Chapter 4

Venus

Saying I was seething couldn't even begin to describe the anger raging inside of me. Aside from feeling blindsided, I hated being trapped and held against my will. At the same time, I couldn't even hate Xarin—whatever a being in his current state of development would be described as. In his shoes—or rather chrysalis—I also wouldn't have wanted that slimeball Ajustus having any kind of power or control over me. But surely there was one Promethean among the countless folks in the crowd that could become a suitable Primus?

When that other male suggested I became one of them, the crowd went berserk. While the black Prometheans—who acted like some sort of royal guards—tried to rein them in, one of them swiftly led us out of the Great Hall and into this meeting room.

Under different circumstances, I would marvel at the stunning beauty of our surroundings. Like the Great Hall, the walls had been intricately sculpted like the plaster carvings in a Marrakesh mansion. Here again, gray shades dominated. I could only presume it was to avoid any clashes with their colorful population. But I was too pissed to enjoy the architecture or decor.

My eyes threw daggers at Linsea, the burning suspicion which had taken root while we still stood in the Great Hall cranking up another notch.

"You knew this was going to happen, didn't you?" I snarled at the Temern.

She shifted her wings uneasily, her sheepish expression confirming her guilt.

"You trapped me!" I hissed.

"No, Venus. I promise you, I didn't," Linsea replied in a firm but gentle tone. "When I first heard about the Prism choosing you instead of one of your ship's security guards, I began to suspect he might have a greater purpose for you. After all, you possess unique talents that are extremely convenient for the situation here on Sylvar. But the moment you both exited the portal, the emotions Xarin broadcast in the presence of Ajustus made it clear to me things would not go smoothly."

"None of this makes sense! I won't argue with the kid's unwillingness to have the Chancellor as his guardian," I said as tactfully as I could, despite my anger.

Although the guard left us alone in the room with Xarin, he and Tedrick were standing right outside the door. However primitive their technology was, and even though I couldn't detect any spying device in the room, I knew better than to underestimate the possibility that Prometheans might possess extremely acute hearing. Talking trash about their leader—especially one that struck me as being a narcissist—wouldn't benefit me in any way.

"But why in the world is he latching on to me? I know nothing about their world. Surely he can sense by now that I want nothing to do with any of this," I argued.

"I cannot tell you what he specifically wants you to do and can only speculate," Linsea replied in a commiserating tone. "But until we find a replacement Primus who he will deem acceptable, you will have no choice but to remain by his side. None of us can do anything about it, even if we wanted to. He has created a psychic and biological bond with you. It's not like there's an implant that we could remove from you."

"So what the hell does that mean?" I asked with a mix of outrage and disbelief. "I'm not mommy material! I'm the type who only hugs a baby for thirty seconds while they're smiling or nodding off. I don't do diapers, and I especially don't do crying. I'm the worst type of person to take care of their Prism baby! And I sure as hell refuse to be stranded here for the next eighteen years!"

Linsea chuckled, her beautiful eyes sparkling with genuine amusement. "You will have absolutely no maternal duties to perform, and especially not for eighteen years. Xarin only needs you to be his eyes and voice. Before entering his cocoon, he consumed all the food he needs until he reaches maturity. He will emerge a full adult within the next four months. At which point, assuming he has not released you by then, you will be free."

"Unless something else goes awry, and he decides I should stick around a while longer," I countered, the same anger audible in my voice.

She shook her head firmly.

"No. There will be nothing beyond that. This, I can promise you."

While I was far from being mollified, hearing the conviction in her voice slightly appeased me. It still didn't resolve my problem, but four months already sounded much better than eighteen years.

"The Prism is like a prophet. According to the Promethean lore, Xarin is reborn once every century or so, right before a major cataclysm that occurs on a recurring cycle. He plays an important role in balancing the beacons upon which the very existence of this world and of its people rely. He's also the only one able to cleanse some of the scorched lands that are struck by Thaudras—the cataclysm in question."

"And then?" I asked, unable to hide my curiosity, although I had more questions about whatever the beacons were.

