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Was this the moment where everything would finally come to a head? On the day of my own wedding?
Instead, Highest Supreme Entity Kressel Sar shook himself, sat back on his heels, and crossed his arms behind his back. An immediate yet volatile change that I knew to be wary of.
“Fine, Braxl. Fine. I will take you at your word. If I raised you at all, I raised you to know better than to lie to me.” His left eyebrow slanted upward slightly as if it were a question.
I snorted and tapped my fist on the desktop.
“Yes, Father,” my fangs pulled back into my mouth. “If my crew is loyal to me, it is because I learned loyalty from you.” I tried very hard to make it sound sincere and not sarcastic.
It was Kressel’s turn to snort as he turned toward the door. He flicked my traditional groom tunic that was hanging beside my private bathroom. It was resplendent in gold, copper, and blue embroidery with our Prexis Prime signal blazoned over the chest. It had been made on planet and brought up in a shuttle earlier that morning.
“Wear this with pride, son. You may be marrying someone worthless, but the symbol of what you’re doing is worth far more.” He palmed open the door and strode outside.
I glowered after him, forcing more deep breaths and rolling my shoulders. What was that parting shot for? He had to slam Jasmine but then also say I was doing something that might make him proud?
I shook my head as I took the tunic off the hanger. “At least I learned more than loyalty from him: I learned what an asshole looks like.”
It was one of my loftiest goals in the way I led my own command to not emulate that aspect of his. I was sure my soldiers would line up to pledge every particle of their body in the pursuit of my goals, whereas I knew that his soldiers were aiming for that paycheck and the other benefits that came from being part of the feared Prexis Prime empire.
A calendar notification beeped, and a message blipped up onto the wall beside me. I read it, even though I knew what it would say.
“Guests have arrived. Cocktails being served. Wedding ceremony in one hour.”
I groaned and rubbed my forehead.
But, where the hell was Vishin? If I had my choice, I wouldn’t want him at the ceremony, especially with how blatantly racist he was against Jasmine. It didn’t make sense that he would miss the opportunity to partake in all the pomp and circumstance his unearned leadership position granted him.
Was it possible someone from one of the other ships had killed him? Had a scuffle in the halls with his beady, slimy face? I had already sent out an All Alert to look for him to all my crew, but nothing had been found. Maybe he had passed out on his own ship on the way home from the revelry the night before.
I didn’t want to have to worry about this today.
What did I want, then?
A smile crept onto my lips as I thought of what I really did desire, something that might be a slight relief from the antagonism of my father.
Jasmine.
I had remarked to myself already that I was using her name much more glibly. Had she won a spot in my heart? I nearly laughed at that thought, but it was not untrue to say I was starting to be quite fond of her. The surprise in the holodecks had been quite welcome, and I wanted more.
I glanced at a mirror across the way and nodded to myself.
I’m the Commander of this ship. I get what I want. Even on this day that puts so many pressures on my time.
And what I wanted was more of her lips, her hips, and her sweet, soft flesh pressed against mine.
I palmed open the door and headed toward Jasmine’s quarters.
At least tasting her again would make the rest of this day taste less bitter.
15
Jasmine
I studied my reflection in the mirror, standing bare and vulnerable before the traditional Krafina Bridal gown. It exuded a quiet elegance, its copper hue shimmering in the play of light, adorned with delicate light blue lace leaves along the sleeves. While it wasn’t the wedding dress of my childhood dreams, it held a significance far greater—a symbol of unity for my entire planet and species.
As I reached for the gown, a flood of questions and hopes filled my mind. Would it not only fit perfectly but also make me feel embraced and cherished by the Krafina royal line? It was a comfort to know that I needn’t worry about the prejudices that might have arisen on Earth. Here, there were no doubts about how I’d be treated, whether now or in the years to come, should Braxl and I have children. While the Resistance might remember me, in the vast expanse of the Prexis empire, I’d be a mere blip in history—a secret force that dealt a decisive blow to their Commanders.
This was why I’d devoted myself to mastering the munitions of the various warlords set to attend the auction. I hoped the tragedy would resonate on Earth, instigating divisions within Prexis that would ultimately loosen their grip on my home planet.
