Page 14 of Possessed By the Dragon Alien
“And the Terian?”
His wings shifted. “Leave her where she is. For now.”
“Chancellor—”
“That’s an order.” He turned back to the viewport. “Report what you find directly to me. No transmissions, no records.”
Rien’s reflection in the glass showed her expressionless face as she bowed. “As you command.”
The door closed behind her, leaving Madrian alone with his thoughts and the growing concern that he was caught in a trap designed eons ago.
Was this why someone had warned him? Because they knew the pattern would point to him next? He couldn’t deny it. Every interaction with 93-A had shifted something in him, made him question things he’d never questioned before.
Was he already part of something larger? Something set in motion long before the Terian arrived in his gardens?
He stared into the darkness, where the gardens lay silent under the dome. Where 93-A slept, unaware she was at the center of something that could shake the empire.
Or destroy them both.
NINE
Two cycles had passed since her encounter with the strange, pale official. Nena’s hands were steady as she knelt in the meditation grove, methodically trimming the dense foliage of an ornamental bush. Her muscles ached, but here, in this secluded corner of the gardens, she found a strange peace. The area was reserved for high-ranking officials seeking solitude. The polished stone paths and carefully arranged plantings were designed to inspire contemplation. Silver chimes hung motionless in the still air; the artificial breeze that usually rustled through the gardens didn’t reach this sheltered spot.
She’d been surprised to be assigned here. Most workers hoped to avoid the meditation grove, fearful of disturbing any officials who might arrive. But today it sat empty and quiet, the silence broken only by the soft snip of her shears. The privacy was a welcome change from the watchful eyes that had followed her since her conversation with Madrian. Here, surrounded by the sweet scent of blooming vines and the cool shadows of towering trees, she could almost forget she was a prisoner. Almost.
She reached deep into the branches to clip an errant stem, and her fingers brushed something hard and smooth. Not a twigor leaf. Frowning, she parted the branches and found a small metallic disc nestled in the foliage. It was barely larger than her thumbnail, with a faint blue light pulsing at its center.
Some kind of device? She’d seen similar tech used by the guards to monitor prisoner conversations. Someone must have accidentally dropped it, or hid it here intentionally.
A burst of static made her jump. The device had activated, voices suddenly flowing from it clear as water:
“—showing all the signs. Just like the others.” The voice was female, clipped and cold.
“Are you certain?” A male voice this time. “Madrian has always been loyal.”
“He’s been watching her. Speaking with her. The affliction is taking hold, just as we predicted it would.”
Her heart pounded as she processed the proof that she wasn’t here by accident at all. She knew some powerful people had orchestrated her arrival, using her to test someone. That someone was Madrian.
“Then the experiment worked,” a third voice said. “Bringing the Terian female here proved he’s susceptible.”
“Like all Zaruxians apparently are,” the first voice replied. “They can’t resist Terian mates. We can’t risk Madrian following the same path.”
“We shouldn’t be surprised. These species share an ancient past.” This voice was deeper, weighted with authority. “The connection between their species runs deeper than we understood. We should never have tried testing it.”
“What’s done is done. The question now is how to contain this before we lose Central too. Do we eliminate Madrian?”
“Too risky. He has many supporters. Remove the female instead. Cut out the trigger before the bond fully forms.”
Nena pressed a hand to her mouth, stifling a gasp. They’d brought her here deliberately, to test Madrian. And now they wanted to kill her because it had worked too well.
“The other rebellions started this way,” someone said. “Small interactions. Brief conversations.”
“Then suddenly they’re bonded and turning against us,” the first voice cut in. “The arena, the brothel, and the mines were all lost because we underestimated this connection.”
“The settlements too,” another added. “That overseer was completely loyal until he met the Terian female. Now look what’s happening there.”
Nena’s fingers trembled against the device.The settlements?Was something happening back home?