"And then he dies, only to return when he's needed again," Linsea said, matter-of-factly. "The Prism is ephemeral. Once he emerges from his chrysalis, his lifespan rarely exceeds a few weeks. The one known to have lived the longest walked their world for nearly six months. But their people had also faced the greatest tragedy of their history. It would be too long for me to go into details about it right now, but know that if he chose you, it is because you will play an important—if not vital—role that will define the future of all Prometheans until he next returns."

That struck me hard, my anger instantly fading to be replaced by sadness and compassion that he should have such a heavy burden to carry out in such a short time. The instinctive wave of protectiveness that surged through me left me reeling.

I opened my mouth only to have the Temern shake her head in response to the comment I had not even spoken yet.

"No, Venus. His fate cannot be changed. Nor does he want it to be. He has a purpose, and he is looking forward to it. Do not feel sad for him. But your reaction confirms you are the right choice. He perceived your compassion. I can feel his love for you and the great hope he lays at your feet," Linsea said in a gentle tone.

I didn't know how to handle this situation, or how I even felt right now.

"Your family has been involved in the highest spheres of intergalactic politics for generations," Linsea continued, this time tension seeping into her voice. "I believe this is the reason why Xarin chose you. This world needs you."

"What are you saying?" I asked, genuinely shocked. "This planet is under the highest restriction level of the Prime Directive. By rights, we shouldn't even be here. These people shouldn't know of our existence. I absolutely cannot meddle in their affairs, least of all in their politics. It would completely derail their evolution."

To my shock, instead of immediately concurring with me, Linsea hesitated.

"In theory, you are correct."

"In theory?!" I exclaimed.

"Ignorance, especially when influenced by religious beliefs, can drive even the kindest people to commit the most atrocious actions," Linsea said carefully. "We must let every culture make their own decisions. However, when faced with genocide, what is more important? Observing the rules or bending them a little?"

"Genocide?" I asked, my stomach dropping.

"We know very little about the Prometheans. Their entire culture relies on magic fueled by their ability to channel colors. The extent of their power isn't dependent on skill but on genetics. What colors they can channel are directly linked to those found in their wings. The more colors, the more powerful, and the more influential each individual is."

"The fewer colors and the further down the ladder you are," I said with sudden understanding.

She nodded with a grim expression. "The Monochromatic and Achromatic Prometheans live a pretty harsh life. And with the impending cataclysm, things will only get worse for them. You're a mechanical engineer. Your scientific knowledge and your political acumen give you all the tools needed to avert a disaster."

"How are their fate and the cataclysm related?" I asked, battling an uneasy suspicion.

"Like many primitive species, Prometheans believe that natural disasters are divine punishments. To them, the power surges in their beacons are a sign of the wrath of Kiaris, the Goddess of Light. To appease her, they sacrifice those considered as a stain among their people."

"No!" I breathed out, horrified.

"During your stay here, you might be able to understand the nature of the energy source that emanates from the power cores they call Sibris. That loosely translates as beacon or light well in Universal. And with that, you could provide the Prometheans with the scientific explanation—and maybe even solution—to put an end to those genocidal sacrifices."

I narrowed my eyes at her. While I didn't doubt she genuinely wanted to avert those senseless deaths, I suspected a different motivation explained why they assigned her to this matter instead of one of the lesser ranked ambassadors of the UPO.

"Why did they send you here?" I challenged. "What's in it for the UPO?"

She smiled, doing me the honor not to insult my intelligence with lies.

"There are many reasons. Averting the sacrifices I outlined is definitely the main one," Linsea said in a noncommittal fashion.

"The main one for you. But what about for the UPO?" I insisted. "My money says they're quite interested in finding out more about that energy source."

Her smile slightly broadened, and a glimmer of approval sparked in her eyes. "See? You are the perfect candidate for this situation. Obviously, the United Planets Organization is always interested in new energy sources, especially one as powerful as this one, which also happens to be extremely clean. Except when Thaudras occurs. It's a cataclysmic event similar to a solar flare erupting from those beacons. By the time it ends, it's like a nuclear bomb went off with all the radioactive fallout. We need to figure out why it's happening, and how to prevent it."

