POV: Lyra
The Rogue across the barrier was Jake, Commander Clement's brother.
Of all the void-spawned beings in the galaxy, it had to be him.
Orion's features stiffened, his pathways flashing black as he emitted a low growl at Jake's flirtatious tone. Jake had short black hair, a build that suggested genetic enhancement, and that carefully crafted bad-boy look that made naive females swoon.
His grey eyes studied Orion briefly before returning to me. "I heard you got yourself an Emperor, Lyra. Can't say I'm surprised you managed that, given your ability to charm..."
My turn to growl, and something flickered in Jake's eyes—arousal? The sick void-spawn was actually turned on by my anger. "Leave now, Jake. You know this won't end well for you and your friends."
Despite his inappropriate thoughts, Jake scoffed and scanned my tactical gear—black combat suit, white armor plating—before asking rhetorically, "Are you sure, Lyra? Have you even met my friends?"
As if summoned, Lyrokans in full combat mode appeared beside him, their pathways glowing hostile red. I immediately ordered more of our warriors to join us. Orion tried using the Emperor's Authority—that psychic dominance all Lyrokan royalty possessed—but nothing happened.
Jake saw Orion's attempt and laughed. "You didn't think we'd come without shielding from your Authority, did you, Your Eminence? We knew you'd try it, but in the spirit of fair combat, we thought we should have a fighting chance." His eyes moved back to me. "Something this beauty once taught me."
Clement, Tate, and Orion growled in unison. Clement spat, "You have no right to call her that!"
Jake raised an eyebrow before scowling at his brother. "Like you never had the right to claim her? Sneaking out to train with her all those times and you never had the cores [courage] to tell her you've wanted her since she was sixteen!" Jake scoffed. "You were too pathetic and too much of a coward to bond with her anyway."
Wait, what? Clement... since I was sixteen?
I took control before this devolved further. "Wake up, Jake! You were exiled, WITH your own station's support and approval. The fact that you resorted to false threats to get me here shows you're the coward."
A female voice came from behind Jake. "Hmph. That's disappointing. We thought you'd recognize those misleading messages as strategy. Sorry to disappoint."
Iris, the sister Clement exiled with Jake. Great. The whole toxic family reunion.
"It's dishonorable tactics," Tate spat at her.
Iris's angry amber eyes fixed on Tate. Everyone saw the betrayal and fury in the tall female's expression as she glared at the Commander. "I warned you it was a mistake choosing her over me, Tate. I would've made you happy! I was ready to rule alongside you as your partner!"
Tate didn't hesitate. "You were just one of many females who offered themselves. And being the immature void-brain I was, I took it without considering consequences. But I NEVER saw any female I was with as my partner, especially not YOU."
Oh cosmos. Tate and Iris? When did that happen?
That hit a nerve. Iris's eyes glistened with rage, her red hair somehow enhancing her fury. "She never gave you the experience I gave you. She's never given you ANY experience, yet you saw her as your partner?!"
Tate growled ferociously. "Unlike you, she's not a Commander-chasing opportunist! You're DELUSIONAL to think you could ever compare to her! She's done more for White Blood as an ally than you could EVER do as partner!"
Neither Iris nor Tate had to look at me or point—every single being there, except me apparently, knew they were both referring to me.
This is getting complicated. And embarrassing.
The Lyrokans exchanged confused looks, wondering if their suspicions about Tate's feelings for their Empress were real. Orion's pathways were pulsing dangerous black.
I noticed my agitated match, assuming he was angry because Jake and Iris were pushing everyone's buttons, so I linked him. 'This is what Jake and his group do, dearest. They mess with your mind to make you lose focus before combat. Don't let them affect you.'
As my eyes cleared from the link, Iris scowled at me. "What do males even see in you? You—"
"Clearly more than what they see in you," I cut her off with a taunting smirk. I didn't believe it—Iris had always attracted attention while I hadn't, at least not that I'd noticed. But the goal was making Iris lose control before the fight.
Sometimes you have to play the game.
A volcano built in Iris from Tate's words followed by mine. Through gritted teeth, she spat, "You were rejected. Five times. You. Are. Nothing."
The Lyrokans and Kaelari on our side growled at her insult, but Iris stood firm.
"Nothing? Really?" I asked with a glint in my eye. "Didn't stop your older brother from asking me to be his partner after my first two rejections, did it?"
There. That should destabilize them.
This was news for everyone. Forest Gloom warriors scoffed in amusement. No genius needed to know Jake never stood a chance with me.
I'd only told Juan and Hale about Jake's offer because I found it humiliating—being propositioned by an infamous player who clearly couldn't commit to one female and never had his station's interests at heart.
When Jake said nothing, Iris hissed, "Say something! Tell her she's lying!"
Jake's angry eyes fixed on me, his ego shattered by the revealed secret. He was a Commander! He was supposed to get anyone he wanted! But he was refused. By a female from the mining colonies!
Jake breathed heavily, coping with anger. "I would've given you everything, Lyra. I forgave you for refusing the gathering invitation because you were young and didn't know better. I forgave you for choosing to speak to my weakling brother over me! But when you said no to becoming my partner, you single-handedly severed ties between Forest Gloom and Blue Crescent."
"Hah!" I scoffed sarcastically. "Spoken like a mature Commander who didn't cut ties with a long-time ally when his ego broke with a simple 'no.'"
Both Kaelari and Lyrokan warriors chuckled at my retort. Our fighters were understanding what I was doing—pressing Jake's buttons like I'd pressed Lady Kylton's recently.
Iris glanced at me in disbelief before hissing at Jake. "Was that why you rejected those females our parents arranged? You wanted her?!"
"Shut up, Iris," Jake spat at his sister, who wobbled in shock.
Orion finally spoke, voice low and lethal. "Leave and no one dies. You're outnumbered. We'll eliminate all of you if necessary."
Jake scowled at the male I'd chosen over everyone else—over him! Hatred and jealousy consumed him. His controlled temperament cracked, lips curling into a menacing smile. "Let's see how many lives are lost tonight then."
As he spoke, his people charged across the barrier. Those defending Forest Gloom engaged immediately. I linked Orion, 'Get all Lyrokans into full combat mode now!'
Orion relayed my command as he activated his own combat systems.
Lyrokans only stood a chance in their enhanced combat forms. Their untrained speed would've let the rogue Kaelari defeat them too easily otherwise.
Jake went straight for Orion. Iris came for me.