The Space Empress He Craved

Chapter 94

POV: Lyra

Evie displayed her partially-developed dental structures in a broad expression, and she hopped a little in excitement before nodding her head and throwing her arms around my neck. My core systems warmed just like when Russell hugged me.

Evie let her progenitor pull her out from the embrace but the small youngling stubbornly took back her hand with force before telling me out loud, "When I mature, I want to be brave and pretty. Just like you, pretty Lyra!"

The consumption facility went silent, and Orion was the proudest and happiest being in the chamber. I looked a bit embarrassed but I pressed my lips to Evie's cheek as I said in all certainty, "Evie, when you mature, you'll be brave and pretty. Just like you." My index finger tapped lightly on Evie's nasal ridge, and the small youngling giggled in excitement. Her progenitor made another apology and pulled away her excited offspring before little Evie prolonged the conversation.

Murmurs of affection soon filled the chamber at how I'd interacted with little Evie. Everyone was throwing warm expressions in mine and Orion's direction. But I was blind to all of this because my attention was on Evie the whole time.

When Evie was guided away by her progenitor, Orion stood up and held out a hand to me as he said, "Come, my love."

I took it without hesitation, letting Orion support me as I stood back up next to him. My eyes followed Evie and her progenitor until they reached their platform. Orion and I exchanged smiles with Evie's family unit before taking position at the platform that the coordinator led us to. Orion kissed my cheek before letting me sit as he whispered, "You're amazing."

My skin shifted purple as I sat and said, "So are you, Orion." I then smirked as I commented, "I can see you prefer female younglings to male younglings."

"Of course. Female younglings are no competition." Orion said.

I shook my head with a smile, still finding Orion's jealousy for Russell unbelievable. After placing our nutrient order and the coordinator disappeared, Orion took my hand before teasing, "Brave and pretty."

That got me thinking, "Brave how though? I mean, she's not Russell or Rita. She doesn't know me, so why did it feel like she knew that I'm a warrior? How did her family unit know?"

Orion chuckled at my seriousness, "My darling, haven't you accessed the news feeds?"

My eyes widened, "What news? What did you do?" I got out my communication device and started scrolling through a news portal.

Orion played with my fingers as I read through the headlines. I was shocked by the images they'd managed to capture of me when Orion and I had morning consumption at the facility on our first outing the previous day.

I accessed one article and started reading it. My head snapped up and I asked, "Did they contact you for an interview that I had no idea about? This article explains the new bowing formality in a lot of detail. And how did they know that I'm a warrior of Blue Crescent? And this line, 'Commander of Commanders' sounds exactly like Christian. You two did this, didn't you?"

Orion scoffed as he stroked my hands to calm me, "Star-heart, Christian and I are both busy with work, the collaboration and our matches. It can't be us. Probably should have been. But no, my love. I'm sorry to disappoint you."

"But then how did they—"

"Does it matter?" Orion asked with those compelling orbs of his as he cupped my hand in both of his. "Lyra, the collaboration involves a lot of beings. Any one of them could've been the source. In fact, the information specialists may have gotten more than fifty sources. Lyrokans aren't exactly against information sharing. And the Kaelari would've been more than happy to showcase you. Let's not forget the number of beings who greeted us at the facility yesterday."

I furrowed my eyebrows as I asked, "You knew this was all over the news feeds and you didn't think of telling me?"

He defended immediately, "I honestly thought you knew. And I only read one article. One. Christian transmitted it to me, and I read through it before I left the dwelling this morning. He said it was the best one so I didn't see the point in accessing the rest. Besides," he lifted my hand up to kiss my fingers before saying, "Why discuss what's in the news about you when I can discuss with you about you?"

"You're trying to charm your way out of this, darling?"

He asked hopefully, "Is it working?"

"Fortunately for you, it is." I smirked, and Orion grinned as he continued playing with my fingers.

Our nutrients arrived shortly after that. After thanking the coordinator, we began consuming. About halfway through our consumption, a small voice came next to me, "Pretty Lyra?"

My eyes snapped to my side and I saw a shy Evie. I put down my consumption implements before turning my body to face the small youngling with a smile as I spoke softly, "Hello, Evie. Did you have good consumption?"

Evie became less shy as she nodded and smiled with those partially-developed dental structures again. She then extracted a data sheet from her pad before handing it to me, "I created this for you."

My eyes widened in curiosity. When I looked at the creation, my oral cavity gaped at the digital sketch on the sheet. It was my upper body profile from the side, angled from the platform where Evie's family unit sat. It was so lifelike and created with such detail that no one would think a being her age could've done it. She even included my scar! "Do you like it, pretty Lyra?"

I pulled the small youngling into a gentle embrace before letting her go as I held back optical fluid, "I love it, Evie. Thank you. I'll keep this forever."

She did that cute little hop before her expression faltered as she looked at my scar. She touched it while asking, "Does it hurt, pretty Lyra?"

I felt touched. "No, dear. It's all healed. It doesn't hurt anymore. You're so sweet to ask, Evie." My fingers brushed gently across Evie's cheek and she hopped excitedly again before she hugged me briefly.

Her sad orbs met my grateful ones when she pulled away and she said, "Progenitor's waiting for me outside, pretty Lyra." She then waved with her small hand and I waved back, watching her run to the entrance where her progenitor was waiting.

After making sure Evie was by her progenitor's side, I turned back to my seat and continued looking at the sketch in astonishment.

Orion was radiating satisfaction throughout the whole exchange, and so were many of the other patrons in the facility, not that I noticed. Orion couldn't be more proud of his match. After putting down his hydration container, he reached for my hand to get my attention. I still had a look of disbelief when I flipped the sheet over to show Orion what Evie did with digital tools in less than one time-unit as I exclaimed, "She created this! Can you believe it?!"

Orion almost expelled the liquid in his oral cavity. He wiped off the residue from his lips before reaching out to take the sketch from my hands. His eyebrows furrowed as he studied the sketch in detail. He then looked at me and asked, "Can I have it?"

My eyes turned fierce as I whisper-yelled, "No! It's mine! Return it, Orion!"

Ignoring my attempts to reach for the piece of artwork, Orion gave the sketch another good look before he uttered, "What are younglings made of nowadays? One knows how to build a remote-operated transport from scraps. Now this one can create art like a professional at the age of four cycles."

"She's four?"

"Just a guess, star-heart. It's remarkable." He took one more look and asked me again, "You can always observe yourself in the reflection panel. Can I really not have this?"

"No, Orion! Evie gave it to me! Go ask her for another copy if you want one."

He chuckled at my ferocious-looking state which looked more adorable than anything to him as he got out his device to capture an image of the sketch before handing the picture back to me. I snatched it from him, and placed it carefully on my lap, under the sanitation cloth.

Orion started stroking my hand as he said, "My dear, aren't you overreacting over a little creation?"

I challenged, "How would you react if someone tried to take something that was yours?" I only realized how my question could be interpreted two ways when the words were out. My free hand covered my oral cavity, already regretting the way my words were framed.