POV: Lyra
Annie said, "Lyra, these two are weird. They were never the type to go out and look for love, or even something with no strings attached. They filled up a lot of time with combat, traveling, exploring asteroid fields, and all those adventurous kinds of things, you know? But I get that you don't buy it. I didn't either. It just felt like he was lying to my face."
"I know, right?!" I exclaimed at her understanding.
Annie continued, "I mean, one can hardly count the number of people after a Duke, let alone an Emperor!"
Orion spoke next. "And that's where our conversation should end. Thanks, An—"
Before he could say goodbye and end transmission, I snatched his communicator and covered his mouth with my small hand as I continued speaking to Annie. "And did you know what Orion was trying to do? He came up with this imaginary number of males after me, and kept getting angered over people whom I've never even been with!"
Orion tried taking his communicator from me, but not before Annie's voice chimed through the speaker again. "I don't think those are imaginary, Lyra."
Orion stopped his efforts as he waited. And I suddenly felt like I was about to be betrayed by Annie. The Duchess continued, "When we went to the recreational center the other day, many eyes were on you, and it wasn't because you're Queen. There was no look of recognition in their eyes, just alluring glances and yearning smirks. So, Orion's anger is quite justified if you think about it."
Orion's insecurity returned strong, and he pressed my body tightly against his again as he started pressing his lips to my hand that was still covering his mouth. When I was retracting it, he groaned and placed my hand back over his lips and started pressing kisses there.
His grip was too strong, so I gave up trying to take back my hand as I narrowed my eyes at the communicator. "Seriously, Annie? Even if that were true, did you really have to go into such detail?"
Christian's soft chuckle came from the other end before Annie said, "Well, I haven't told Christian this either with everything that just happened, so I was thinking hm... I could just tell him now when I talk to you."
"Probably not the best plan, Annie," I retorted.
Orion stopped his assault on my hand for a moment to say, "I disagree. But it's not like I didn't already know that. We went out twice already after all. I'd be blind to not see those void-spawn [bastards] looking at you like I wasn't right next to you."
Annie exclaimed, "Really?! Wow! Even an Emperor can't project enough fear to stop those eyes. I'm starting to see why Christian used to have a problem with that."
"Correction, my Duchess. I'm still having a problem with that. Why do you think I prefer ordering delivery rather than dining in?"
I scoffed not-so-subtly. Annie then said in mock annoyance, "What is it with these cousins? It's not like we'll leave them. If anything, they're m—"
"They're more likely to leave us! Yes! I'm completely with you mmph—" I only completed Annie's sentence midway when Orion's lips trapped me in a deep kiss that sent me into a slight daze. The neural sparks were intense. The sensation spread from my heart and channeled throughout my entire body. It made me doubt my doubts about Orion, and my body inched closer to my match, yearning to close whatever distance left between us.
When our lips parted, Orion said in a low, firm tone, "Now, that's a lie."
Christian joined in. "Calling it a lie is putting it too lightly! It's total void-scrap [bullshit]! Neither of us had past lovers. There was never anyone else for us. You two females, on the other hand, had someone like that. Plus, one of the things you both have in common is that frustratingly long line of admirers who all look like they're just waiting for us to screw up so they'll get a chance to steal you away from us!"
It was the first time I heard Christian sounding so scared and vulnerable, the same emotions I saw behind Orion's partially black orbs, his pathways pulsing with anxiety.
My eyes remained locked with Orion's as I asked, "Annie, any tips on how I can get out of this? I've tried everything I know, but I clearly don't know enough. I keep telling Orion that I'm only with him, but I'm not sure if that's working for me anymore. Got anything stronger I can use?"
Annie sighed. "If you do, let me know."
"Annie, you've been bonded for seventeen years. There must be something you say to calm your match."
Annie sighed. "Yeah, momentarily. What I learned is that his jealousy doesn't really go away. You can put the angry beast to sleep but..."
"But the beast won't sleep forever," I completed her sentence and chuckled as I leaned into Orion's hard chest to listen to his heartbeat. "Well, it's a good thing too, I guess. At least we know they don't see anyone else."
Both Orion and Christian could be heard scoffing, and there was a moment of silence before Orion pressed his lips to my forehead, his eyes already returned to their original purple color as he gazed at me in pure bliss.
Annie's voice then broke through the silence. "Lyra, Orion told Christian you read a lot. If you find anything to calm these two Lyrokan males, please let me know. Preferably something that makes them magically see that us leaving them is downright ridiculous."
Before either cousin could speak, I exclaimed, "Will do, Annie!"
"C-Cuz, what just happened?" Christian asked like he was just brought out of a daze.
Orion sighed. "Our Queen trapped me in her eyes so I couldn't focus or respond on time."
Christian agreed. "Same here with my Duchess. Dangerous creatures, aren't they?" Despite his choice of words, his voice only echoed love, affection, and devotion.
Orion pressed his lips to my temple before uttering in agreement. "Dangerous at its highest degree."