Page 8 of The Sovereign, Part One (The Sovereign Saga #1)

The ma?tre d’ guided her through the archway and out onto the balcony as we followed, revealing a breathtaking terrace of white stone carved with abstract flourishes, framed by translucent privacy panels and an overhead canopy that shimmered with filtered light.

The table, draped in pale linen, adorned with crystalline leirware and a centerpiece of orchids, rested at the edge of the overlook, offering an uninterrupted view of the skyline and cascading gardens below.

It was a setting designed not just to impress, but to remind everyone present of precisely who it was for.

As we settled at our table, a Hiven approached with the precise grace of someone programmed to serve only the highest tiers of Sovereign.

Her expression was neutral, her movements exact.

Still, there was a subtle shift, posture held just a degree longer, voice modulated with even greater care.

It wasn’t hesitation. It was deference. Hiven might not feel awe, but their protocols recognized hierarchy, and Lourdes Vasthane demanded the highest calibration.

Bellam caught it too, glancing at me before murmuring, “She just entered ceremonial mode.”

Lourdes remained entirely unfazed.

“We’ll be just a few minutes, darling,” she said, glancing at the nameplate on the Hiven’s collar. “I don’t believe we’ve met.”

“I’m Andress,” she replied, bowing her head. “It is an honor to serve you, Primara Vasthane.”

“A lovely name. If you could give us just a few minutes, we’ll be ready.”

“Of course, Primara. Please, take all the time you need.”

Lourdes glanced at Bellam, caught her expression, and then raised a brow at me before turning her attention to the menu—one she didn’t need to read.

“Did you not warn her?”

“About how others behave around you?” I asked. “I considered it. Then I thought you might enjoy the unfiltered reaction.”

The corner of Lourdes’s mouth lifted. “Your instincts weren’t wrong.” She took a sip of iced water from her leir, then added, “Fear is gauche. But discomfort? Always in season.”

“Of course it is,” Bellam said, deadpan. “Absolute power looks great in heels.”

Lourdes stifled a laugh. “It’s so silly. If they only knew I tripped on a grate this morning and nearly fell on my face.”

“I’m sure Leo and five Hiven prevented that travesty,” I said.

“Just Leo. And indeed, he did,” she said, covering a laugh.

“How is Leopold? Your anniversary is in a couple of months, isn’t it?” I asked.

Lourdes’s expression lightened instantly, elegance giving way to something warmer.

“In June,” she said. “He embodies everything I prioritized during Veritas. Steady, attentive, deeply attuned. He doesn’t overreach, doesn’t posture.

He holds space beside me like it’s instinct, not programming.

Even after all this time, there’s a strength in the way he exists beside me.

As if the noise of the world fades just enough to think when he’s near. ”

“It does,” I said. “That’s the point.”

She glanced away for a moment, a rare tenderness settling in her expression.

“I know I sound absurdly surprised, but I assure you it’s more than what you’d expect from Veritas results.

It’s not just his tenderness and profound understanding; though, of course, he has those in abundance.

It’s the way Leo makes me feel at home no matter where I am.

It’s as if I can breathe easier with him beside me.

That’s something I never expected, but I don’t know how I ever lived without it. ”

She leaned in slightly, her voice edged with a note of satisfaction.

“His enhancements are tailored for advanced tactical response, defense protocols well beyond standard accordant configurations. Faster reflexes, deeper situational intuition. I’ve never felt unguarded with him, not once.

And he carries himself with the composure expected of anyone representing the Vasthane name.

” She glanced toward the entrance. “He’s just outside speaking to Orator Cline.

Tell me you have time to meet him after. ”

“Of course,” I said, amused by the way she adjusted in her seat. Her usual composure had slipped into something almost giddy, as if she were experiencing the thrill of first love.

“I’ve always wondered,” Bellam said, setting down her leir, “and tell me if this is out of line, but how did the two of you become friends? You were raised middle-upper Sovereign, and Lourdes… well, her nursery probably had a guest wing. I assume you didn’t just bump into each other at a distributary cart by the lower Skith port? ”

Lourdes smirked. “Not quite. During Velkyn’s nomination cycle, our household was tasked with hosting the Poeimas. It’s a social expectation. Vanguard families rotate hosting duties for nominees and their houses, to… assess compatibility, I suppose. Or to be seen playing well with others.”

