The Space Empress He Craved

Chapter 137

POV: Lyra

The Lyrokans and two Commanders growled at the rogue, but my eyes widened in realization. This was what Jake meant—what I wouldn't like about their client's order. The toxin on the projectile could render me infertile! It didn't hurt because it wasn't fatal—it was a permanent reproductive suppressant!

My eyes began glistening, making the rogue smirk wider. With gritted teeth, I lifted the Xeridian blade beside me and plunged it into his collar bone. According to my research, that was the slowest transmission point. I wanted him to suffer. A slow, agonizing termination.

I fixed my eyes on him, wanting to watch the light fade from his consciousness. When his body finally gave in and lost all strength, my hand subconsciously went to my abdomen as the first tears fell.

I'll never have younglings. Never give Orion an heir. He'll have to reject me. Or find another.

The Lyrokan warriors were shocked at the sight, their heads tilting down as Orion asked gently, "Star-heart, hey. Is it pain from the projectile?"

I shook my head but didn't trust my voice, so I linked him, 'The toxin on the projectile suppresses reproduction.'

His eyes widened but he tried staying calm as he linked back, 'Love, we don't know that. The rogue was clearly deranged. Probably trying to mess with your mind. We'll have the medical team analyze it, alright?'

When I didn't respond and he heard my first sob, Orion held me closer, planting a deep kiss on my forehead. "It's going to be okay, Lyra. It's going to be okay."

But it won't be. Nothing about this is okay.

***

After noting Forest Gloom lost three warriors in battle, those from the collaboration boarded Orion's transport to return. We collected the station leaders and Lyrokan warriors from Blood Eclipse and Midnight stations en route.

Tate, unlike during the flight to Forest Gloom, now chose seating where he could see me on Orion's lap. He and Clement didn't speak this time. Both Commanders blamed themselves for not shielding me from the projectile.

They still didn't know what was on it that made me cry for half an hour on the battlefield. But seeing me cry publicly when I never did told them whatever was laced on that projectile had to be devastating.

Orion's thumb didn't stop stroking my shoulder. As painful as it was seeing my tear-stained face, he couldn't look away. Suddenly, my eyes glazed over and I sat upright on his lap. He adjusted to support my posture.

'Lyra, what was on the projectile?' Juan demanded through our link, straight to the point.

'Who told you?'

'Tate. Clement. Does it matter? What was on it?' Juan was getting impatient. He knew if something could make me cry publicly, it had to be catastrophic.

I inhaled deeply before linking, 'It's not confirmed medically yet, but from what the rogue indicated, it was probably... a toxin to suppress reproduction indefinitely.' Tears escaped as I linked that, hastily wiping them before Orion kissed away the rest while waiting patiently.

Silence from Juan's end before he linked back with suppressed anger, 'I see. Get some rest. I'll see you when you land.' He ended the link.

When my eyes cleared, I leaned back into Orion's chest. "Just Juan."

Orion kissed my hair. Just as I was about to close my eyes, I heard Zeke hiss softly, "Void take you, Juan."

My eyes snapped open. Zeke, Zelena, and Lovelace were squinting, hands over their ears like they'd heard something deafening. I looked at Tate and Clement, whose postures were rigid, eyes glazed over. Clement swallowed hard with a terrified expression. Tate's fists were clenched, jaw hardened.

"Oh no," I muttered, sitting upright again.

"Star-heart, what is it?" Orion asked, holding me by my abdomen and lower back.

I sighed. "Just give me a few minutes, darling. I have a very angry sub-commander to stop."

Before I could link, Orion exclaimed, "Who? What do you mean?"

"My overprotective brother is angry I was shot. He's probably lecturing Tate and Clement in the station leaders' group-link right now. I need to stop him."

"Okay," Orion said uncertainly.

After several failed attempts to link Juan, I groaned and forced myself into the station leaders' group-link. The first thing I heard was Juan's loud voice, 'YOU BOTH KNEW SHE'S TARGETED! HOW HARD WAS IT TO—'

I growled through the link, stopping Juan mid-sentence. What I didn't know was I was growling aloud too. The Lyrokan warriors flinched at their Empress's ferocity. Those dozing were jolted awake. But they all found comfort in the fact that even the Emperor flinched when his deadly-looking match growled with glazed eyes on his lap.

'Juan! Nobody saw the projectile coming! This isn't anyone's fault!'

'Let me handle this, Lyra. Get out.' Juan tried being gentle with his little sister.

'I'm not leaving! You can't blame Tate and Clement for not seeing what none of us could see.'

'YOU COULD HAVE DIED, Lyra! THAT PROJECTILE COULD HAVE GONE THROUGH YOUR HEART!'

'BUT IT DIDN'T! AND IT WAS NEVER MEANT TO! THE POINT OF THAT TOXIN WAS TO LEAVE ME WITHOUT OFFSPRING FOR LIFE, NOT KILL ME!'

Zelena and Lovelace gasped audibly at my revelation. Zeke held his match's hand tightly to cope with distress. Clement, despite glazed eyes, held his head down in guilt. Tate was fighting tears. They all knew how much I loved younglings. The projectile took that away. How could they let it happen?

Stop blaming yourselves. Please.