Chapter 24

Zerien

I regained consciousness to the scraping sound of a chair being pulled. Before my brain could fully focus again, the sensation of the magnetic shackles around my wrists and ankles claimed my attention. In the split second that took, memories of recent events came flooding back. My body immediately went into defensive mode, expanding all my senses for any sound or sensation that would hint as to any imminent threat and the extent of my current predicament.

I only perceived the scent of a single individual who was making no effort to hide his presence. The shuffling sound indicated he had just taken a seat across the table from where I sat. Failing to see any point in delaying further, I slowly opened my eyes.

A million thoughts rushed through my head at finding myself in front of the worktable inside Alanis's office in the Sanctuary. My chest instantly constricted at the prospect the lovely female might have come to harm at the hands of the rebels. Guilt surged through me that I had not acted sooner, or at least warned her. But the rebels had been content to fly under the radar and not otherwise disturb the residents of the recluse community. I had expected them to leave as quietly to avoid raising any suspicion before their attack.

In front of me, the young Vahleryon Praghan was observing me with a friendly smile laced with curiosity. It couldn't be him, and yet the resemblance was absolutely perfect. I spent time with him barely seven months ago before heading to Braxia for Keran's coronation. He had the same handsome face with golden brown skin, oversized dark purple irises, the chevron-shaped ridges of the crihnin adorning his forehead marking him as the son of a Xelixian, and the dark spots peppered along the sides of his neck, arms, waist, and legs testifying of his Veredian DNA. Contrary to his habit of letting his long black hair fall loosely to the small of his back, this imposter had bound it in a tail.

It struck me that he was wearing one of the three ceremonial Dhallas that Vahleryon usually wore for important social events. Was that a hint as to when he'd last encountered the young Titan and learned how to emulate his appearance?

A quick glance around the room confirmed he and I were alone in the office. That made him either extremely foolish or overly confident. I kept a neutral expression on my face even as my heart leapt with a sliver of hope upon noticing my bracer and weapon sitting on the console in the left corner of the room.

I clearly remembered activating Siona's disruptor program on my bracer before losing consciousness. Since I couldn't hear the ultrasonic signal it emitted—as intended—I couldn't tell if it was currently working its magic, or if they had discovered and disabled it. At this low and undetectable level, it would take a while for the signal to sufficiently damage the implant to allow me to mind control my targets. I could only pray that it was indeed operating and drag things long enough for it to kick in, allowing me to turn the tables on him.

"Awake at last, young Prince. I was starting to feel neglected," the fake Vahleryon said in a playfully offended tone.

"Release me," I commanded, my voice vibrating with my compulsion power right before my eyes flashed to seal the order.

I didn't need him to tell me that it failed. It was difficult to describe, but a successful psychic connection with a responsive target always felt like something akin to a physical contact, as if I'd brushed my fingertips against their mind. I'd felt no such thing with this impostor.

He snorted and shook his head to express how silly he thought my actions were.

"That's cute and rather rude. Did you really think that would work?" my kidnapper asked, amused.

"No," I sincerely replied with a shrug.

He raised an intrigued eyebrow and tilted his head to the side. "You're not surprised."

"I'm not. I suspected you had some form of protective disruptor, but I had to make sure."

He slowly nodded, his smile broadening. "Naturally."

"Where are my men?" I asked in a stern voice.

He frowned, seeming displeased by my dominant approach to the situation. Surely the fool didn't expect me to be submissive or scared?

"They're fine," he replied in a slightly clipped tone.

"Really?" I insisted, my voice dripping with doubt.

His frown deepened, and the ferocious expression that briefly fleeted over his features hinted at a volatile temper quickly hidden. Like us, the Veredian Titans greatly struggled with their feral and violent nature until the Korletheans taught them kaa . Vahleryon had become a master in that self-control discipline after spending his early years of childhood fighting the urge to slaughter his father, the Warriors of the First Division—the elite army of his birth world Xelix Prime—and the formidable Tuureans—the nearly invincible all-female army of the Veredians. As an apex predator, he'd been plagued with the need to obliterate any threat to his dominance and wipe out any other alpha in his territory, even if they were people he deeply loved.