"And then hope that, in their infinite gratitude, the Prometheans will be open to trade talks with the UPO," I replied, my voice dripping with sarcasm. "I won't lie, Ambassador, I'm a little disappointed to see you play these games."

Instead of bristling or recoiling with indignation, Linsea gave me an indulgent, almost maternal look, like a parent would with a child that clearly still had a lot to learn.

"You better than anyone should know that, in politics, it's always a game of give and take. I have no interest in energy sources, any more than you do in enriching yourself whenever you lobby to push forward your agendas. How many shady deals have you consented to in order to make sure lesser planets had access to the biomedical resources they needed?" she asked, a hint of challenge in her voice.

I pursed my lips and bowed my head in concession.

"We all do what we must to achieve our goals. When I met my husband, I made it clear that my greatest aspirations were charity work with those who had no power, no voice, no leverage," she continued, a hard glimmer appearing in her eyes. "I soon realized that altruistic endeavors took you nowhere unless you were in a position of power. I do more good and have greater influence as a UPO ambassador than I did as a militant. If that means I have to trample some of my principles to make a difference, the price is well worth the reward."

"You really believe there is an impending genocide?" I asked in a much gentler tone, feeling duly chastised.

"I do. I think you can stop it—and I'm convinced he believes it as well," she added, glancing at the cocoon in the corner of the room. "Naturally, we will provide you with any equipment and scientific or technical assistance you may require to help solve this mystery and save these people."

"Fine. I'm willing to give this a go, though I'm not sure how much of a difference I can make. So what does becoming a Promethean entail?" I asked in a grumpy tone.

The mischievous glimmer that sparked in her eyes instantly had my spine stiffening with preemptive dread.

"Like with your sister's new people—the Ordosians—the only way to become a Promethean is through birth or marriage," Linsea deadpanned.

"Oh, hell no!" I exclaimed, jumping to my feet. "You guys are not pulling this shit on me!"

She chuckled and raised her palms in an appeasing fashion. "Peace, Venus. Peace. Please sit. The two situations are not the same at all. Technically, nobody can force you to marry, but I strongly suggest you do. Since the Prism chose you, whether Ajustus or anyone else disagrees, Xarin will remain under your care until he chooses someone else or hatches. If you do not marry, you will be no more than a guest—almost an employee—of whoever will be your host. And make no mistake, Ajustus will demand you reside in his house, if you remain a guest."

"Fuck that!" I hissed as I let myself drop back into my chair like a child throwing a tantrum.

My mother would spank me raw if she witnessed my behavior since this whole ordeal began. Usually, I was almost frighteningly cool in stoicism during tense debates and perfectly reined in my propensity to have a potty mouth. Cussing in a diplomatic setting was unbecoming. But this whole situation had me on edge.

"I figured you'd feel that way," Linsea said with a mocking smile. "With marriage, you become a free citizen and Xarin's true legal guardian. You make all the decisions regarding both yourself and Xarin. So long as your actions do not break their laws, Ajustus will have no say. Please note that it's purely a contractual union. You won't be expected to mate with your partner, and you will be able to dissolve the marriage the moment the Prism releases you. Naturally, the UPO will take care of relocating you back home as soon as you're free."

"How can you be so certain the Prometheans will go for that? This entire mess literally just happened," I challenged.

The Temern gave me a smug expression. "What do you think I was doing before contacting you? Every scenario was explored with the Promethean Senate before our arrival. They didn't believe this outcome was possible. But like I said, the moment the Prism chose you over a warrior, my gut told me he had greater plans for you. I like being prepared for all eventualities."

Once more, I glared at her with resentment, despite being grateful she was on top of things. The wretch only seemed amused by my annoyance.

"Assuming I even go through with this madness, they are a primitive species. How do they treat females?" I asked.

Linsea waved a dismissive hand. "While Prometheans are not advanced technologically, for them, dominance is defined by magic, not physical strength. Therefore, gender bears no importance in the power dynamics. Male and females are equal in all the ways that matter. So do not fear."

My shoulders relaxed as I shed the tension I had not realized was stiffening my back.