“And by hosting, you mean—?” Bellam prompted.

“Dinners, joint outings, media-facing events. Manufactured warmth,” I said. “My papa never said so directly, but he hated every moment. Not the Vanguard, I should note,” nodding respectfully to Lourdes, “but the pomp and pageantry of it all.”

“Yet somehow you two became inseparable,” Bellam said.

Lourdes glanced at me. “It wasn’t the plan. But once the campaign ended, and the expectations with it, we just… kept finding excuses.”

Bellam leaned back, smiling. “So, The Citadel stage-managed your meet-cute? How very on brand.”

Lourdes huffed in amusement. “The beauty of being underestimated in our youth is that no one bothers to interfere.”

A frown pulled down the corners of Bellam’s lips, though her brows arched slightly, the universal sign for fair point .

“Now then,” Lourdes said, her voice light but edged with interest, “that speech you gave at the Enclave event? My papa said Chiron is still quoting it.”

I felt my cheeks warm under the praise. “I didn’t expect it to gain so much attention.”

“That’s because you don’t realize the power you hold,” Lourdes said, studying me carefully. “You have always been different, Isara. You see things in ways others don’t, and you spoke about the Veritas Protocol with the kind of conviction Sovereign want to believe in.”

Bellam leaned in. “Chiron and Artemis requested a meeting.”

Lourdes’s expression didn’t shift, but I knew her well enough to catch the glint of intrigue in her gaze. “That is quite an opportunity. What do you make of it?”

I hesitated before answering. “You already know what I think. It’s not just a meeting. They’re watching me now.”

Lourdes sipped her drink thoughtfully, then set it on the table before her. “Good. That means they’re acknowledging you’re playing the game at their level.”

“I can think of nothing worse than being under Chiron’s eye,” I said, sighing.

“You’re so conspiratorial,” Lourdes said, amused. “It’s promising, I assure you.”

The conversation drifted naturally to catching up, our parents, grandparents, and siblings, but mostly about Beyond The Vale , a gripping adventure novel taking the whole of Hyperion Proper by storm, detailing the survival of a group of explorers who discover a derelict city beyond the known boundaries.

Eventually, as I knew it would, Lourdes displayed her natural ability to make Bellam feel like the most important person at the table.

She leaned in, asking about Bellam’s work at The Dominion with genuine fascination, drawing her into detailed accounts of her projects and aspirations.

Bellam, caught off guard at first, soon found herself speaking with the ease of someone who had been interviewed by the press a dozen times.

I watched as Lourdes navigated the conversation with equal parts elegance and genuine interest, the way she always did, making everyone in her presence feel like the center of the universe.

It was a skill, one she had perfected as a Vasthane, a true socialite in every sense of the word.

Lourdes, ever the gracious hostess, smoothly transitioned the conversation from Bellam’s upcoming Veritas year to my own final result—Maxim.

Her questions were uncomplicated yet precise, drawing out my thoughts on the process, my expectations, and how I felt now that my Supplicant was nearly a reality.

She nodded thoughtfully as I spoke, occasionally interjecting with insights that made me feel as if she had been studying the process herself.

Then she turned her attention fully to Bellam. “And you? I’m eager to hear which part of the Veritas year intrigues you most. What discovery of yourself do you hope it delivers?”

Bellam blinked, startled to find herself under the full weight of Lourdes’s attention.

“Oh… well.” She gave a soft laugh, stalling for breath.

“I suppose I’m hoping to find someone who truly sees me.

Someone who challenges me yet feels like home.

An accordant with devotion you only read about in old-world novels, someone who’d sacrifice everything just to spend an hour in my company.

” She faltered then, clearing her throat, as if realizing too late she’d been artfully maneuvered into laying her soul bare.

“That’s beautiful,” Lourdes mused, nearly wistful. “It’s exactly what I hoped you’d say, but you managed to word it exquisitely. And do you have any particular qualities you’re prioritizing? Something non-negotiable?”

Bellam smiled, clearly enjoying the conversation. “I suppose that’s where Veritas comes in… to ensure we get the balance right.”

“Exactly,” Lourdes said with a knowing grin.

She had a way of making every conversation feel like a private therapy session and intimate interview rolled into one, as if we were unraveling the secrets of the universe rather than discussing our personal futures.

It was a true gift, one I had always admired.