Daphne had expected this confrontation since Zia exposed her secret with Zaeryn.
But she already had her excuse ready.
Her sigh carried exasperation, not regret. "Yes, High Commander. But thanks to that, we’ve uncovered how his Vitae absorption functions, a breakthrough tied to emotional and physical bonds."
Lysara’s grip tightened. The tone in which Daphne was speaking made it clear that she had no regret, and that made the high commander’s temper coil tighter beneath the cold exterior.
The commander was known for her intolerance of defiance. Whether it ca from a warlady, scholar, or stateswoman, Lysara crushed it with the sa rciless precision.
"A breakthrough? You think manipulating your subject is justified?"
"I didn’t manipulate him. Everything was consensual." Daphne defended herself. Honestly, she would say he was the one who had manipulated her. But no, he was the one who had actually seduced her.
After he had kissed her in the cafeteria, it left her wanting him, so if you think about it, he was just as much an instigator as she was. Perhaps more. Zaeryn had a way of tilting the balance without even trying—one kiss, and her carefully built restraint had unraveled like thread.
"Besides, without it, we wouldn’t have discovered how he absorbs Vitae." She added.
Lysara paused. Although she hated how the chief scientist was seemingly proud of what she did. Daphne was right, the data couldn’t have been obtained otherwise. They would never know how he absorbs Vitae, if it wasn’t for that.
Still, the thod was unacceptable. This wasn’t recklessness but curiosity pushed to the edge.
"Edge or not," Lysara said coldly, "you risked violating every principle the Citadel upholds."
Daphne remained unfazed. "So breakthroughs require unconventional thods."
"Unconventional doesn’t an untouchable. This is your only warning, Daphne. Cross this line again, and I’ll enforce consequences, not just procedure. I’ll let this off for now."
Daphne gave a faint nod.
Lysara’s eyes narrowed. "Tell , sex... is that the only way he can absorb abilities? Because if so, it sounds a bit—"
Daphne cut in before she could finish, her voice steady but laced with a scientist’s precision. "No. He simply needs to form a bond with soone. Sex accelerates the process because intimacy amplifies the connection. As long as a genuine bond is ford at that mont, the absorption occurs much faster."
"Interesting."
Daphne took a seat. "We might need to find soone to ntor him."
"That’s not for us to decide," Lysara replied sharply. "Princess Athea will make that determination. "
Daphne’s fingers traced the edge of the table thoughtfully."Of course. Though sotis... direct oversight can limit a subject’s full potential. Wouldn’t you agree that certain discoveries require a more... flexible approach?"
Lysara’s eyes flashed with recognition. "Are you suggesting we circumvent the Princess’s authority?"
"Not at all," Daphne said smoothly. "I’m simply saying Zaeryn is exceptionally valuable. He has trendous potential. Perhaps we should ensure he receives the proper training his Vitae wielding deserves for the good of himself. Having untrained Vitae is highly dangerous."
The door hissed open, slicing through the warm cocoon of silence.
Sage’s eyes fluttered first, adjusting to the pale morning light filtering through the room. Her body remained entangled with Zaeryn’s beneath the rumpled sheets, his arm draped possessively across her waist, his face nestled in the cascade of her disheveled hair.
"Morning, Aeris," Sage murmured, her voice thick with sleep as she recognized the silhouette in the doorway.
Aeris leaned against the fra, a knowing smirk playing at her lips. She didn’t need to glimpse her brother’s face to know he was still dead to the world. "Rise and shine, lovebirds. Grandma’s here."
The single word had Zaeryn considering the rits of actually getting up. The woman he called ’Grandma’ was far from the traditional elderly matriarch the title suggested. Despite
being in her early fifties-which was nothing in a world where vitae slowed aging to a crawl-she appeared no older than soone in their late
twenties or early thirties.
Zaeryn stirred with a low groan, though he kept
his face buried in the pillow. "Tell her I’ve
entered a permanent state of hibernation."
"Not happening." Aeris pushed off the doorfra, stepping into the room with casual familiarity. "She’s already asking for her favorite grandson. Don’t keep the matriarch waiting." Her gaze swept over the tangle of bare limbs and sheets before settling on Sage with mild amusent. "Didn’t realize you’d stayed over."
Sage stretched languidly, completely unbothered by the scrutiny. "Got here late last night."
Aeris’s grin turned wicked. "Couldn’t tell—you two were unusually quiet for once. Good thing Zaeryn finally rembered that sound dampening fields exists."
"It was unintentional the last ti by the way." Zaeryn responded.
A slow, pleased smile curved Sage’s lips as she glanced down at the man still trying to hide from consciousness. "We’re loud?" The question held a note of sultry pride.
"Last ti, the entire house got a very detailed audio tour of your... activities," Aeris said dryly. "Mostly courtesy of you, Sage."
"Ah." Sage’s smile didn’t waver. If anything, it widened. "Well, he has that effect on . Anyone who has a problem with it is just jealous they’re not having as much fun."
Zaeryn finally erged from his pillow fortress, hair sticking up at impossible angles as he fixed his sister with a mock glare. "Could we possibly move this delightful conversation? So of us require beauty sleep to maintain our devastating good looks."
Aeris laughed, backing toward the door. "Only you would be vain enough to think you need help in that departnt." She paused at the threshold, her expression shifting slightly. "By the way, Ravena and Kayla ca with Grandma. I’ll see you downstairs, and don’t take forever."
The door sealed shut behind her, restoring the intimate quiet.
Zaeryn’s contented expression dimd at the ntion of additional guests. The prospect of facing Kayla this early was less than appealing, and Ravena’s presence added another layer of complication he wasn’t ready to navigate. ’Ravena. She finally decided to visit?’
"Who’s Ravena?" Sage asked, noting the subtle tension that had crept into his eyes."I’ve only t Kayla briefly at Aeris’s party."
"You’ll et her soon enough," Zaeryn said, though sothing in his tone suggested he wasn’t entirely pleased about the inevitable introduction. The thought of Ravena and Sage in the sa room felt like watching two storm systems converge, beautiful, but potentially destructive.
’This could go good or bad.’ His heart raced with fearful anticipation.
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