"I do not lie, little Prince. If I say they're fine, then they are," he ground between his teeth. "We have plans for all of you as part of our army. Therefore, it would be foolish to kill you and waste invaluable resources. Well-trained Warriors are quickly becoming a rare commodity."

It was my turn to snort. I almost challenged him on that nonsensical statement, but a more pressing issue burned my tongue.

"What of the Brothers and Sisters of the Sanctuary?" I asked. "They're innocent civilians."

He nodded. "I do not harm civilians. Whatever you may think of the plans we're pursuing and carrying out, rest assured that we're not mindless killers. We want peace. It is strictly forbidden to harm civilians and innocents, unless absolutely unavoidable. The inhabitants of the Sanctuary are safely tucked away in one of the dormitories here. They will be released unscathed and unharmed as soon as we depart."

No words could express the depth of the relief I felt. But once again, I hid my emotions not to give him ammunition he could later use against me.

"I'm happy to hear it," I replied before examining him in a somewhat rude fashion. "Now how about you drop the charade and show me your real face?"

His brow shot up, his face lighting up with a mix of surprise and amusement. "What makes you think it's not my true face?"

"Because I personally know Vahl very well. I've seen his soul, and yours doesn't come anywhere near its beauty or power," I said with disdain.

The male huffed and pressed his palm to his chest in an overly dramatic fashion, acting as if he'd just been stabbed in the heart.

"Ouch! You hurt my feelings!" he said with false outrage.

"Fuck your feelings. Who are you? Lindel or Dread?"

This time, he looked genuinely impressed although also a little stunned. "Well done, Zerien. It seems you're even better informed than we realized. Yes, my name is Dread."

"That doesn't answer my question," I said with a sliver of irritation. "You're clearly not a Sarenian. Our people do not develop these types of abilities. So what are you?"

He pursed his lips and seemed to ponder his response before leaning against the backrest of his chair with a mysterious expression.

"Technically, I'm a Draylian," he said at last.

It was my turn to raise my eyebrows in surprise. "A Draylian? I've never heard of that species."

"Unsurprising. We only recently named ourselves that way," he replied with a shrug, though a hint of taunting lurked in his voice.

"Is that so?" I asked, happy to play along to gain a bit more time for the disruptor to disable his implant. "So what were you officially called before you technically took on this new name?"

"We were the true Titans," he said in a factual tone, although with a hint of hardness.

I blinked, confused. "What?"

He didn't answer but showed me instead. I stiffened and held my breath as his face and entire body—clothes included—melted like a wax statue exposed to intense heat. Once his features had vanished, they reshaped themselves into what I believed was his true appearance.

His skin was extremely pale, not as white as a person with albinism, but a very light shade like an eggshell or alabaster. Discreet, grayish lines could be seen under his skin. At first, I almost believed them to be the dark veins of the Taint, the terrible disease that had decimated the Xelixian males. But these ones were more like a natural pattern adorning his skin, like the spots on the Veredians.

A very strong V-shaped ridge framed his forehead, extending into each side of the bridge of his nose. His eyes, slightly oversized, had milky-white irises encased in a black ring that further enhanced his almost ghostly appearance. However, his straight, obsidian black hair falling to the middle of his chest contrasted sharply with his paleness. Added to the general shape of his pointy ears, a suspicion I couldn't reconcile with further took roots.

"What in Gharah's name are you?" I whispered to myself. "No one has ever seen your species before."

"Because we made sure to keep our existence quiet," the Draylian said smugly, before his expression darkened, and hate sparked into his ivory eyes. "Our creators—who also happened to be our parents—tried to exterminate us. They almost succeeded, but thankfully enough of us survived to birth the next generation."

"Your Creators?" I asked, my innards twisting at the realization I still refused to accept.

"The Korletheans, of course," he said, his voice dripping with contempt.

"You're one of the Titans?" I asked disbelievingly, although it was more the type of obvious statement one made when in shock.

"I said as much, didn't I?" Dread replied, mildly annoyed.

It made me feel stupid, but I was still reeling too much from the revelation to dwell further on my embarrassment.

