Page 22 of Second

Jo’Nay’s lip curled into a sneer. “You ate the apples, too. Now you call it dishonorable? That is purevexxingbluffie kibl. You cling to a code that uses you, drains you, and discards youwhen it has done. And for what? So that the Vettian council can sit safely on their thrones while we burn ourselves out?”

“You think this is about them?” Zar’Ryn’s composure cracked, his voice rising to match First’s fury. “It is about discipline, about unity. Without the code, we are nothing but individuals, weak and aimless. You have already proven that by defying it.”

Jo’Nay stepped even closer, their faces mere inches apart now. “And you have proven that blind obedience makes you a puppet. You are so consumed by loyalty to a cause you don’t even question that you have forgotten how to live.”

The words struck like a blow, and for a moment, Zar’Ryn’s expression faltered, his jaw tightening as if to keep something buried. But the fire in his eyes returned just as quickly, fueled by the heat of his brother’s accusations.

“You are wrong,” he disputed. “I have not forgotten how to live. Ihave chosen to live with honor. Something you no longer understand.”

Jo’Nay barked a bitter laugh, his tone mocking. “Honor? Is that what you call this? Or is it just fear—fear of what happens if you let yourself be more than a weapon?”

The words hung in the air, sharp and cutting, and in that moment, the space between them felt suffocating. The argument teetered on the edge of something more, the anger and unresolved pain threatening to explode.

Zar’Ryn’s control began to slip, his frustration boiling over. Jo’Nay stepped closer, his jaw set with defiance, and he reacted without thought.

His fist connected with Jo’Nay’s jaw, the impact echoing through the sterile space. His First staggered but didn’t fall.Instead, he retaliated, his punch landing squarely against Zar’Ryn’sribs.

“Stop this!” Elara shouted, her voice cutting through the chaos, but neither heededher.

The room seemed to shrink as the two warriors clashed, their movements fierce and unrelenting. Each strike carried the weight of unspoken grievances, their conflict more than physical. It was a battle for identity, for the future, for what it meant to be an Intergalactic Warrior.

Tor’Vek remained still, his gaze unreadable as he watched the fight. Elara and Winn moved to the edges of the room, their emotions a palpable mix of fear and frustration.

Zar’Ryn felt the bond with Elara vibrate with intensity, her distress cutting through his focus like a blade. He didn’t want to stop. As the fiercest of his six brothers, the warrior capable of winning any battle, he desperately wanted to win this one. But Elara’s silent plea stilled him, forcing him to drop his fists.

He rocked back beneath a final hit from Jo’Nay, refusing to retaliate. The two men stepped apart, the breath heaving in their lungs.

Tor’Vek moved forward. “Shall we discuss why we are all here?” he asked. “Or would the two of you prefer to continue your physical altercation?”

Chapter 9

THE TENSIONin the room hung as heavy as the silence. Elara stood near the doorway, her arms wrapped tightly around herself as she watched Jo’Nay and his Second glare at each other from across the room. First’s lip was swollen and bleeding, and Zar’Ryn’s fists were still clenched, his knuckles raw from their fight. Neither of them spoke, the air between them thick with unspoken words and lingering anger.

Elara shifted uncomfortably, the bond between her and Zar’Ryn buzzing faintly with his frustration and guilt. She wanted to step in, to say something that would defuse the tension, but the intensity of their emotions kept her rooted in place.

It was Jo’Nay who finally broke the silence. “You hit like a desperate man,” he said, his voice low but cutting. He wiped the blood from his lip with the back of his hand, his dark eyes locked on his Second.

Zar’Ryn’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t respond right away. Instead, he took a slow, measured breath, his gaze dropping to the floor. “I did not want to fight you,” he said finally, his voice rough. “But you did not leave me much choice.”

Jo’Nay snorted, abitter smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. “Because you are too stubborn to listen. Too caught up in your precious duty to see what is right in front of you.”

Zar’Ryn’s head snapped up, his violet eyes flashing. “And what exactly am I supposed to see, brother? That you have broken your oath? That you are chasing some dream of freedom that does not exist?”

“That is exactly what I am chasing,” Jo’Nay shot back, stepping closer. “And I will keep chasing it until I find it. You can stay here, chained to the code they forced on us, but do not expect me to do the same.”

Elara’s chest tightened as the bond surged with Zar’Ryn’s conflicted emotions—anger, shame, and a deep, painful longing. She could feel how much Jo’Nay’s words cut him, but she could also feel the steel core of his resolve. He wasn’t ready to let go of the principles that had defined his life for centuries. Winn exchanged a glance with her, her gaze reflecting similar thoughts.

“I cannot just abandon everything,” Zar’Ryn said quietly, his voice almost a whisper. “The code… it is all I have ever known.”

Jo’Nay’s expression softened, some of the fire in his gaze fading. “I am not asking you to abandon it,” he said. “I am asking you to question it. To think about what it has cost you. What it is still costing you.”

Zar’Ryn’s shoulders sagged slightly, the weight of Jo’Nay’s words settling heavily on him. For a long moment, he didn’tspeak, his gaze distant as though he were turning Jo’Nay’s argument over in hismind.

Finally, he looked up, meeting his First’s gaze. “I cannot promise I will ever see things the way you do,” he said, his tone measured. “But I can promise to think about it. To try.”

Jo’Nay studied him for a moment before nodding. “That is all I am asking.”

The room fell into a calmer silence, the tension easing slightly. Elara let out a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding, her grip on her arms loosening. She stepped forward tentatively, her voice soft. “You’re both bleeding,” she said, her gaze shifting between them. “Maybe it’s time to patch things up?”

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