"At least, that's a positive," I grumbled. "But that's still a hell of a gamble. Do I get to choose my husband, or are they going to impose one on me? How would I even pick when I don't know any of them? What if the male I end up with is a total douchebag? And when does this whole thing have to go down?"

"All very valid questions," Linsea said in a friendly tone. "You certainly get to choose, and it doesn't have to be a male. You can marry a female if you prefer. But to make sure you are paired with someone that will be agreeable for you to cohabit with for the next few months, Kayog will assist you in making that choice."

"Oh, fuck that! I do not want your husband anywhere near this!" I exclaimed, panic immediately settling in the pit of my stomach.

To my surprise, instead of being offended by my instinctive outburst, Linsea laughed, genuinely amused by my distress.

"My dear, you are such a gem. My poor beloved will get a good laugh at seeing how terrified you are at the thought he might find your soulmate for you," she said with a chuckle. "But he's not coming here to match you. He's just going to help find someone that you can have pleasant and friendly interactions with. Wouldn't you prefer that than to find out the hard way that you made a terrible choice?"

"Yes, I get that. But you're a Temern, too! Why can't you help me assess who is a good candidate?" I argued.

She gave me a sympathetic smile. "I am a Temern, but my husband possesses an extremely rare trait amongst our people. He is what we call an Edal—an empath who can hear souls. The rest of us can feel emotions, but he goes beyond that. When I asked him to describe it, Kayog said it sounds almost like a melody to him. Each person has a unique song that can only be matched by their soulmate. The same way you recognize someone by their face or voice, my husband recognizes souls by their song. When you hear a popular song, even when interpreted by someone else, with different instruments, and even in a different style, you still know what song it is."

"So when he meets someone new and recognizes their song as one he heard before, he knows he found their perfect match," I said with sudden understanding. "But that's not what we want for me."

Linsea nodded. "Correct. But once he hears your song, he'll be able to assess which Promethean has a melody that harmonizes with yours. To compare with human music, if your song is classical, he will instantly know not to pair you with someone who is death metal."

"I bet Ajustus's song sounds like that annoying circus music," I muttered.

Linsea burst out laughing. "Oh, Venus, you truly are delightful! I promise, you will not regret this. And it needs to happen quickly. Tedrick already informed my husband, who should be here any minute now. He was finalizing a wedding for one of his recent matches."

I scrunched my face, still unable to believe this was happening. "My parents are going to lose it."

Unfazed in the least, Linsea cocked her head in that strange way birds often did, an amused expression on her beautiful face.

"They certainly will, and my office will not hear the end of it for the next few weeks until you return home. But you will be a heroine, just like Serena has been. As upset as they were by the situation, her heroic rescue and arranged marriage boosted their fame and status among the galactic community. And if my gut proves me right—yet again—you will be even more famous for how you will change the fate of an entire species."

"No pressure," I mumbled.

Fifteen minutes later, Tedrick knocked on the door before entering the room with the same guard who had escorted us here. Everything about that guard was black, but for his greige skin, and the silver eyespots in his wings. Based on what Linsea said, he likely fit in the Achromatic or Monochromatic category. Would he be sacrificed, too, when that Thaudras cataclysm occurred?

Despite my strong phobia when it came to bugs and any type of creepy crawlers, I couldn't deny Prometheans held a certain beauty. Their oversized eyes, fully black without sclera were a little unsettling, but their faces and bodies were otherwise mostly humanoid.

From where I stood, this male looked rather handsome, with wavy black hair, sinfully sexy lips, a cleft chin, and the type of body that would have many fitness models drooling with envy. The dark fur around his collar looked insanely soft and fluffy. The smattering of scales on his forehead and parts of his arms, chest, and legs had a lustrous sheen to them. Like the other Prometheans in the Great Hall, he was naked but for a fancy loincloth.

His antennae lightly flickered as he also appeared to be discreetly assessing me. I wondered what information they revealed to him about me. I never delved too deeply into the abilities of moths and butterflies. However, like Serena's husband who flicked his snake tongue to gather information about a target or his surroundings, moths could use their antennae to smell and interpret chemicals in their environment.