"But the Korletheans were thorough in hunting you down," I argued, my blood turning to ice at the realization of what an even bigger shitstorm was about to engulf the entire galaxy.

"A few of our best Warriors took our pregnant females to a safe planet that became our new home. There, they thrived, and our people grew even more powerful," Dread explained.

"How? Aside from the straight hair and pointy ears, you do not look like a Korlethean. Even your skin is way paler where most of them tend to be in various shades of brown," I argued. "Did your people breed with the locals to gain these new powers?"

"We're not mixed," he said in a non-committal fashion. "Just enhanced."

"Enhanced how?" I insisted.

He waved a hand in annoyance. "That's irrelevant for now. Maybe I'll tell you another time."

"Korletheans don't shapeshift," I mused aloud. "As far as I know, none of the Veredians possess this type of power either."

"Because we're enhanced."

"You already said that," I replied, this time expressing my own annoyance.

"Then stop asking the same questions," he snapped back.

"I didn't ask," I retorted mockingly. "You chose to answer a reflection I made out loud."

The malicious pleasure I derived at seeing him clench his teeth as he burned with the urge to claw my face made me want to needle him further. Clearly, my opponent wasn't used to people mocking or challenging him. His ego made him easy to manipulate but also unpredictable as far as what could tip him over the edge.

Therefore, I reined in the temptation to goad him further. I was currently in too vulnerable a position to allow him to give in to his volatile temper. If only my wretched armband would beep at last, indicating all disruptor implants within range were now disabled.

"So you Draylians are shapeshifting Korlethean Titans who can mimic the powers of others," I said, sounding genuinely impressed in an effort to both shift the topic and to gather more information about them.

To my surprise, he hesitated, as if unsure whether to answer or how honest he wanted to be about it. Based on my brief interactions with Dread since my capture, I was getting a strong sense that he didn't lie. Although he had said as much, I was beginning to wonder if it was a physiological trait of his species or just an ingrained personality trait for him.

"Only some of us possess that ability," Dread conceded at last. "It is a rare trait."

"And what of the others? Do they only share the psionic powers of the Korletheans?" I asked, knowing full well that as the original Titans, they possessed many powers that their ‘creators' never had.

He shook his head. "We're better than the Korletheans. Like the Veredians, we have a great diversity of abilities. New ones are constantly discovered among our younglings."

"Such as what?" I pried with undisguised curiosity.

His smug air of pride faded, and his face closed off. "That's for us to know," Dread replied in a much cooler tone.

I raised an eyebrow with a slightly taunting edge. "What have you got to hide?"

To my surprise, a serious expression settled on his rather handsome features. "Many, many things. Under different circumstances, I would have wanted us to remain hidden a little while longer until we were closer to the Great War."

That answer took me aback. "Why?"

"The path forward is still not set," he replied in a factual manner. "Until then, the less other people know, the better it will be for everyone."

"And what path would that be?" I asked, finally getting to the heart of this entire mess.

"Ensuring that we win the Great War," Dread replied as if it was self-evident.

"Win it how?" I insisted. "What do you want? What goal do you pursue?"

He leaned further back against his chair and rested his ankle over his left knee while studying my features.

"We want to reclaim our rightful place, of course," Dread said at last.

"Which is?"

He smirked in a way that implied I should stop asking obvious questions. Nevertheless, he indulged me by answering.

"To be at the top of the food chain. You of all people should understand. Sarenians are predators like us. Every world in the galaxy is based on the survival of the fittest. That didn't sit too well with our ‘parents' the minute they realized we were the superior breed," Dread said, contempt seeping back into his voice as he spoke that last sentence. "They feared what they could no longer control."

It was my turn to look at him as if he was stating something silly with an obvious response. "The other Titans like you literally tried to dominate them and all but reduce them to servitude," I argued.

"As is the proper order of things," he replied, seeming surprised if not disappointed that I didn't instantly side with him. "Both the Braxian and Sarenian societies are based on a similar principle. The strongest rules, the others obey."

