Chapter 205: Chapter 205: Preparing for the queen

The door to Professor Jade’s office hissed shut, sealing away the heavy, charged atmosphere of the detention that wasn’t really a detention.

Zaeryn leaned against the cool metal wall of the corridor for a second, letting out a long, shaky breath. His heart was still hammering a frantic rhythm against his ribs. That had been... close. Dangerous. And undeniably hot.

He ran a hand through his hair, trying to tame the mess Jade’s fingers had made, and quickly adjusted his collar. The scent of her crisp paper and that intoxicating perfume still clung to him. He could still feel the phantom pressure of her legs wrapped around his waist.

’Okay, get it together,’ he told himself. If he walked out looking like he’d just been ravaged, the rumors would be uncontrollable by lunch.

He smoothed down the front of his uniform, checking his reflection in a dark wall panel to make sure he didn’t look out of place. Once satisfied he looked merely "disciplined" rather than "satisfied," he pushed off the wall and turned to head down the hall.

He didn’t get far.

Rounding the corner from a connecting corridor were Yuna and Morticia. They stopped the moment they spotted him.

"There you are," Morticia said, her analytical eyes scanning him with evident curiosity. "You were in there for a while. Did she... was it bad?"

"No, it wasn’t that bad," Zaeryn said, flashing them a reassuring, if slightly crooked, grin. "We just had a... spirited discussion about academic discipline. She thinks skipping class on the second day wasn’t my brightest moment."

Yuna let out a breath, looking relieved. "It’s good to know you’re not in trouble. Professor Jade can be a bit of a...." She paused, her politeness warring with the truth.

"A pain in the ass?" Morticia finished for her, her voice dry.

Yuna looked scandalized. "N-no! I mean... she can be a bit exacting. But not a...."

"From the handful of interactions I’ve had with her, I can admit ’pain in the ass’ covers it," Zaeryn agreed smoothly, falling into step between them as they began to walk toward the lecture halls. "But this time she just wanted to let me know that she is very... passionate about her curriculum." He smirked, the double meaning known only to him. "She wanted to make sure I understood the gravity of my absence."

"Passionate," Morticia murmured, the word carrying a dry amusement as she side-eyed him. "That’s one word for her. Usually, people leave her office looking terrified. You look... fine."

Zaeryn chuckled. "I told you, I’m built differently."

Yuna sighed softly, clearly just happy he wasn’t packing his bags. "I’m just glad you’re okay. Missing classes on your second day isn’t a great look, Zaeryn. Even for you."

"I know, I know. I’ll be a model student from now on," he lied effortlessly, bumping his shoulder gently against hers. "I’ll do it for you, Yuna."

Yuna blushed instantly, ducking her head slightly.

They continued walking, merging with the stream of students heading toward the next class. Zaeryn kept his expression easy, but his mind was already racing ahead, calculating his next move with Jade.

Part 2: The Capital

Miles away, in the heart of the Capital Sector, a sleek mag-lev lift hissed open.

Sage Stellan stepped out into a sprawling penthouse suite bathed in the pristine, artificial twilight that seemed to cover the entire city.

"And this," Tahlia, the protocol officer with a smile so practiced it looked painful, gestured to the open space, "is the main living area. The Queendom has furnished it according to the standard for high-clearance Aegis personnel."

Sage scanned the room. It was impressive, she had to admit. Floor-to-ceiling smart-glass offered a panoramic view of the royal city’s glittering spires. The furniture looked like it had been sculpted from clouds and starlight expensive, sterile, and quiet.

"But of course," Tahlia continued smoothly, "if the aesthetic doesn’t suit your tastes, simply log a request. We can have the entire layout reconfigured within the hour.

The climate control is voice-activated, and the security grid is linked directly to the Palace Guard."

Sage nodded, following Tahlia as she breezed toward the kitchen. It was definitely a step up from her chaotic lab back in Sector 7. Her mother, Cassia, had money, Stellan Innovations practically owned the bio-tech market, so Sage wasn’t a stranger to luxury. But this felt different. This wasn’t corporate wealth; this was royal hospitality. It felt curated. Heavy.

They did a quick loop of the bedroom (massive) and the bathroom (which had a tub big enough to swim laps in), before ending up back at the entrance.

"The apartment is great, Tahlia," Sage said, cutting through the officer’s spiel about the automated lighting. "But I didn’t come here for the interior design. When do I meet the rest of the team? And more importantly, when do I get access to the labs? I have data I need to migrate before we start the integration process."

Tahlia checked her wrist-comp, her expression smoothing into professional deference. "Soon, Doctor. Your biometric clearance is still being finalized in the central system. For now, you’re encouraged to settle in and rest. The transition to the Capital can be... adjusting."

Sage stifled a sigh. She hated waiting.

"However," Tahlia added, straightening her posture, "you won’t be waiting long. Princess Athea has requested to brief you personally regarding the Aegis Division’s immediate priorities. She’ll be contacting you shortly."

Sage kept her face perfectly neutral, engaging the poker face she usually reserved for board meetings with her mother. "Understood. Thank you."

"Welcome to the Capital, Dr. Stellan."

As the door clicked shut and the heavy mag-locks engaged, the professional mask dropped. Sage let out a long breath, puffing her cheeks out, and sank onto the expensive sofa.

Princess Athea.

The name hit differently now. A week ago, Athea was just the terrifyingly competent royal who made generals nervous. She was the Strategos, the woman who moved fleets like chess pieces.

Now?

Sage closed her eyes, rubbing her temples. The image of Zaeryn’s face when he’d dropped the bomb on her in her office replayed in her mind.

’Ysmeine isn’t actually my real parent. My mother is Princess Athea.’ She still had trouble wrapping her brain around the physics of it. Zaeryn, her chaotic, charming, impossible boyfriend who defied every biological rule in the book, was a prince. A secret son born to a lineage that forbade male heirs, hidden away for eighteen years to keep him from being erased.

She opened her eyes and looked around the room again. This was Athea’s turf.

This apartment, this city, this entire sector it all belonged to the woman who had birthed Zaeryn and then left him in the dark to save his life.

It was a lot to process. Sage was about to take orders from her boyfriend’s secret mother, a woman who had prioritized the crown over her child, yet had somehow orchestrated his safety from the shadows.

A fierce, protective spark lit up Sage’s violet eyes. She thought of Zaeryn back in Sector 7, probably charming his way through another crisis or accidentally seducing another classmate. He was vulnerable, a "political singularity" as she’d called him.

"Talk about a complicated family tree," she muttered to herself.

She turned away from the view and unzipped her bag, pulling out a portable data-slate and a few personal items. She set a framed photo of her and Zaeryn on the side table one she’d taken when he wasn’t looking, him laughing at something stupid she’d said.

She looked at his face, then back at the door where the Princess would soon walk through. She needed to be sharp. She needed to be perfect. Not just because she was a scientist with a job to do, but because she was now holding one of the most dangerous secrets in the Queendom.

"Alright, Sage," she whispered, smoothing down her dress. "Time to meet the mother-in-law."