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Chapter Nineteen

M aker . Nerx wanted to shake, kiss, and hug Britta for an eternity. When she’d watched from the ramp, his heart had leaped into his throat. And she fought him, even when she was in the wrong. She drove him crazy. Then her silliness about a private channel. He chuckled.

“I have to comm my king,” he said after Ziot docked and opened the kuta’s door.

“Go,” she said, striding past him and into the bay.

“Britta…”

“Nerx…” she called but didn’t stop, marching through to the common.

Sena said nothing, Ziot too.

Nerx shook his head and strode to the comm room. She wasn’t in the common as he’d hoped. He wanted to find her, to do…what? Duty called.

“Sub-Commander Matir, Pilot Edon,” Nerx said in greeting. “Comm the king, please.”

Adviser Kanzo appeared on the display vid. “Greetings, Supreme Commander Nerx.” His gaze snagged on Nerx’s short braid. “A tale for when you arrive?”

“One you will know before that, Adviser,” Matir said. “I have submitted my report.”

“Excellent.” Adviser Kanzo glanced at Nerx. “And the purpose of the comm?”

“Prince Citus has found his Dar Eth.” Nerx grinned. “She is Viqrian.”

Kanzo blinked, then cleared his throat. “I…do not know what to say. One moment.” The vid flicked to black.

Minutes ticked past. They waited, arms clasped behind their backs.

When the comm resumed, King Xeus occupied half of the vid, Kanzo the other. “Repeat your news, Supreme Commander Nerx.”

He did.

King Xeus roared his delight.

A radiant Queen Macera joined him, peering at them. “Did I hear right?” she asked. “Another species of Dar Eths?” When King Xeus nodded, she laughed then danced on the spot like Lily would do. She froze and frowned. “But…Citus’s alone on an alien battleship? I dunno how I feel about that.”

“My brother knows what he is doing, especially when an Eth must follow his Dar Eth.” King Xeus faced them. “What manner of female is she?”

“Do we have an image of Regent Haiz?” Nerx asked Edon.

A static sec vid appeared in the corner of the display.

Silence reigned.

“Whoa, pretty with that buzzcut,” Queen Macera said.

King Xeus’s gaze flicked to Nerx’s braid. “I used to believe short hair meant dishonorable, but I have met many who do not lack honor. I will henceforth strip Foot of Honor from our laws.”

“I shall send out a royal missive and inform Ava, my king.” Adviser Kanzo arched a brow at Nerx. “Regent?”

“Commander of a battleship,” Nerx said. “They do have an empress.”

“Nice,” Queen Macera cheered.

“Prince Citus’s O.D.I. is active, my king,” Edon said.

“My thanks, Pilot. I shall reach out to him. This is wonderful news.”

“Our operatives will need to interview each female on the Bronvol . The few we have will not be sufficient for such a task. The Viqrians who instigated the rebellion will be sent to Fuyra. The innocent to Etteria.” Nerx pursed his lips before saying, “As negotiated by Prince Citus.”

“Then I must agree. Send the females you deem unfit to Fuyra.” King Xeus hesitated. “I shall comm your father.”

“Please, my king, I will attend to that task. Please accept my resignation as Supreme Commander. Of course, we shall meet en route to port Aldur and Lady Dahlia to you.”

“Resignation accepted. Etteria will feel the loss of your service.” King Xeus thumped his chest in a gesture of respect.

“I would like to serve on Fuyra, beside my father.” Nerx smothered a grimace. “If that pleases you.”

“Very well, Ambassador Nerx. Sub-Commander Matir will replace you as supreme commander. Kanzo, document as such.” King Xeus ended the comm.

Nerx slumped. “Why is speaking to either of them so draining?” he asked when he’d endured this before in silence.

“Protocol? Not wanting to offend?” Matir gripped Nerx’s forearm. “Congratulations, Ambassador.”

Nerx snorted. “A title without meaning, especially when Father does not know the word ‘diplomacy.’”

“That will change with you at the helm.” Matir grinned.

“True.” Nerx released Matir’s forearm. “King Xeus chose well. I cannot think of a more deserving male, Supreme Commander Matir.”

“Should I comm Ambassador Tarx?” Edon asked.

Nerx grimaced. “No… Thank you.”

All their O.D.I.s buzzed. Only priority messages notified them all.

Nerx tapped it. A vid played of Prince Citus and his males sacrificing their honor for him.

His eyes stung in remembrance. The vid followed with a missive regarding the amendment to the Foot of Honor law, that Maloidian bracelets to permanent brands would be issued based on the severity of the crimes.

And ended with Nerx and Matir’s promotions, along with Nerx’s final destination.

Maker . His father would know before Nerx could comm him. Shit, as Britta would say. He opened his mouth to ask Edon to connect him to his father when Lily skipped through the door. Colors were woven through her braids.

