38.

I ignored his jab, crossing my arms as I stood before him. “If you had a child with a human,” I began, my voice sharper than I intended, “what would you do?”

That got his attention. He leaned back in his chair, his electric blue eyes narrowing as he studied me. “What kind of question is that?”

“Answer me,” I demanded, holding his gaze. “What would you do?”

Ace’s jaw tightened, and for a moment, I thought he might dismiss me again. But then he sighed, his shoulders relaxing ever so slightly.

“If the child were...mine,” he said slowly, “and they were like me—an alien—they would eventually have to return to Xalaria. That is their destiny.”

The name struck me like a blow. Xalaria. The mysterious, distant planet he had rarely spoken of. I knew it was his home, but to hear him speak of it so matter-of-factly left me reeling.

“Why?” I pressed, taking a step closer. “Why would they have to go there?”

Ace stood, towering over me, his presence as commanding as ever. “Because, Zephyr,” he said, his voice cold and deliberate, “Xalaria is my home, and one day, I will return there to claim my rightful place as king. If the child carries my blood, they would be part of that legacy.”

I stared at him, my heart pounding. A king? The pieces of Ace’s cold, controlled demeanor suddenly fell into place. His rigid sense of duty, his detachment—it all made sense now. But his words only fueled my anger.

“And if the child isn’t an alien?” I asked, my voice trembling with barely restrained fury. “What then?”

Ace’s gaze didn’t waver. “Then they would be of no use to me.”

The room fell silent. His words hung in the air like a dagger poised to strike. I felt the breath leave my lungs, a mixture of disbelief and rage washing over me.

“No use to you?” I repeated, my voice rising. “You’re telling me you’d just abandon them? They’re your child, Ace. How can you be so heartless?”

He tilted his head, his expression as cold and unfeeling as ever. “Pragmatism, Zephyr. Xalaria demands strength and lineage. A human child would not survive there, nor would they serve any purpose in my world.”

I stepped back, my hands shaking as I clenched them into fists. “You’re unbelievable,” I spat. “You’re the most heartless creature I’ve ever met. How can you talk about your own blood like that—as if they’re nothing more than a tool for your plans?”

Ace’s eyes narrowed, but he didn’t respond. His silence was louder than any words he could have said. I turned on my heel, heading for the door, my heart pounding with rage and pain.

“Zephyr,” he called after me, his tone unreadable. “What are you not telling me?”

I paused, my hand hovering over the panel to open the door. For a moment, I considered telling him—about Liam, about the boy who had his piercing blue eyes and far too much curiosity for his own good. But then his words echoed in my mind: “No use to me.”

I pressed the panel, the door sliding open with a soft hiss. Without looking back, I stepped into the corridor, my chest tight with unspoken words. He didn’t deserve to know about Liam—not now, maybe not ever.

As I walked away, I whispered to myself, “He doesn’t deserve either of us.”

The hallway felt narrower than ever, its dim lights casting long shadows that seemed to close in around me. My breaths came in shallow gasps, each step heavier than the last. My mind replayed Ace’s cold, detached words: “No use to me.”

I almost didn’t notice Xander standing at the corner, leaning casually against the wall, a flask in his hand. He looked up, startled, as I stumbled into view. His sharp green eyes widened, the usual mischief absent from his expression.

“Zeph?” he called out, straightening up. “You okay?”

I shook my head, blinking rapidly to hold back the tears that threatened to spill. “How much have you had?” I croaked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Xander hesitated, glancing at the flask before slipping it into his pocket. “Everything,” he admitted, stepping closer. “But that’s not important. You shouldn’t have to suffer like this.”

His words broke something inside me. Tears sprang to my eyes, and my chest tightened as I stumbled, leaning against the wall for support. “I don’t know,” I gasped, my voice cracking. “I don’t know why my fate keeps playing games with me.”

“Zeph,” Xander said softly, reaching out to steady me. His hands were firm but gentle, his touch grounding. “Look at me. You’re not alone in this, okay? I’m here.”

“I can’t,” I whispered, shaking my head. “I can’t do this. It’s too much. Liam, the ship, Ace... everything feels like it’s crumbling around me.”

Xander’s expression darkened at Ace’s name. “That bastard,” he muttered under his breath. “You don’t deserve this, Zeph. None of it.”

I pressed a trembling hand to my face, trying to stifle a sob, but it escaped anyway, raw and aching. “He said... he said if the child wasn’t like him, they’d be useless. How can someone say that? How can he be so... heartless?”

Xander’s jaw tightened, his usually easygoing demeanor replaced by something fiercer. “He’s wrong,” he said firmly, his voice low but steady. “He’s so damn wrong, Zephyr. You and Liam are worth more than he’ll ever understand.”

I let out a shaky breath, my legs threatening to give way beneath me. Xander caught me before I could fall, his arms wrapping around me protectively. “It’s okay,” he murmured. “I’ve got you. Let it out.”

I clung to him, my tears soaking into his shirt as he held me close. “I’m so tired, Xander,” I whispered, my voice muffled against his chest. “Tired of fighting, tired of pretending I’m strong enough to handle all of this.”

“You are strong,” Xander insisted, pulling back just enough to look me in the eyes. “Stronger than anyone I know. But even the strongest people need someone to lean on sometimes. Let me be that someone, Zeph.”

I shook my head, my tears blurring his face. “You shouldn’t have to deal with my mess.”

Xander let out a short laugh, though there was no humor in it. “You think I care about that? You think I’m just gonna stand by and watch you break? Not happening, Zephyr. Not while I’m here.”

His words struck something deep inside me, a fragile place I’d tried to shield for so long. I buried my face in his chest again, my fingers clutching at his shirt as if he were the only solid thing in a world that was spinning out of control.

“I don’t know what I’d do without you,” I murmured, my voice barely audible.

“You’ll never have to find out,” Xander replied, his voice steady and unwavering. “I promise you that.”

For the first time in what felt like forever, the tightness in my chest eased just a little. Xander’s arms around me felt like a lifeline, a reminder that I wasn’t completely alone in this storm.

“Thank you,” I whispered, my voice breaking.

“You don’t have to thank me, Zeph,” he said, his voice soft now. “Just... let me be here for you. Always.”

I nodded against his chest, the weight of his words sinking into my heart. For now, in this moment, his comfort was enough.