“It will be up to you…and those that help you.”
Erin nodded, realization blooming.
“It was you that took the vaccine from Po’grak’s vessel and though the council would rather you remain silent about its existence…they cannot force you to.”
For the first time, Erin shot a small, conspiratorial grin up at him, her heart speeding. “Jaxor’an also killed Po’grak. I saw him.”
Vaxa’an nodded, pleased. “I am certain there are many Luxirians who will rejoice in that fact.”
Erin’s lungs swelled with breath, with hope, her mind racing. They needed a narrative. A strong one. One that would force the council to take notice that the people of the Golden City would fight for Jaxor’s—Jaxor’an’s—freedom.
Would they?
Vaxa’an seemed to believe so. And that was enough for Erin.
“I’ll rally the troops tonight,” she said, setting her sights back on the Golden City, a plan already forming in her mind.
This will work, she thought.
It had to.
Chapter Forty-Seven
It started with a whisper. Just a small, innocent comment made by Erin to a Luxirian female named Bruxilia, who oversaw the Archives in the Golden City. Kate had brought her there the very next morning after her talk with Vaxaan. The night before, Erin had burst inside the dwelling where all the women were gathered and told them of her plan.
And Kate had known the perfect female to set that plan into motion.
Kate adored Bruxilia and Bruxilia adored Kate. The older Luxirian female was grouchy but hilariously blunt. The moment Bruxilia met Erin, she’d told her she needed to eat more and sent for a huge, heaping platter of food.
It had been Erin’s first time in the Golden City, beyond the housing terrace. She tried not to be distracted by the grand Archive building, with its rows and rows of scrolls, but it was difficult. But she was there for Jaxor and Jaxor alone.
During their mealtime, Erin let it slip. They were talking about the battle that had taken place and Bruxilia was especially interested since Kate told her Erin had been there. Bruxilia had questioned her relentlessly, trying to gather every last piece of information, and it was then Erin realized why Kate had brought her to the Archives. Because Bruxilia loved gossip and would spread it far and wide.
“I wonder what the Prime Leader will decide about the Mevirax,” Bruxilia had commented, her eyes shining on Erin, leaning forward ever so slightly.
It was almost too easy.
“Yes, especially since one of their females is pregnant,” Erin said, her tone nonchalant, reaching forward to take a hunk of braised, delicious meat from the platter Bruxilia had ordered.
Bruxilia froze, her eyes widening like saucers. “Rebax?”
Erin could almost sense her racing thoughts. She was already thinking about who she would tell.
Erin frowned. “You didn’t know? But that’s why the battle took place to begin with. To get the vaccine from the Jetutians.”
Bruxilia sputtered, “The—the vaccine? What vaccine?”
Erin blinked. Kate cut in, “Erin, I don’t think Vaxa’an would—”
But Bruxilia had already latched on. “Nix, nix, nix, you tell me right now,” she said, waving a hand at Kate, shushing her as she locked her gaze on Erin. “What vaccine?”
And so, Erin had told her. Everything. While Kate bit her lip, rocking Ollie, feigning discomfort, Erin spilled all the details, making sure to emphasize that it was Jaxor’an who led the Prime Leader and the warriors to the Jetutians, that it was Jaxor’an who discovered the existence of the vaccine, that it was Jaxor’an who killed Po’grak and brought the vaccine to the Prime Leader after the battle. That it was Jaxor’an who’d very likely saved her own life.
Erin also heavily implied that Jaxor’an had been a spy for Vaxa’an—which wasn’t entirely untrue. Jaxor had been planning to steal the vaccine and bring it to his brother, after all, so it fell surprisingly easily off her lips.
Then she took a deep breath, deciding to reveal one more thing. Jaxor had warned against it, but Erin had decided that she was no coward. She wasn’t ashamed that she was Jaxor’s mate, though that was what he might believe.
“And now, I’ve been so stressed about the trial that Privanax fears for the baby’s health,” Erin said. “Jaxor’an and I never even got to perform our ravraxia.”
Their mating ceremony.
“Oh Fates,” Bruxilia said, leaning back against the fire pit cushions where they were sitting in the middle of the Archives. “Oh Fates.”
The older Luxirian female was shaking her head, her eyes wide, stunned. For a moment, she was entirely speechless.
Then she swiveled her head to Kate and asked,