"No!" I exclaimed, baffled he would interpret our culture in such a narrow-minded way. "That is not at all the foundation of our societies. Yes, the strongest among us becomes the ruler. But his main duty is to protect the people, not enslave or crush them. Your Titan forebears slaughtered their parents because they wouldn't bow to them."

Dread shook his head, his disappointment cranking up another notch. "You do not understand," he said with a tired voice.

"Then make me understand," I retorted.

"Sadly, there is no time for that. Maybe later, based on today's outcome," he said with a shrug that immediately sent a cold chill down my spine. "But good job on you finding us. After your first visit to Alanis, we expected a raid within the next forty-eight hours. What took you so long?"

"We found you thanks to my brilliant mate helping us figuring out how to pin down your location," I said in the same non-committal fashion he used.

"Ah, yes! The young Warrior Queen," Dread said wistfully.

A sudden wave of anger surged through me. "You stay the fuck away from her!" I hissed.

The genuine sorrow on his face as he looked at me apologetically threw me for a loop.

"Believe me, Zerien, I truly wish we could. But we cannot. Although you may not accept it, I have tremendous respect for both her and you. Unfortunately, your mate is an unavoidable collateral damage. If she survives, Siona Aldriss will make you far too powerful."

"Then kill me and leave her be," I snarled.

He shook his head with the same sorry expression. "We've considered it, but it won't work. If we kill you and let her live, Siona will come at us with the wrath of Gharah himself. And your son that she's currently carrying will be an even greater threat."

I felt myself blanche upon hearing his words. "My son?" I echoed.

He nodded. "Yes, Zerien. Your mate is pregnant, although she's not yet aware of it. We've seen the paths. Neither your mate nor your unborn son can live. Once he comes of age, with Eldrin by his side, your son will be an unstoppable force that will crush everything in its path like a tidal wave."

I felt faint, angry, and terrified. The joy that this long-awaited news should have brought me was tainted by the unequivocal threat of his words. My blood boiled with the need to break free of these shackles and tear this vermin limb from limb.

Why the fuck is this disruptor taking so long?

"You could always join us to save her," Dread suddenly offered, reclaiming my attention.

"Join you in what?" I asked, more to buy me some additional time to reorganize my thoughts, and not with any intention of ever considering allying with that son of a krillik.

"In wiping out the Korletheans and bringing the ones who fled to Veredia to heel," Dread said with a sliver of urgency. "They've wronged you as much if not more than they wronged us."

I flinched inwardly at the horrible sense of déjà vu I constantly got with my own people still demanding retribution against the Korletheans as a whole.

"They're trying to make amends," I argued.

Dread waved a disdainful hand. "Those who fled, yes. But not the others."

"They fear you!" I exclaimed, my tone making it clear it should be self-evident.

"As they should," he ground through his teeth, his hatred audible.

Realizing any attempt to reason with him on that front would be vain, I tried to get a bit more information instead.

"And then what? Assuming we help you achieve your goal, what will you expect our future to be like? Are we to serve you?"

He shook his head. "No, your people will not serve. Sarenians are not feeble. So long as you recognize our rule, you will be free to run your planet as you see fit."

"Which still comes down to us being subservient," I countered. "Why would we put ourselves in such a position?"

"I assure you, in the new age of the Draylians, Sarenians will not be vassals," Dread said firmly. "Your people are not weak like the Guldans, humans, and Aveans. They're so easily controlled and devoid of any natural offensive or defensive traits that it's beyond pathetic. With you as allies and the Veredians as our mates, we will achieve a level of supremacy unparalleled in the entire history of the galaxy. Our offspring with the Veredians will possess powers that defy the imagination."

The shocked and outraged expression on my face silenced him.

"What in the world makes you think the Veredians would ever consent to such a thing?" I asked, flabbergasted. "They've just spent the past three generations fighting so they could escape the breeding compounds the Guldans imprisoned them in. And now you expect them to agree to become broodmares again, but this time for the Draylians?"

He huffed and made a dismissive gesture. "The Veredians will be loved and cared for. They are the closest thing to our equals in the universe."