“Nerxie?”

“ Minus susa .” He lifted her into his arms for a cuddle. Lady Olivia had been adamant children needed affection. He’d found he craved it more. “Did you have fun?”

She hummed her answer, her arms around his neck, her head on his shoulder.

“Hungry?” he asked.

“A little,” she said, then yawned.

He smothered a smile. A nap was soon, but if he mentioned it, she’d be up and about to prove she wasn’t tired.

“Ambassador Tarx.” Edon raised his hands. “He commed.”

Nerx made to put Lily down, but her little body stiffened even though her breathing had deepened. “Put him through.”

“What nonsense is this? Rebelling against centuries of tradition—” His father blinked at Lily, the sight of her, no doubt, silencing him.

“You got the missive.” Nerx met his gaze, not cowed like he used to be as a youngin.

“The cancelation of the honor law… Is that a—”

“A human child and my daughter.” Nerx raised his chin in defiance. Let his father say one disparaging word about how Lily wasn’t an Etterian, and there’d be hell to pay. “If you wish to talk to her, I suggest you load the Earth English Language Protocol.”

Father’s eagerness to do so twinged Nerx in the chest like a spasmed muscle. While he waited, his father aged—his face hardened and the lines around his eyes and mouth deep trenches. His shoulders slouched. Something like tears glistened in his eyes.

He cleared his throat. “I will have quarters built for you and your blood-bonds.”

An unexpected boon Nerx didn’t know how to interpret.

“My thanks. Berrann Falls will not be denied to my daughter. I want your best engineer carving steps. We mine Fuyra rock. If anyone can master the mineral, it is us. Install a protective railing as it should have been done—” He bit the inside of his cheek to silence his resentment—the sweet taste of his blood calming him a little.

“Nerxie?” Lily pulled back to cup his face. “You angry?”

He lowered her to the floor. “Go find Britta, and bring her to meet…your grandfather.”

As Lily gaped at the display vid, she rubbed her eye—a sign of her exhaustion or so he’d learned. “Two Gramps?” Her smile was beautiful, her joy breathtaking. She squealed, bounded up to the console, and peered at his father. “Is he your daddy?”

“Yes.” Nerx smiled. “Father, this is Lily.”

“Gramps.” She clapped her hands together.

Nerx caught her shoulders and steered her to face the door. “Find Britta, minus susa .”

“Oh,” she gasped and bolted.

“The energy of damu ,” Father said, rare humor in his voice. “You used to tear after Kyerx every waking moment. Who is Britta?”

“My Dar Eth,” Nerx gritted out. Bringing up Kyerx’s name as if he hadn’t died? Fury fired along his veins, stiffening his muscles to snapping point.

“We have much to discuss.”

“Indeed,” Nerx snapped. “I meant to comm you before the news of my promotion reached you. I must complete my mission for King Xeus. Only then will we head to Fuyra. The first order of business is making the falls safe. The second is my wedding.”

“Wedding?” Britta asked from the doorway, her cheeks a radiant peach.

“Ours.” Nerx caught her hand and pulled her into view of the display vid. “Britta, this is my father, Tarx.”

She dragged her wide-eyed gaze from Nerx to the vid. “Hello,” she said. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

Nerx sucked in a slow breath, having half-expected her to be her usual spirited self.

“Greetings, daughter.” Father’s voice had hoarsened. “I am eager to meet you in person.” He glanced at Nerx. “I had heard of Earthians triggering the Ethera but thought it nonsense. Until I met Queen Macera. Nerx, my son, that you have been so blessed eases my heart, and I can now seek the void.”

Nerx scowled, torn between losing a single male, even his father, to the void and roaring that he should let the void take him.

Nerx tried to school his features, take control of his emotions, made harder by the Ethera’s interference.

He’d known reconciling would be difficult, had expected it to be so…

and yet, he struggled to be civil. Discuss things?

They’d do it one on one and at Berrann Falls, the location at the center of their unhappiness.

Britta sliding her hand into his bathed him with peace. “You can’t,” she said. “You’ve got a granddaughter to think about. She’s suffered enough hardship that losing a ‘gramps’ would devastate her. And also, with the Viqrians coming to Fuyra, your Dar Eth might be among them.”

Never had Nerx seen his Father stunned. Nerx smothered a smirk, then released Britta’s hand to tuck her body into his side. She splayed her fingers across his chest.

“I have many questions, like who are the Viqrians? And why are they on their way to Fuyra?” Father flicked his focus between Britta and Nerx, not sure who would be answering.

Matir stepped between Nerx and the display vid. “I shall share the official report I submitted to King Xerus. It will answer all your questions and more, Ambassador Tarx.”

“My thanks, warrior.” Father bowed his head.