. “Your brothers and Monqilcolnen have been advocating for you. They all say you”re busy with your new mate.”

“He almost died.” The mere words made my soul quiver.

Her expression softened. “I know, Little One. Is he alright?”

“He’s recovering.”

“I’m glad.”

My hands tightened into fists on my thighs. “I’m different now. I swear. But I couldn’t handle your concern when he was sick.”

“I do understand, Kalvoxrencol. We love you.”

“I know.”

Mother cleared her throat. “Has he perhaps made a decision?”

I grinned.

“I suspected as much. You’re talking to me to boast,” she quipped, but her soft tone took any bite from her words.

“My mate chose me.”

“I’m happy for you.”

“Me too,” I confessed. “He’s…” I had no words to describe Seth’s importance. He simply was.

“Something I understand all too well. You often forget the Crystal brought your father and I together. That feeling of rightness and completion cannot be spoken.” Her green eyes, the same ones all my brothers shared, turned distant. “When your father found me, I could hardly believe it.”

My parents” romance was a famous story. Mother had been no one. She hadn’t lived on the main planet, and she’d been drowning in debt as she tried to take care of her parents.

My father had come for my mother when the Crystal revealed her as his soulmate. She’d rejected him, uninterested. He’d spent the next few weeks courting her. Mother hadn’t cared if he was her soulmate or the heir to the throne. Both had been negatives in her opinion. Finally, he’d won her love, though he always said he had no idea how, while Mother said it was because, for the first time in her life, she felt safe.

“I remember,” I said.

“Your father is the best thing to happen to me, and he brought five more perfect things into my life.”

“Seth is the same for me.”

The door opened, and Seth froze, gaze trapped on the screen. I saw the indecision play on his expression. For a moment, I wondered if he would back out of the room. Instead, he stepped toward me, and I held out a hand. His clammy fingers slid into my hold. I tugged him against my side.

My mother smiled at Seth, and he hunched. I whispered against his ear, “It’s alright. I’m here.”

He bobbed his head.

“Mother,” I said, holding Seth tight, “this is my mate, Seth Harris. Seth, this is my mother, Empress Vyn.”

“Hello,” he said, barely audible.

“It’s lovely to meet you.”

Seth didn’t respond.

Mother glanced at me, but I smiled. I wanted to draw him onto my lap and snuggle him, but I doubted he would like it with our current audience, and he truly didn’t need it—Seth was fine.

Taking a deep breath, he straightened. “It’s nice to meet you.”

“My son cares for you a great deal.”

“I’m right here,” I protested.

Seth replied like I hadn’t even spoken. “I care about him too.”

“Always beneficial,” she teased. “Your father mentioned the two of you were getting along.”

Seth visibly deflated. I squeezed him. “I should press charges against him for that.”

“You’d never succeed, but I’d enjoy watching you try,” she remarked.

“He shouldn’t have done that.”

“You should have answered our pings.”

Frowning, I refused to reply.

“I will leave you to your bliss. Besides, you will be here soon enough, and hopefully providing me with more grandchildren.”

“Mother,” I snapped, but she simply raised her eyebrows and disappeared.

Seth burrowed against me, and I drew him onto my lap. His face pressed against my neck. His voice was muffled as he said, “I have never been more embarrassed in my entire life.”

“Don’t be.” I pressed a kiss to his hair. “She’s teasing you. My mother already likes you.”

“She doesn’t know me.”

“It doesn’t matter. She saw me painting. She saw how happy I am. And she knows you defended me. She loves you for all those things. When she gets to know you, she will love you more.”

“I haven’t had a family for a long time.” His voice was barely a whisper.

“You do now. You have annoying parents, even more annoying brothers, Talvax who’s like an overprotective aunt, Urgg who’s definitely the fun cousin, Monqilcolnen who’s the boring cousin, Wyn who’s the less annoying brother, and NAID who’s the crazy grandparent.

“You have a family. All who love you,” I said.

“And you.”

“And me. Always me.”

He didn’t reply, but he didn’t need to. I felt the tears dripping onto my neck. I rubbed his back, holding the love of my life.