The hologram dissolved, and the office felt very quiet.
Behind him, Daphne had gone back to tapping through sothing on her display like this conversation had nothing to do with her, which was an impressive performance given that she was the entire reason it was happening.
Zaeryn stared at his wrist for a mont, then let his arm drop.
"I need to get better at this," he said to no one in particular.
From behind her display, Daphne’s voice ca through flat and unsympathetic. "Yes you should."
"You could at least pretend to be supportive."
"I could. But then you might not learn anything." She swiped the holograms closed and stood. "You’ll fix it tomorrow. She’s upset, not unreasonable. There’s a difference."
Zaeryn rubbed the back of his neck. Hopefully, Ingrid wasn’t the type to hold a grudge. Despite the fact that they were bonded already, Zaeryn and Ingrid had only known each other for a very short ti, so he didn’t know her well enough to anticipate her reaction.
Whatever the case was, they were bondmates, she’d forgive him. Probably. Eventually. After making him work for it.
He pushed that aside and let himself just watch Daphne finish up. She moved through the last few commands on her console with the kind of efficiency that made everything else in the room look decorative, including him.
He stayed in his seat a second longer than necessary, thoroughly enjoying the view.
"Visual data retention is highly inefficient," Daphne purred, her voice crisp and authoritative, though she didn’t bother turning around. "If you want a lasting impression of my assets, Zaeryn, I suggest a more... hands-on thodology."
"Why rush the hands-on research when the visual data is this flawless?" he countered smoothly, refusing to look away.
Daphne let out a soft, amused hum. She didn’t try to hide her smile; instead, her lips curved into that familiar, predatory smirk. Tapping the final commands into her holographic console, she shut the screens down and swiveled gracefully to face him.
"Alright. I am finished with my work here. We can leave now."
Zaeryn pushed himself out of the chair, more than ready to get moving. He was already doing ntal math on how fast they could get to wherever she wanted them to go and how soon real food would be involved.
He stood up, and Daphne stepped right into his personal space. She didn’t say a word as she leaned up, and he t her halfway for a slow, grounding kiss. It was softer this ti. A quiet shift from the sterile environnt of the Citadel to sothing distinctly theirs.
She pulled back just an inch, her breath warm against his face. "Zaeryn?"
"Yeah," he murmured, his hands resting easily on her waist.
Her violet eyes locked onto his. The playful, smug energy from earlier was completely gone, replaced by a profound seriousness. "Never treat the way you treated Ingrid today."
Zaeryn sighed, feeling that familiar twinge of guilt flare up all over again. He hated making mistakes like this. "I really didn’t an to do it. I just genuinely forgot she was still there."
Daphne’s look softened. She lifted a hand, her cool fingers trailing up his jawline before her thumb settled softly against his lower lip. The touch was highly sensual, a light caress that commanded his full attention.
"I know," she said. "But intent does not change the outco. It is done, and it simply cos off as rude and disregarding."
She traced the shape of his lip thoughtfully, "You are in a very unique position," she continued. "You have multiple bondmates now, and that requires a ticulous level of balance. It is incredibly important that you do not make any of them feel less important than the others. Neglect breeds resentnt. You need to be better at managing your ti and your focus."
Zaeryn let her words sink in. He couldn’t even argue because she was entirely right. He was so caught up in the overwhelming reality of having these incredible won in his life that he hadn’t fully grasped the sheer logistics of it all.
A relationship with one person was hard enough to navigate. Balancing several ant he actually had to pay attention. He couldn’t just keep flying by the seat of his pants, assuming they would all just adapt to his chaotic mory.
They deserved his respect, not just his affection.
He nodded slowly against her touch, holding her gaze. "You’re right. I need to step up. I will."
Daphne studied his face for another second. A faint, approving smile touched her lips.
She gave him one last fleeting kiss before stepping back and adjusting the collar of his jacket. "Now, let us go."
They walked out of the laboratory, the heavy blast doors hissing shut behind them. Zaeryn followed Daphne through the winding, secured corridors of the Citadel until they stepped into the private executive hangar, a cavernous space that slled sharply of ozone and ionized tech.
His attention went straight to the vessel on the VIP landing pad.
It wasn’t a standard Vanguard cruiser or a civilian float-cab. It was low, aggressive, and finished in polished obsidian alloy with silver trim, hovering on glowing blue mag-lev coils without making a sound. The kind of vehicle that didn’t need to be loud because everyone already knew what it cost.
Zaeryn slowed. "Is that an Aurelian Zenith?"
He knew enough about the Queendom’s elite to recognize a vehicle that most people, even well-off ones, would never sit inside, let alone own. He’d seen exactly one before, and that was on a screen.
Daphne didn’t break stride, her heels clicking against the polished floor. "A modified one. I had the propulsion system replaced with a custom Vitae-integrated drive of my own design."
Of course she did.
Zaeryn shook his head as he walked up to the hull. "I knew the Citadel had deep pockets, but I didn’t realize the chief scientist’s compensation was this ridiculous."
Daphne paused by the door, letting the biotric scanner read her Vitae signature. The gull-wing lifted with a soft, expensive whisper.
She turned to look at him, violet eyes sharp. "The Citadel compensates its most indispensable asset exactly as she demands."
She leaned against the interior, her lips curving into that slow, predatory smirk. "I suggest you update your calculations regarding your current position, anomaly." Her gaze held his. "You haven’t rely secured a powerful bond. You have hit the absolute jackpot."
She slid into the driver’s seat. "Now get in."
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