Page 99 of Veiled Vixen

More bot beeping. I pick up the wristband and read the translation. You need to get Valor on your side.

“Forget it,” she hisses back. “I just don’t care anymore. I’m going to stay here and just… let fate sort it out.”

More beeping after that. But I don’t read the translation. I’m just over it. I’d like to just stay here too, actually. Maybe we should disengage the airlock, float away from the harem ring, and drift around the sector until someone else figures out what to do?

But that’s dumb.

Luck has a plan. And it’s on level one twenty-two. If we could just get down there, past all those angry Harem citizens… maybe…

I stand up and stare out the window at the deep darkness of space.

Maybe we could all escape through the spin node? Maybe I don’t need to talk Veila into anything? Maybe she would just… come with us?

I walk down the hall, then take the steps up to the kitchen two at a time. I pause at the top. The view. Goddamn. It’s just… pretty.

“Oh,” Veila says. “You’re up.”

I pull my eyes away from the dome ceiling and look at her. She is fully pink now. Her hair is bouncy with large, loose curls, her eyelashes are thick and bright violet, her face is flushed and healthy-looking. Like she just drank a whole glass of tushberry juice. And she’s wearing white leggings and a too-big white sweater.

Veila almost looks sweet like this and I have a sudden urge to touch her.

Which reminds me that both of my cocks are in their typical morning state and need to be taken care of.

Veila must notice this at the same time, because her eyes dart down to my groin area, then immediately back up to my face. “Don’t worry,” she says, little bit of heat in her voice. “I won’t be forcing you into anything this morning.”

I let out a long breath. “Cool. But…”

She nods her head. “Go take care of it then. Because I’m not going to help you.”

“Fine. I will. But… I have things I need to discuss with you. I have to go back and see Luck and—”

“I can’t talk to you like that. Can you just—” She waves her hand in the air. “There’s a shower down in my bedroom and I shopped you some clothes. Go take care of it and then we can talk.”

“Yeah. Fine,” I say, going back down the stairs.

Her bedroom is neat. I didn’t really look at it last night, but it’s fit for a queen, with a tall, four-poster bed with curtains around the perimeter that can be pulled closed for warmth or privacy. Everything is silver and her bed has been made. The comforter I took last night to cover her has been put back in place and on top is an outfit that looks very much like the one that was waiting for me yesterday. Typical Harem Station brother uniform of black tactical pants, black t-shirt and boots.

But next to the pants is a holster and next to the holster is a little plasma pistol.

Interesting. She trusts me enough not to shoot her with that little gift?

Or… she no longer cares if I shoot her?

That last question makes my stomach feel funny. So I push the thought aside and go into the bathroom, which is massive and also fit for a queen.

I wonder if that was part of Veila’s deal? She would be queen instead of Corla? Or is Corla in on this?

There’s a part of me that wishes Crux would just let us wake her up. The Cygnians already know she’s here. What’s the point? This is like endgame shit happening right now. And Corla could have all the answers we need.

But he won’t agree. I know he won’t. So I push that thought away. I have enough problems with Luck and Nyleena to think about.

Because Nyleena is pregnant. And while it’s possible she won’t turn into an evil silver bitch queen like Veila did, it’s also just as possible that she will.

And maybe that’s what this whole Earth thing is about?

I’m still a little mad at Luck. It’s unreasonable. I get that. It’s not his fault he fell for his princess. It’s biology, after all. And he was a dick yesterday. But that’s not his fault either. He’s in a stressful situation. Nyleena’s pregnant, a princess rebellion has gone off the rails, his partner in crime is soulmated to his enemy, his station is a mess, and no one is coming to help him.

Except me. I want Nyleena to be healthy. I want her babies to be born. I want Luck to be happy. I really do. So I really need to get Veila on board with this go-to-Earth plan.