He was doing a great job of keeping an unreadable expression on his face, with that guarded look often displayed by seasoned members of the military. I didn't miss how he glanced at the Prism, as if to make sure he was still unscathed. I would pay a lot to know what thoughts were crossing his mind.

"Kayog is ready," Tedrick said, while tapping some instructions on his com.

Unlike when Jordan Fisk had opened a portal from the Radiant Star to bring me here, Tedrick didn't snap a black stone for it. He merely turned his back to us so that he would face the wall. Moments later, following a thunderclap, a giant black portal opened in front of him. I could only presume that when he typed on his com seconds ago, he sent the coordinates to whoever opened this magical doorway. This time, we were able to see through it. My jaw dropped at the sight of a golden dragonkin with shadowy horns standing next to Kayog.

Despite the awe filling me, my gaze flicked to the Promethean guard. Understandable tension stiffened his broad shoulders. Although he didn't touch the impressive blade hanging on his side, his hand hovered near it, ready to go on the offensive.

And yet, his features betrayed the wonder he failed to fully hide.

Seconds later, Kayog stepped out of the portal, reclaiming my attention. Seeing a hovercart with my luggage following him twisted my insides. It finally sank in that I was truly going to be stranded in this foreign place for the foreseeable future.

The tall dragon-like being on the other side flicked his wrist, and the portal instantly collapsed with a whooshing sound.

"Okay, how do I get myself a friend like that?" I said with awe, still staring at the now vacant spot where the portal had been.

Tedrick snorted. "You don't. No one does. In the wrong hands, such power would be too dangerous. But in the right ones, he's undoubtedly useful…"

"Right," I said, giving him the ‘You're no saint' look before turning my attention to Kayog. "Hello, Master Voln."

He chuckled, totally unbothered by my less-than-cordial tone. "Venus, such tender emotions emanating from you warm my old heart."

I scrunched my face at him, annoyed by how charming I always found him to be in spite of everything.

"You're hardly old. It's your habit of marrying off the Bello sisters that's getting old," I grumbled.

He pressed a palm to the golden down feathers of his muscular chest and bowed his head in an almost conceding fashion.

"I wish I could apologize, but I can never be sorry for helping Serena find true happiness. What better gift is there than for two soulmates to be reunited?"

I glared at him, further annoyed that he was indeed right. For all my whining, I also shared his sentiment about my sister's happiness.

"Yeah well, remember that you're not here to matchmake me, but only to find me a friendly partner until my duty is done," I said, feeling silly for being so grumpy.

His silver eyes sparkled with mischief.

"Rest assured, Venus, I will find you the ideal partner for however long your stay here will be."

Why do I not like the way he said that?

Before I could respond, the Temern turned to greet Tedrick, then the Promethean guard. While his nod was brief and courteous, something struck me as odd in the way Kayog looked at him. But seeing his face melt into a world of love and tenderness as he approached his wife messed me up. Linsea's entire expression also shifted, looking almost timid and awed as he closed the distance with her. He took both her hands in his, drawing her into his embrace. She melted against him, while flattening her pristine white wings against her body. He deployed his maroon wings, the same color as the rest of his body, wrapping them around his mate while they rubbed their beaks against each other's.

They made a striking tableau, him maroon and gold with a long white tail, and her like freshly fallen snow. But the infinite love radiating from them filled the room almost like a physical entity. My chest constricted, both with joy for them and shameful envy.

Yeah, there cannot be a better gift than for two soulmates to be reunited.

To my shock, while Tedrick was looking at them approvingly, the Promethean had lost his mask of stoicism, a look of sadness and longing settling over his features. He suddenly jerked his head towards me, having apparently sensed me staring at him. The speed with which he plastered a neutral expression on his face gave me whiplash.

His antennae flickered again, and I forced myself to avert my eyes, embarrassed to have been caught spying on him. Kayog releasing his mate with obvious reluctance saved me from further awkwardness.

"Well, if everyone is ready, let's go get you married, Venus," Kayog said with enthusiasm.