Page 143 of Stars in Halo

Xion plucked another grape from the bowl, unperturbed. ‘Perhaps you’re in need of an update. The Noble Houses of Iccythria have, under the guidance of Khosana DKRT, your niece, unilaterally voted to strip you of all privileges, including immunity. Don’t fret, Your Highness. We Edenites are very fair and equitable, as you’ll come to perceive, and we promise to review any immunity deals you claim to have.’

‘Us Iccythrians, not so much,’ Duke smirked.

Xion paused, his eyes icing over as he sliced them to the unfortunate King that Duke was now placing into plex steel cuffs. ‘One thing Duke and I are clear on is that we do not take kindly to betrayal, manipulation, and, most of all, kidnapping the innocent to advance one’s greed.’

‘I had a throne to protect,’ K’Sumi growled.

‘Ah, but here’s the kicker, Your Highness,’ Xion drawled. ‘All your avarice and corruption did was decrease your chances of a lifelong monarchy. Seems no amount of shitting on the innocent protected you from your stupidity.’

Duke leaned to the side as he tightened the restraints around his relative’s chubby hands.

The Iccythrian fixer’s expression was enigmatic, one bejewelled eyebrow raised as his uncle’s facade crumbled before him. ‘It’s over, Uncle. Your reign of barefaced tyranny and entitled weak-assery, a volcanic storm of fabrications, and the greedy panhandling hustling ends here. Your downfall will warn any Iccythrian who dares to cross the line and use his power to wield corruption and greed.’

‘What’s your role in all this?’ K’Sumi growled at his nephew.

Duke gave the fallen King a smirk and a wink.

K’Sumi cocked his head, and then his eyes flew open. ‘Fokk, Sonaya, I played right into her hands.’

Duke grinned. ‘She always has had the highest odds for an unbeatable royal flush.’

Epilogue

With K’Sumi Hinata Alamaq of Iccythria in custody and the Black Claw gang and the D’Hanna brothers enjoying the hospitality of Deathreach Maximum Prison, Xion returned to Eden with Katya.

When it was all said and done, she handed the Serpent’s Iris back to the Rhesian authorities.

She was surprised to receive a hefty amount for the return, as its original owner, the King of Rhesia, had set up a handsome reward for it.

She used the money to redesign her life.

First, she sold all her holdings in Iccythria, lock, stock and barrel.

With her bank balance now healthy, she relocated her adopted kids, one bio-daughter, two carers and her mother to Eden II.

Xion flew them from Iccythria onboard the Sable Group’s lead frigate, Notus I, to their new home.

The D’Landra family, the formal surname Katya chose as her and her children’s, arrived to a warm Sable kindred welcome.

At first, the Sable Riders put them in a sumptuous apartment in the Sable HQ building.

Later, Katya chose a stunning three-level, twelve-bedroom duplex in the same complex for her mother, two carers, and adoptees. The family was thrilled at the beautiful scenery and settings.

Katya and Kaaia, however, settled into Xion’s suit, which was a floor above with direct private lift access to the townhouse.

The children’s transition to their new life on the rock was smoother than Katya could have ever imagined.

They made friends with their classmates in their new schools and neighbourhood as Katya focused on setting up a fresh life for them.

Once established on the rock, she began to indulge her love for creating silk art.

Xion created a studio for her on the rooftop of Sable HQ.

It was a perfect space, containing a pool, a play area, and a gym.

It soon became a beloved hangout for her kids, where she created her designs and kept an eye on them.

Her first design installation piece used bright gradients of suspended filament thread, strands of silver, and multi-hued ribbons to fashion a giant, ethereal, halo-shaped floating star.

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