"They won't give a shit about that," I said with conviction. "These females came back from the verge of extinction and finally have living sons after one hundred and fifty years without a single male surviving until birth. They want freedom and independence. They will destroy anyone who attempts to enslave them again. As you said, they're not weak. None of the most advanced species dare contemplate incurring their wrath."

"You let us worry about the Veredians," he said with a confidence that bordered on arrogance.

I shook my head at him, genuinely baffled. "You don't make sense to me. Your hatred and desire for revenge against the Korletheans, I understand. For the longest time, I shared the same sentiment. But why try to conquer the rest of the world? Why not let the others live their lives so long as they don't interfere with yours?"

"We're predators," Dread retorted, matter-of-factly.

"So what?" I challenged. "We are as well but don't feel the urge to impose our way of life onto others. We focus on rebuilding our world after the trauma and devastation it faced. Your people survived near extinction. Clearly, you have the power and technology to thrive, just like the Veredians. Why don't you emulate them by creating a world for yourselves and leaving the rest of the galaxy alone?"

"Because once we reveal ourselves, people will fear and hunt us like our ancestors did," Dread said with conviction. "By sitting at the top of the food chain, by seizing control, only then will our people be safe."

"You could be just as safe by playing nice," I countered. "Friends will have your back in times of hardships, whereas reluctant subjects will look for the first opportunity to backstab you."

"Nice only takes you so far until your so-called friends find someone else they like more or who will grant them greater benefits. And then, they'll still betray you. Fear keeps people in their place. You may not think so right now, but soon enough, you'll come around to see things my way."

"Never!" I hissed.

He chuckled as if I was a child throwing a tantrum. "There are paths showing you siding with us."

I narrowed my eyes at him. "Who saw those paths? Korlethean or Draylian Oracles?"

He smiled but didn't answer.

Did that mean he was holding Korlethean Oracle and Seer captives, or did they have their own? What did they see? How much of it would counter our defensive measures? Did the fact that they clearly expected our raid in the Sanctuary today mean their enhancements showed them more than what our own Oracle could see?

My heart leapt when the long-awaited beep from a com resonated in the room only for it to be crushed seconds later when I realized it was Dread's com and not mine.

He looked at the interface of his bracer before glancing back at me with an unreadable expression. Without a word, he rose to his feet and circled around the table to come stand next to me. The sight of his claws extruding sent a chill down my spine. It took every ounce of my willpower to resist the urge to tug on my restraints to move away from him. If he was readying to kill me, I wouldn't give him the satisfaction of seeing me panic.

Killian saw you fighting in the Great War.

That random thought gave me a small measure of peace. A Seer's vision always came to pass. This meant I would survive whatever pain the Draylian was about to inflict. I bared my fangs at him, but he merely held my gaze with an amused glimmer in his.

To my shock, instead of the vicious swipe of his claws to slit my throat that I expected, Dread carefully poked the fleshy part of my forearm with his index finger. His claw pierced my skin, and a drop of blue blood beaded on top of the small wound when he pulled it out. To my surprise, he wiped the pad of his finger over it to collect the blood before raising it to his mouth and licking it clean.

Seconds later, his ivory eyes darkened before taking on the same silver-blue hue as mine. I stared in horror as his features melted, and his body reshaped itself. In seconds, he turned into a perfect replica of me, down to the clothes I was wearing.

"I must go," he said in an almost paternal tone. "It is time to finish this."

Something snapped inside of me upon hearing him speak with my own voice and likeness. All thoughts of stoicism and self-control flew right out of my mind as I pointlessly struggled to break free of the magnetic shackles keeping my feet pinned to the floor, and my wrists stuck on the armrests of my chair.

"Stay away from Siona! Don't you fucking touch her!" I shouted.

The look of sorrow he gave me only made me even more enraged.

"I'm truly sorry, Zerien. I wish I could, but this path is necessary. If it's any consolation, I will grant her a swift death and keep her pain minimal. In time, you'll recover from her loss."

A string of curses and swear words tumbled out of my mouth, which he ignored as he calmly walked towards the door.

"As the Goddess is my witness, if you touch her, I will kill you," I yelled.

