The Space Empress He Craved

Chapter 129

POV: Lyra

Meanwhile, in his corporate office, Sebastian was preparing for a board meeting when message notifications bombarded his communicator.

He ignored them until the sound became too distracting. Reaching to silence the device, he accidentally glimpsed the forwarded news.

After burning his eyes watching footage of his naked sister scrambling for cover on the training ground, he set down his communicator with a sigh at Sasha's stupidity.

A knock at his door.

His secretary entered. "Sir, the meeting's in twenty minutes. Any documents for the boardroom?"

He looked at my framed holo-image on his desk, fingers gently tracing my face in the projection. Wondering if I was okay. Numbly, he said, "Tell Boscow to handle it. I have somewhere to be."

The secretary looked surprised—Sebastian never missed board meetings—but didn't question it. "Yes, sir."

He left his office, stopped at a bio-cultivator for fresh Irrelises, then headed to the dining hall. At the entrance, security refused him entry, saying he wasn't authorized. He argued that corruption charges against his father weren't proven, so Minister Cummings was technically innocent, but the guards didn't care.

One threw him a glare. "After what Ms. Cummings did to the Commander and Emperor this morning, you'd be foolish thinking we'd let you near their Eminences."

"I'd never hurt the Commander," Sebastian defended, though his chest ached saying it. Acknowledging me as Commander meant accepting I was the Emperor's match, not his.

"Can't say I believe you, Cummings. We didn't think your sister would hurt the Commander either, especially after being shown mercy. The Commander even stopped the Emperor from killing her. Be gone, Cummings. See your sibling instead."

Sebastian's eyes darkened. How dare they think he'd hurt me! He loved me! Match or not, nobody held his core but me. He'd do anything to win me back. He just wanted to know I was okay.

He wouldn't leave without seeing me. His bio-mods started activating, partial transformation beginning. The guard noticed, straightening for possible attack.

"Owen, you okay?" My voice rang through both their consciousness.

They turned to see me approaching gracefully with Orion beside me, his hand on my waist, black pathways glaring at Sebastian. Sebastian didn't want to guess why we were late when we usually arrived on time.

"Your Eminences." Owen's expression turned warm as he bowed.

We returned his bow. After rising, Owen smiled. "My Commander, we heard what happened. How's the arm?"

I smiled graciously, lifting my arms to show I was healed. "Good as new, Owen. Thanks for asking."

"Excellent news, Your Eminence." Owen had called me 'Lyra' last year, but since I became Orion's match, Owen and his partner insisted on using my title despite my protests.

I turned to Sebastian, forcing a smile. "Mr. Cummings, what brings you here?"

Sebastian's voice came soft. "I heard what happened too, Lyra..."

Orion and Owen growled at his casual use of my name. Orion spat murderously, "You have no right addressing our Commander by name, especially after your family's actions. Corruption, treason, and now attacking the Commander AFTER MERCY WAS SHOWN! YOU DARE USE MY MATCH'S NAME?!"

Sebastian started to defend himself but lost his voice when he saw my hands reach for Orion's face. I pulled it down gently, thumb stroking his cheeks. "Shh... calm down, darling. That's over now. We're both okay. Breathe, love. Breathe."

Orion's expression softened. He kissed my forehead, closing his eyes and inhaling my scent to calm himself.

Seeing his temperament stabilized, I turned to Sebastian, whose sad eyes were getting red and teary. My voice turned stern. "Well, what is it, Mr. Cummings?"

Finding his voice, he said, "I-I just wanted to see if you were okay. I'm glad you are, my Commander. And I brought these." He held up the Irrelises bouquet.

Owen and Orion scowled at his audacity. I was the Emperor's match! Everyone knew! How dare he try slithering into my life! The temerity of all three Cummings was appalling!

I felt the radiating anger from both, Orion's grip tightening on my waist. But I remained composed, glancing at the flowers before meeting Sebastian's guilty gaze. "Thank you for your concern, Mr. Cummings. But for obvious reasons, I won't accept the flowers. I appreciate the thought. If there's nothing else, we should part. Have a good day."

I didn't give him a chance to respond, walking through the gate and pulling Orion along. His death glare remained on Sebastian until we entered the building.

Owen cleared his throat. "You have no business here, Cummings. Be gone. If you have more intelligence than your sister, don't show your face again."

Sebastian held back tears, speeding to the park where we'd taken evening walks the previous year when we were matched. Pulling over, he broke down crying about my rejection of his flowers. An hour later, he finally composed himself. Stepping out, he leaned against his vehicle as the breeze touched his tear-stained face.

Sebastian started his routine self-criticism since accepting my rejection: Why had he been so stupid? Why doubt his feelings because I'm Kaelari? Why believe Sasha that the bond was blinding him when he'd always loved me? Why lie to me so often that my bright eyes would dim with disappointment? Why didn't he cherish me when he had me?

It was clear I was a gift. Commanders, Specialists, even Lyrokans were visibly envious when I was beside him. He'd caught the Emperor stealing glances at me then, surprising since no one ever attracted the Emperor that way. And there wasn't lust in those glances—always fixed on my face with interest and curiosity.

Sebastian remembered once when the Emperor gazed at my profile so long that even Christian noticed. Another time, when I self-consciously ran fingers through my hair after entering the dining hall from strong wind, the Emperor's lips curled into a soft smile. Only a few Lyrokans noticed, none knowing why.

Sebastian had been determined to keep us apart, keeping me from the Emperor's circle whenever we were forced into the same room, never offering access to ministers I wanted to meet because they were always near the Emperor.

He didn't want the Emperor's eyes on his match. But now ironically, the Emperor didn't want Sebastian's eyes on his match. The universe worked in funny ways.

After his negative self-talk, Sebastian decided to visit his stupid sister.