Ovation (Galaxy Circus #9)

Chapter 15

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Xavier

I t is dark when we arrive on Vilax. They only get like seven hours of sunlight a day, which makes it difficult to know what time it is. Saxon informs us it’s late in the afternoon and that our tribunal was scheduled for around six in the evening. Time works differently here, but he says that’s the basic equivalent to Earth time for Lila’s sake.

The receiving room we arrive in is ornate, and Saxon explains it is the palace receiving room. All tribunals are held at the palace as the queen and her council are the only authorities who can dissolve a clan.

We are met by Saxon’s brother, Xenos, which is still slightly jarring, because I look at him and see the mirror image of my husband. He greets us with a small formal bow.

“Well, that’s a lot less enthusiastic than the last time we met,” Lila says dryly. A small frown forms between Saxon’s eyebrows. I feel a pinch of concern from our bloodsucker, and his hearts starts to race. He seems to be surprised by the greeting as well.

“If you could follow me, the queen and council are waiting for you.” He doesn’t wait for an answer before he turns and moves away from the teleport platform. Saxon looks at Lila and gives her hand a squeeze before releasing her. Link and I exchange a concerned glance, but we stay quiet for now. We follow Xenos, Saxon zipping forward to keep pace with his brother. They have a whispered conversation that I can’t hear. Damn Vilaxians, able to talk below a warlock’s hearing register.

“What’s going on?” Lila mutters over her shoulder to Link and me. We remain at her back, guarding her from any kind of rear attack. My power crackles at my fingertips, as I am on high alert for an ambush. Something is not right here. I have visited Saxon at his aunt’s castle in the past, and it is usually full of people bustling back and forth. At this moment, there isn’t even a servant in sight. I purse my lips at Lila’s question.

“I will not speculate, but Xenos has always been a kiss ass to the queen. Don’t get me wrong, she loves them both, and as far as I know, Saxon has an extremely good relationship with her, but when she asked for volunteers to join the circus, Saxon was the one who stepped up. Xenos refused, saying it would be beneath him. It split their clan in two. Maybe Xenos has decided to take Estrella and Radella’s side. If it would benefit him, he would in a heartbeat.”

Lila doesn’t like this information, and she hisses her disapproval of Xenos’s lack of loyalty. “Have I finally found a brother-in-law I’m going to dislike? I knew I couldn’t be so lucky to like all of them.” She stops and raises an eyebrow at me. “Remind me, do you have any siblings? I don’t remember you mentioning any, and neither did your mom or dad.”

I bow gallantly and grin. “Alas, they broke the mold when they made me, and I am my parents only child.”

She rolls her eyes, which seems to be a permanent response when we are conversing. Maybe I should have Link check her for an ailment.

She turns her attention to the good doctor. “And you? Do you have any family you haven’t mentioned yet?”

He shakes his head. “No, only my mother and father, and you already know how unpleasant my mother can be.”

“Mm-hmm,” she agrees. “I need to make a folder to keep everyone straight for birthday and Christmas invites. Yours and Nikos’s mother, as well as Saxon’s brother, will go on the hate list. They only get one chance, and he blew it. I will reserve judgment on the queen of Vilax until I meet her and any other family members you have brought to the table.”

I’m about to remind her that birthdays and Christmas are strictly Earth traditions, but the doctor elbows me, and a whoosh of air escapes my lungs as his elbow digs into my side.

I glare at him. “What the fuck, man?” I snarl, but he nods at Lila, and I notice her eyes glistening as she whirls back to continue forward.

Oh fuck, our wife is upset. Now I’m going to have to kill Saxon’s brother. Fuck, I hope he will forgive me. Things are going to be awfully uncomfortable in the marriage bed if he actively hates me, but then I’ve always enjoyed a violent hate fuck. It makes sex interesting if you don’t know whether you will survive to orgasm or not.

We stay silent, and Saxon and Xenos’s conversation sounds like it gets more aggressive with hissing and snarling, but try as I may, I still can’t make out any actual words. Finally, Saxon throws up his hands and stops keeping pace with his brother, waiting for the three of us to catch up with him. We continue to follow his brother, but at a distance.

“Stay alert. Something is not right, and Xenos wouldn’t tell me what’s going on.” Saxon sounds frustrated, and I can feel how much Lila wants to wrap him in her arms and give him a hug. Our wife is so loving and kind, and I will kill just about anyone to keep her that way.