He paused right in front of the still closed door and looked at me over his shoulder. "I do not die at your hands. One day, I hope that you and I can be brothers. We have more in common than you realize."

"You are insane!" I breathed out, disbelievingly.

He gave me a sad smile. "Aren't we all to a certain extent? But you'll find out that Fate has a strange sense of humor. She has many plans for us. If all goes well, I will see you soon. I pray that I won't have to kill you. But if things go poorly and I die today, then know that it was an honor meeting you."

Speechless, I watched him open the door and walk out. Just as I was opening my mouth to curse him out again and demand he return, he addressed people I couldn't see from the angle I was sitting in.

"Take him to the brig, and wait for your next orders," Dread said, his voice slightly muffled by the distance.

A second later, two males walked in. I didn't know the Guldan but immediately recognized the Sarenian with him. It was Ostian Devos, an up-and-coming recruit among our military cadets. He prominently featured in the list of rebels Faolen identified over the past few days of tracking the comings and goings of the people who attended the fake kaa training in the Sanctuary.

"Ostian," I said in a harsh voice, using his first name to make this even more personal. "Why would you betray your own? You were such a promising candidate that Drade even considered you for my Imperial Guard following my ascension. Instead, you become a terrorist at the command of a genocidal Draylian?"

He flinched, shame and guilt settling on his face. Before he could respond, his Guldan companion took a menacing step towards me while glaring.

"Silence, prisoner. You forfeited your right to speak with your stubbornness!"

"Do not disrespect our Prince!" Ostian hissed, taking the Guldan aback. "He may be a prisoner, but you will address him with all the honors due to his rank."

I schooled my features not to reveal the shock I felt. Could the fool be swayed into releasing me?

The Guldan clenched his teeth, looking as if he wanted to challenge his companion. While I knew nothing of his combat abilities, I doubted they rivaled Ostian's, and the Guldan likely knew it. The Sarenian turned back towards me with an apologetic look.

"Whatever you may think of us, Prince Zerien, never doubt that we all respect you. We were looking forward to your ascension and followed you blindly until the day you caved in to the Korletheans," Ostian said.

"So you choose to ally with their parricidal descendants instead?" I challenged with a hint of contempt. "The Titans were so vicious and determined to slaughter their parents who stood up to them and to enslave the others that the Korletheans had no choice but to attempt to exterminate them… to wipe out their own psychopathic children. If the Titans could do that, they won't hesitate to kill you!"

"We'll fight back," Ostian said stubbornly.

I tilted my head to the side and gave him a look of disbelief. "Will you now? And how do you expect to accomplish that? The elite army of the Korletheans nearly got wiped out, even with the guidance of their Oracles and Seers uniting their forces. Sarenia now stands divided because of you traitors. The Draylian even got so far as convincing you to kill females, the one abomination our species as a whole swore never to do again! Who the fuck will ally with you to fight them back when they turn on you?"

He once again flinched at my words. "It's only one female!" Ostian exclaimed defensively. "And she's an off-worlder."

"How in Gharah's name is that relevant?! She's your fucking Queen!" I shouted.

"She's not our Queen yet!" he argued feebly.

"Really?!" I exclaimed disbelievingly. " That's the best argument you can come up with?"

He bowed his head in shame and shifted uneasily on his feet. Next to him, the Guldan was visibly growing restless and aggravated by the situation. It further confirmed that he didn't dare to challenge the Sarenian's authority.

"I'm truly sorry, my Prince," Ostian said at last. "Most of us would gladly follow you to the deepest pit of Gharah's lair if you asked. But you expect too much of us when it comes to the Korletheans. No words can express the extent of the suffering they caused. They have to pay for their crimes against us and countless other species. How many millions died because of their cruel experiments and callous abandonment of their victims when things didn't pan out the way they wanted?"

"We have discussed this at length," I countered, although I couldn't challenge the validity of his feelings on the matter as I shared them for the longest time. "But those who committed those crimes are dead. Punishing their descendants for it makes no sense."

The way his face closed off confirmed the conversation was at an end. He wouldn't be swayed from his position.

