Page 117 of Between Imminent Fates

As his son set up with the boxed Legos in the corner, Isaiah and Rukia took a seat on the sofa where his lieutenants had gathered. None of them were going to push—that much Isaiah knew.

The first question was one of the most important. “Derikles, did the sovereignty transfer to you?”

“Yes,” Derikles’ focus sharpened, “but a day and a half ago, you took it back.”

“How?”

A nod. “I was feeding you psychic energy, and through the connection, the neural network transferred back to you.”

Isaiah cursed. “Forgive me. I wasn’t aware that’d happen.”

“But it told us you were close to surfacing.” Jaeda crossed her legs on the large armchair beside them. “Otherwise, you wouldn’t have taken back what was originally yours.”

“That’s why you were all waiting?”

“Yes,” Rukia bumped his shoulder, “and you certainly took your time.”

“A lot has changed since you went under, sovereign,” Sia mused.

“So it seems.” Pointedly looking at his second, Isaiah grinned. “Are you blushing, Derikles? Care to fill me in on who, exactly, my most loyal lieutenant has mated?”

Jaeda snapped, “I take offense to that. I am your most loyal lieutenant.”

“Lies.” Xedrix’s nose scrunched up. “I am.”

A bickering war raised the stakes in the room, but Isaiah’s attention stayed on Derikles. “A conversation for another time, perhaps? Do I know her?”

“You knowofher,” was Derikles’ mysterious comment.

“Count me intrigued.”

Derikles sighed reservedly but offered him a bone. “I’m mated to Celeste, one of Nina’s lieutenants. One of her best friends.”

Isaiah reclined on the couch with a benevolent grin. “I’m happy for you, Derikles. But I have to say, I never thought I’d see the day when you wore Nina’s clan mark.”

“That makes two of us.”

Isaiah suddenly sobered. “Have you already had the mating ceremony?”

“No, we wanted to wait...” A look of pain shadowed Derikles’ gaze. “Until we knew one way or the other.”

Derikles’ meaning was loaded with far more emotion than could be explained in a handful of words. By the state of his lieutenants and mate, it would be a long road to recovery for both him and his relationships.

“Did you receive the USB from Tyee?” Isaiah asked Derikles.

“I did.”

“And you obviously refrained from following through?”

“Obviously.” Rukia clutched at Isaiah’s hand. “Derikles was going to murder you like the perfect little soldier he is, and I behaved entirely reasonably in defending you.”

“You threatened me with death, dismemberment and kidnapping Isaiah away from the clan,” Derikles shot back, entirely nonplussed. “I was simply trying to follow his instructions.”

“A poor choice, really. Perhaps you should use your brain the next time you try tomerjhamy mate in the heart.”

“And that’s why Rukia wins for most loyal,” Circe chuckled.

“I am sorry.” Isaiah squeezed his mate’s hand. “To all of you. I wouldn’t have done it, but I had no other choice.”

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