Page 54 of Xeda

She was tempted to decline, but after what Xeda had done, she needed to do some damage control. She told the woman she'd be there, then she went to her room to wash and change.

Before she'd left, she had found Xeda's room still empty, imagining he was still on the balcony somewhere. She left him a recording on the ISpad telling him where she was going, then forced herself out of the room, up to Sal's apartment.

When she’d gotten back that night, it was late, and she was exhausted both mentally and physically. She'd gone to bed assuming Xeda had too, worried about facing another day of uncertainty.

That morning she had felt uneasy still. Xeda had hardly said a word as she brought him down to the training field for them all to watch. She knew he was losing patience. But the more she watched him now, the more she could see how distracted he was. Struggling to focus on his fight. Just like the day before, he seemed agitated but also unable or unwilling to acknowledge those he fought. And every once in a while, though she might be imagining it, she thought she caught him wincing in pain. He never mentioned being hurt. His wounds from the first game were already healing over. Then she wondered if it was something within. That he had an internal injury that for some reason he wouldn't tell her about.

That got her scared. If something wasn't right in his system and his organs failed him, death was certain. She had to know right away what was wrong. Maybe that explained his odd behavior. Maybe he wasn't thinking straight from whatever pain he might be in. She looked toward one of the wardens talking with the trainer from House Myre. She could have them call on one of their doctors to examine Xeda after his practice. Xeda might not like it, but they had to be sure. She would have to make him understand.

"Xeda doesn't look too interested in his fight," said Zachary, coming up beside her.

She didn't want to say anything in front of him that might give Xeda away, but she couldn't be too cold either or Zachary might suspect something was wrong. She'd exchanged niceties with him yesterday in an attempt to still show she wasn't threatened by him or Kaxek but she was willing to be cordial. It was the game she was forced to play.

"He's just impatient to start the next round. And possibly the final one."

"Here's hoping," Zarchary said, fixing her with a smile. "The games can be tedious. Yesterday was especially aggravating."

She smirked. "He had a bad moment, that was all. But he plans on keeping his focus on what's important from here on out."

Zachary nodded. "What's important..." he repeated. "Yes, the games are pretty serious. But, just curious, do you think maybe there's something else that could be distracting him from that fact?"

She looked over at him suspiciously. She remembered how Kaxek had confronted Xeda yesterday. Had Xeda said something to him?

"What do you know?" she asked bluntly.

Zachary glanced at her, then shrugged. "Kaxek wants to fight Xeda at his best, we both know this. But we also know Xeda isn't at his best nor will he be if he doesn't get his focus back into the game."

She studied him sharply. "Kaxek knows what's wrong, doesn't he?"

"Yes," Zachary said.

She looked at him waiting for an answer, or to tell her what he wanted in return for the information. He glanced at her again, and his smile widened. "Don't worry," he said. "I'm telling you with no strings attached. As I said, Kaxek wants Xeda's focus on him and only him. He doesn't like sharing others’ attention. He's strange like that." Ophilia’s brow furrowed. As he faced her, he looked around again to make sure no one was close, listening. "You fighter is distracted because he's in heat."

Ophilia stared at him as if he had just told her he could fly or breathe fire. Then his words really set in. Her eyes widened at the realization.

Heat rose up her neck and face. She turned back to the glass, clearing her throat. "That's—a problem," she said, her voice cracking slightly, a little too stunned to help it. She didn't even know vrisha could go into heat. Then again, the little research she'd found on them hadn't mentioned anything about it. Which meant it might not be a common thing.

"In this situation, I'd say so," he replied. "Xeda can't fight if all he wants to do is fuck."

Zachary's bluntness almost put her out. She choked down her stupid schoolgirl laugh and forced herself to be serious. "Right, yes, that...that makes sense."

"Thankfully, we have a solution," he said, not missing a beat. "Tonight you know we are having a finalists’ party in anticipation of the second game. Just another excuse for everyone to get drunk and high on drops again, but it's a perfect time for Xeda to hopefully take out all his pent up needs. I have several female otherkin that would be happy to do the job and can arrange for them to meet in a private suite."

Ophilia rubbed at her temples, hoping Zachary didn't see how flushed she looked. This was all so sudden, she was still in shock from even learning about Xeda's problem. "You're really sure this is what's wrong? Maybe Kaxek got the wrong idea..."

Zachary shook his head. "Afraid not. The vrisha have a way of understanding each other, unlike we do. He was certain."

Ophilia's eyes drifted down to Xeda, who was now sparring with a grex. A sudden sinking feeling made her stomach twist, her throat tighten. At first, she felt angry. How could he not tell her? Then she felt sorry for being upset. It was his business, and it was personal. He likely didn't feel comfortable telling her, and she shouldn't be mad at that.

The sudden thought of him with another also crossed her mind. She searched her feelings and found that...she didn't like that either. Even though she had no right to keep him from another. He was not hers. Not like that. If he chose to be with another, what right did she have to stop him?

"We have no female vrisha. He may not take to another kind..." she said.

Zachary waved the idea away. "Kaxek has been with plenty of otherkin without issue. Surely with Xeda's heat, it is only a matter of having the choice over none at all."

Damn if she could argue with that. If his heat drove him to act as he had, then he might be thankful for anyone at all.Of course, as long as they aren't human, a little voice said at the back of her head.

"Shall I make the arrangements?" Zachary asked.

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