"It's non-negotiable," Ostian said in a gentle but firm tone. "You may not care about this, but all of us Sarenian rebels made it clear we would not kill you. Whatever the outcome, once all of this is said and done, we will accept any punishment you wish to inflict upon us. We do not doubt your devotion to Sarenia and believe your heart is in the right place. The Korletheans are just too much for us to accept. I doubt you will ever forgive us just like I will die shamed for helping hurt a female—your soulmate no less. But my duty is first and foremost to Sarenia."

The Guldan emitting a grunting noise of impatience perfectly wrapped up what I believed to be the conclusion of Ostian's little speech. He cast an annoyed glance at his companion before looking back at me.

My anger surged as he circled around the table to come unshackle me. Clearly pleased that they were finally proceeding with their task, the Guldan retrieved the blaster from his holster for added security, not that the magnetic shackles would have allowed me any freedom of movement.

I didn't know how far along the wretched disruptor was in disabling their implant. But I couldn't wait any longer. Dread was on his way to the palace. I needed to warn my mate of the imminent danger. Throwing all caution to the wind, I issued the vocal command activating the disruptor at maximum level. It would fry the implant in seconds, but also alert any Sarenian in a fifty-meter radius as that higher ultrasonic frequency would be clearly audible to my people. I could only pray that the residents of the Sanctuary were far enough not to be negatively affected by the potential side effects of the ultrasound.

Both men looked at me with an air of surprise, the foreign word chosen by my mate making no sense to them. It had been a deliberate choice on her part so they wouldn't understand what was happening before it was too late. Even as I spoke the command, I erected my psychic defenses to their maximum.

Half a beat later, Ostian cried out as he held his head with both hands. Despite my psychic shield, a sharp pain sliced through my brain, making me hiss. Ostian blinked through the pain and jerked his head towards the console upon which my bracer sat. He stared at it with an air of confusion while wiping the blue blood trickling from his nose. Baffled, the Guldan looked back and forth between his companion, the console, and me, trying to understand what triggered that strange reaction.

It only took a few seconds for the Sarenian to understand that he'd been struck by some form of ultrasonic attack. A look of horror descended over his features.

"What's going on?!" the Guldan exclaimed when he saw his companion rush towards the console.

Ostian didn't take more than a couple of steps before they faltered. In almost perfect sync, both males cried out again, their eyes blinking as they shook their heads as if from a sudden and sharp pain. Simultaneously, my armband beeped, confirming its task was completed. To my utter relief, the ultrasonic signal also stopped.

Despite the throbbing pain in my head and the intense pressure behind my eyes, I didn't miss a beat.

"Freeze!" I commanded, using my compulsion.

On a reflex, the two males looked at me just in time for my eyes to flash and seal in the command. Although it usually worked even without the flash against species with little to no psychic powers like the Guldans, it was a hit or miss against other Sarenians, depending on their psionic levels. With the flash, the chances of success significantly increased. As one of the most powerful of my species, very few people managed to resist me—regardless of the flash—and usually not for very long if I sustained the attacks.

The Guldan immediately froze where he stood with an air of pure shock. "That's impossible!" he whispered, terrified.

Ostian's attempt to resist testified to the non-negligible power he possessed. This made his betrayal all the more tragic.

"Stand still, be silent, and submit to me," I hissed, my eyes locked with the Sarenian before sealing the order.

His entire body went lax as he remained rooted in place. While the command took control of his will and motion, it didn't stop his mind from freely functioning. Under different circumstances, the slew of emotions ranging from horror, confusion, regret, despair, and resignation would have moved me. But right now, only rage and fear for my mate dominated my every thought.

I turned to the Guldan, who was still rambling his incomprehension and panic.

"Be silent and free me," I ordered him.

I watched with malicious glee as he complied with the compulsion, his panic intensifying with each second.

"Stay put. You will not attempt to flee, to harm me, or to raise the alarm in any way," I commanded as he finished removing my shackles before turning my attention to Ostian.

A part of me wanted to feel sympathy for him, even as my feral side burned with the need of shredding him to pieces forever contemplating hurting my soulmate. But the proud and resigned look in his eyes stirred a begrudging respect from me.