“I didn’t bring any weapons,” she mutters, sounding annoyed at herself. “I’ve gotten pretty good with my lightning whip, and Tirrian and Silac have been teaching me to throw knives.”

Aww, isn’t that adorable? She wants to go in armed for Saxon. How did we get so lucky? “Never fear, my sweet,” I murmur and release a burst of power, conjuring a beautiful sheath of throwing knives on each of her sexy thighs. My cock hardens at the tantalizing sight of weapons being so close to her tight cunt.

She stumbles and looks down, gasping in surprise. Lila turns back and throws her arms around me. “Thank you,” she says and gives me a fleeting kiss on the lips before turning forward. I puff my chest out with pride, and I hear Link snort and feel his amusement scent the air.

“Don’t be jealous, I haven’t forgotten about you. I give gifts to all my loved ones, my sexy cyborg.” I conjure him a harness holding a crossbow and a dozen bolts.

I wink at his surprise, and he shakes his head. “Are you taking a leaf out of Nikos’s playbook? You sound ridiculous,” he mutters, but he pulls the crossbow out and admires the construction before returning it to the holster.

I keep my power sparking at my fingertips, not needing a physical weapon to do damage, but when I look at Saxon, he’s frowning.

“I’m not sure we should be taking weapons into our tribunal meeting. We will probably be required to remove them, since we will be in front of the queen.”

As we arrive at the door Xenos disappeared through, Saxon frowns. “That’s strange, the throne room always has guards at the door. There should be at least two keeping watch at all times.” He reaches for his sword, pulling it from the scabbard on his back. Lila and Link also arm themselves as I wave a hand, and the doors burst inwards.

The room is dark and silent, and as we step cautiously into it, I hear a rustling of someone’s clothes off to the side and brace myself for an attack.

“It’s an ambush!” I scream and blast fire into the air to light up the room so we can see our attackers.

The lights come on and the crowd of people in the room shout, “Surprise,” just before my magic hits the chandelier in the middle of the ceiling, launching fragments of glass all over and plunging the room back into darkness.

The silence is even more deafening than before.

“What the actual fuck is happening here? Are we being attacked?” Lila’s voice is loud, echoing through the throne room.

We hear someone clear their throat awkwardly. “Ah, not exactly.”

A small spark lights up somewhere down the back, and someone lights a candle. Whoever holds the candle walks toward us. I decide to help out with the lights, since I had a hand in destroying the chandelier, and throw some light balls into the ceiling, illuminating a gathered crowd dressed in their finery. The person holding the candle comes into view. It is Sabine, the Vilaxian queen, with her blood rose, Aleister, and their twin daughters, Mehira and Musette.

“Nephew, I apologize for startling you and your companions. We wanted to celebrate your joining.” She looks from Saxon to Lila and smiles. “So we took the liberty of researching Earth customs in honor of your blood rose. Maybe we made a mistake.”

Saxon just gapes at his aunt, but a smile spreads across Lila’s lips, and I can feel how much she likes what she just heard. Oh, the queen just earned some major brownie points. I bet she went to the top of Lila’s like list.

“What?” Saxon stammers like he doesn’t understand what she’s saying.

“A surprise party. That was the idea. A celebration of your blood rose binding,” she says slowly like she’s explaining to someone who is learning impaired. She looks at her husband. “Did we damage him when we yelled ‘surprise?’ Do you think he needs medical help?”

Lila clears her throat and steps forward, curtsying to the queen like she had been instructed. It’s low and fluid, as if she’s been doing it all her life. “Your Majesty, a surprise party was a lovely thought, and both Saxon and I appreciate it. I apologize for our overenthusiastic warlock.” She turns and glares in my direction, and I wince. “I think he thought we were about to be attacked. Saxon may also be a little surprised and confused because we were told we were coming here for a tribunal, and that the clan dissolution was being challenged.”

The queen’s eyes glimmer with understanding, and she nods before waving a hand and huffing. “Utterly ridiculous and a waste of our time. We denied their claim before it could even be lodged. Both girls were instructed to find new clans or go alone like some of our people choose to do.”

“But why all the secrecy? I haven’t been able to reach any of you for weeks. I thought you were all dodging my calls,” Saxon asks, looking at his family. His brother is still nowhere to be seen. I scan the crowd, looking for him, and spy him skulking in the back. I recognize the people he is with—Hale and Velorina, as well as his own clan members, Kavita and Dante. Velorina and Kavita are all snuggled together, looking loved up, with the men hanging out behind them. My eyes meet Xenos’s, and I glare at him. I know why he’s avoiding his brother now, but I think he is going to be disappointed that Saxon has no fucks to give about him snapping up his former clan members. Magenta is going to be sad, though, and Lila is going to be pissed. It’s probably good that he’s on the other side of the throne room.

