POV: Lyra
The psychic leak from Sasha's consciousness continued, her emotions so volatile they practically screamed across the neural network. I remained still in my quarters, letting the vision unfold.
Greg's arrogant voice continued in the leaked memory. "Those two never had any offspring because I got someone to pose as a service technician at a refreshment station, and got my distant cousin's match to consume a beverage laced with some very powerful, very effective anti-reproduction compound."
Sasha narrowed her eyes in the vision. "Contraceptives, you mean?"
Greg rolled his eyes. "Stop insulting me, Cummings. The effects of the ones I ordered for her are permanent, even in small doses. And it's illegal—completely banned across all systems. The best part? There is no remedy and no cure for anyone who ingests it."
He sterilized Christian's match. Duke Christian Blackfur—Orion's cousin and second-in-command. That's why they never had younglings.
My skin shifted to a sickened green. The cruelty of it made my stomach turn.
Sasha looked confused in the memory. "Why would you want to do that? I thought your issue was just with the Emperor. What do you have against the Blackfurs?"
"The Blackfurs have been a pain in the void since the late Emperor Lucas bonded with the late Empress Vera. That is probably the only thing I hated about my uncle. I loved the old man like a father but Vera Blackfur's family are... how do I put this... a clan of useless, empty-headed idealists. They never saw the benefits of profits and resources. It was all about the people, the people and the people. Idiots." Greg shook his head in disgust.
"That's a problem because?" Sasha wasn't following.
Greg sighed audibly, frustrated at explaining something he found obvious. He sipped his drink before saying, "That's a problem because that Emperor cousin of mine chose to be an idealist with the Blackfurs, and made that Blackfur cousin of his second-in-command." Greg downed his drink, slamming the glass with force.
With blackened pathways visible even in the memory, the Duke shouted, "I held office longer! That position should've been MINE! First, I can't be Emperor. Then, I can't even be SECOND to the Emperor?! To the void with it! And that Blackfur had the gall to rub it in my face, saying that I was 'never fit' to hold office. Hmph." He chuckled darkly. "So, I got his match sterilized. I guess that makes us even now."
"Hm. Makes sense," Sasha uttered in agreement.
They're both monsters. No sympathy, no remorse. Just casual evil.
Sasha pushed the sterilization issue aside in the memory, clearing her throat. "So, what do you suggest for our next step? I still want that piece of dirt dead. If you don't have it in you to give me the proper contacts I need to kill her, I'll ask someone else."
Greg's eyes darkened, and he growled ferociously at Sasha, his voice throwing her back into her seat. "Recklessness... will get us nowhere with Lyra. We should observe her a little longer before we decide our next move."
Sasha's eyes widened. "Did you just refer to her by her n—"
"So what if I did?" He challenged, leaning forward. His black eyes never left Sasha's. "In the name of our business relationship, let me offer you some advice, Cummings. Do NOT do anything before understanding the full extent of the consequences. It won't end well for you. I have to leave now. Enjoy your drink."
Greg stood and left. Two seconds after he closed the door, Sasha threw the emptied glass at the wall, screaming in fury.
The memory shifted, following Sasha as she left the establishment and returned to her residence. Through her eyes, I saw Sebastian standing in their bio-garden, watching the Irrelises bloom alone in silence.
He does this every night, Sasha's thoughts leaked through. Pathetic. Reminiscing about that thing.
She rolled her eyes, not acknowledging him, thinking: He's a lost cause. A Cummings, a minister's son! With our father's position, wealth, influence and power, he could have anyone. Why her?
The vision followed her to her quarters, to her refresher unit where she replayed the night's events. When she recalled how Greg said my name—with softness and gentleness—Sasha screamed, throwing her hygiene tool at the mirror with force. It bounced off harmlessly, reflecting her cosmetic-smudged eyes and rage-flushed face.
Her breathing was heavy as she cursed me in her thoughts, then blamed the universe itself for bonding someone like me to the Emperor. When she finally calmed, Sasha looked at her reflection, and a wide, sinister grin appeared.
"Sasha Sarafina Cummings," she said to herself with complete confidence, "one way or another, you will be crowned Empress."
The psychic leak finally faded as Sasha's consciousness settled into sleep. I sat in the darkness of my quarters, processing everything.
Christian and his match—victims of Greg's jealousy. They'd never know why they couldn't have younglings. The grief they must have carried, blaming themselves, never knowing it was poison.
And Sebastian... standing in that garden every night. Had Sasha's drugging broken something in him? Or was there more to our past than I'd understood?
Two threats. Sasha wants me dead for the crown. Greg... wants me alive for something else. Neither option is acceptable.
I pulled up my communication pad, starting an encrypted message to Orion. He needed to know about Christian. About all of it.
But my finger hovered over the send command.
If I tell him now, he'll go nova. He'll confront Greg immediately, probably terminate him on sight. And we'll lose our chance to gather evidence, to find out who else is involved.
I deleted the message. Tomorrow, I'd tell him in person. Tomorrow, we'd plan this carefully.
Because if Greg thought I was just another easy target like Christian's match, he was about to learn why a mining colony girl survived long enough to become the youngest Commander in history.
You want to play with poison and politics? Fine. But you picked the wrong Kaelari to threaten.
And Sasha? Keep dreaming about that crown. You'll never wear it. Not while I'm breathing.
My skin shifted to determined silver as I lay back down. Let them think I was weak, unaware.
Their overconfidence would be their downfall.