I closed the distance between us and held his gaze unwaveringly.

"What just happened was made possible by a disruptor created by my mate," I said to him in a factual fashion. "My Siona who you want to kill… The Draylians' and Guldans' technologies will not lead you to victory. My soulmate will help me make Sarenia one of the greatest empires of our era. If you truly loved me and Sarenia as much as you claim, you would have trusted me and offered your assistance in whatever capacity, regardless of your misgivings."

I turned sideways to cast a contemptuous glance at the subdued Guldan, then waved a hand at him.

"This is what you have chosen to align yourself with. You know they can't be trusted and will stop at nothing to subject others to their will. You know how they treat their females, which caused my beloved and her mother to flee their homeworld to begin with."

I examined him from head to toe while shaking my head with disappointment. That seemed to hurt him even more.

"You could have been a great asset to our homeworld and to me as your future Emperor. Instead, you allowed hatred, conspiracies, and power-hungry fools to manipulate you. The saddest part is that I actually believe that you truly think yourself a patriot. But what you are is a traitor. There can never be a bright future founded on hatred, revenge, and the genocide of others. Sarenia will prosper in a new era of peace and forgiveness. Therefore, I forgive you, Ostian Devos. But I cannot let you live. Your fanaticism and indoctrination make you too much of a threat. May you find in death the piece that you could not find in life."

He didn't balk or try to break free of the compulsion. However saddened he felt by this outcome, his eyes confirmed that he would never be swayed from his beliefs. With a heavy heart, I snapped his neck, granting him a swift death. His body slumped to the floor with a light thud.

I stared at him for a brief instant, a whirlwind of emotions raging through me. For all my preaching about casting out hate, a fresh wave of it swelled deep within, not for Ostian, but for the foul krilliks who had poisoned and manipulated the minds of countless good people like Ostian had once been to turn them into monsters.

But there was no time to dwell on this. After taking Ostian's weapons belt and blaster, I swiftly made my way to the console to pick up my bracer and weapons.

"How many other guards are left here?" I demanded.

I growled in annoyance when the Guldan failed to answer. As I had ordered him to remain silent, assuming he wasn't choosing to ignore my command, the compulsion would have prevented him from speaking.

"You will obey and comply with each of my orders and requests," I said, using my vibrating voice before continuing in my normal tone. "How many other guards are left here?"

"Fi… Five, including me," the Guldan said, his voice shaky with fear.

"Where are they located?" I demanded while tying my weapons belt around my waist.

"There's only one in front. The others are inside your vessels, one in each ship to watch over the brig where your men are held. Everyone else is gone on the mission."

"Is that where you were meant to take me? To the brig of my vessel?"

"Yes," he replied.

Without hesitation, I tapped the command to send a message to the bracers of all my units within range to activate the disruptor signal, setting it to medium frequency. I no longer cared if they detected it. All that mattered was that the damage to the implants would be a lot swifter without risk to my guards. Hopefully, they would hear it and act accordingly.

To my dismay, I then attempted to send a message to my mate, but the communication could not be established. Fear twisted my insides when efforts to contact anyone else, be it Kaelin, my father, or Kolvar—the Commander of the Imperial Guard—all similarly failed. I wanted to believe that they had simply blocked communication here to prevent specifically what I was trying to do. But a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach shouted that they had blocked all communications with the palace itself, and that it was likely under attack.

"Take me there," I commanded.

I considered activating my stealth shield to help hide the fact that I was no longer shackled. However, not only would they barely be visible with my uniform but based on the extremely low number of troops left behind, I doubted they would be observing us approaching.

The Guldan who greeted us on the vessel realized something was off a split second before my claws slit his throat. I didn't pause to watch him bleed out before half running to the brig. Despite how dire our situation was, I couldn't help but smile seeing Naax diligently attempting to hack the com system in the brig. In times of adversity, they would never simply lay down and wait for fate to rescue them.

"Escort the Guldan with your stealth shield activated and free our other men," I ordered one of my guards. "Leave a couple of men to secure the Sanctuary and make sure the residents are fine. Then you all can meet us at the palace. The attack has begun."