Aleister chuckles and nods. “We were. You know how bad everyone is at keeping secrets. Sabine threatened anyone who spilled the beans about the surprise with new recruit training for the first semester at the military college. You know how painful that is. None of us were willing to break it, so it was easier to avoid your calls.”

“So no tribunal?” Saxon asks, looking around.

“No, silly, just a fun party for you and your blood rose.” Mehira waves her hand around the room. “We have so much fun planned.” The twins are younger versions of their mother. Actually, because they stop aging once they reach their majority, the three of them could pass as triplets if not for the wealth of experience in Sabine’s eyes.

“If Prince Xavier could maybe fix the damage he caused, then we can get the fun started,” Musette says dryly. I wince and wave a hand. The damaged chandelier reforms and casts a bright glow across the room once more. We can see decorations and tables set for dining, as well as a great big “Just Married” sign spread across the room.

I bow to the queen with a flourish. “My apologies, Your Majesty. I was just trying to protect my loved ones.” Link follows suit, while Saxon gives his aunt a kiss on each cheek before hugging his uncle.

Sabine narrows her eyes, looking at me thoughtfully before turning her gaze to my wife. “Yes, I can understand that, but from what I hear, your wife is perfectly capable of taking care of herself. Come, Lila, let us take a seat. Our guests are dying to meet you. My nephew can introduce you as they take turns making excuses to visit the head table.”

“It would be my pleasure, Your Majesty.” Lila inclines her head gracefully, and Sabine tucks her hand into Lila’s elbow and shakes her head.

“None of that ‘Your Majesty’ nonsense. You may call me Auntie Sabby. That goes for both of you as well,” she instructs Link and me. She leads Lila ahead of us. Link and I offer Musette and Mehira our arms to escort them, as Aleister and Saxon follow closely behind.

“Good job on the chandelier. Pity it wasn’t permanent,” Musette whispers in my ear. “We hate that thing, but Mom thinks it’s elegant.”

I look up and wrinkle my nose at the gaudy monstrosity. “I can arrange for it to have another accident if you want,” I offer, and she squeezes my arm.

“You were always my favorite friend of Saxon’s.”

We both know she means lover. We never hid our relationship from either of our families, and we spent a number of delightful breaks from the circus holidaying here or on Westalin. Our families are great friends in private. In public, we pretend to be more distant so other nations don’t worry we will gang up on them and take over the galaxy, although my parents, Sabine, and Aleister often joke about it when they have a few too many drinks.

My gaze catches on Xenos again, who is staying back. “What is going on with that asshole?”

She follows my gaze and purses her lips in disapproval. “Just his usual duplicitous behavior, trying to one-up his brother.” She huffs. “I don’t know what his problem is, but the minute Hale and Velorina returned, the three of them wooed them like you have never seen anyone being wooed before. They are joining his clan. Last I heard, they were courting Radella and Estrella as well.”

“They aren’t!” I gasp, unable to hide my shock. “That will hurt Saxon more than anything else he has done in the past. They actively tried to hurt Lila when they released him from sedation. They hoped he would kill her.”

She nods. “Yes, he doesn’t realize it, but he has gone too far. He has lost Mother’s good graces. First, by refusing to join the circus when she requested him to, and now this. She had to threaten him to get him to cover for Saxon when he was incapacitated. She said she would remove his titles and estate.”

“Seriously?” I can’t believe what I’m hearing. They have never been super close, but Saxon always hoped Xenos would lose his jealousy as he got older and more mature. I guess that still hasn’t happened. When Lila hears of what he has done, he will be shit out of luck, even if he changes his ways. Lila, like me, is a champion grudge holder. Xenos will never wiggle his way back into her good graces, and I bet the minute he hears that Lila is now in charge of the circus, he will try to suck up to her. It’s a super important position in the galaxy, and while not royal, the reach of her title is quite significant—not to mention she is the granddaughter of the goddess of life and the future goddess of death, supreme leader of the Vilaxians.

I smirk at the thought, and Musette squeezes my arm. “What do you know?” she asks.

“Ah, my dear Musette. Watching Xenos scramble to get back in his brother’s good graces is going to be amusing. That is all I am willing to say,” I tell her as we take a seat at the head table, and I lean back to enjoy the festivities.