Page 11 of The Sovereign: Part One
Lourdes glanced at me.“It wasn’t the plan.But once the campaign ended, and the expectations with it, we just… kept finding excuses.”
Bellam leaned back, smiling.“So, The Citadel stage-managed your meet-cute?How very on brand.”
Lourdes huffed in amusement.“The beauty of being underestimated in our youth is that no one bothers to interfere.”
A frown pulled down the corners of Bellam’s lips, though her brows arched slightly, the universal sign forfair point.
“Now then,” Lourdes said, her voice light but edged with interest, “that speech you gave at the Enclave event?My papa said Chiron is still quoting it.”
I felt my cheeks warm under the praise.“I didn’t expect it to gain so much attention.”
“That’s because you don’t realize the power you hold,” Lourdes said, studying me carefully.“You have always been different, Isara.You see things in ways others don’t, and you spoke about the Veritas Protocol with the kind of conviction Sovereign want to believe in.”
Bellam leaned in.“Chiron and Artemis requested a meeting.”
Lourdes’s expression didn’t shift, but I knew her well enough to catch the glint of intrigue in her gaze.“That is quite an opportunity.What do you make of it?”
I hesitated before answering.“You already know what I think.It’s not just a meeting.They’re watching me now.”
Lourdes sipped her drink thoughtfully, then set it on the table before her.“Good.That means they’re acknowledging you’re playing the game at their level.”
“I can think of nothing worse than being under Chiron’s eye,” I said, sighing.
“You’re so conspiratorial,” Lourdes said, amused.“It’s promising, I assure you.”
The conversation drifted naturally to catching up, our parents, grandparents, and siblings, but mostly aboutBeyond The Vale, a gripping adventure novel taking the whole of Hyperion Proper by storm, detailing the survival of a group of explorers who discover a derelict city beyond the known boundaries.Eventually, as I knew it would, Lourdes displayed her natural ability to make Bellam feel like the most important person at the table.She leaned in, asking about Bellam’s work at The Dominion with genuine fascination, drawing her into detailed accounts of her projects and aspirations.Bellam, caught off guard at first, soon found herself speaking with the ease of someone who had been interviewed by the press a dozen times.I watched as Lourdes navigated the conversation with equal parts elegance and genuine interest, the way she always did, making everyone in her presence feel like the center of the universe.It was a skill, one she had perfected as a Vasthane, a true socialite in every sense of the word.
Lourdes, ever the gracious hostess, smoothly transitioned the conversation from Bellam’s upcoming Veritas year to my own final result—Maxim.Her questions were uncomplicated yet precise, drawing out my thoughts on the process, my expectations, and how I felt now that my Supplicant was nearly a reality.She nodded thoughtfully as I spoke, occasionally interjecting with insights that made me feel as if she had been studying the process herself.
Then she turned her attention fully to Bellam.“And you?I’m eager to hear which part of the Veritas year intrigues you most.What discovery of yourself do you hope it delivers?”
Bellam blinked, startled to find herself under the full weight of Lourdes’s attention.“Oh… well.”She gave a soft laugh, stalling for breath.“I suppose I’m hoping to find someone who truly sees me.Someone who challenges me yet feels like home.An accordant with devotion you only read about in old-world novels, someone who’d sacrifice everything just to spend an hour in my company.”She faltered then, clearing her throat, as if realizing too late she’d been artfully maneuvered into laying her soul bare.
“That’s beautiful,” Lourdes mused, nearly wistful.“It’s exactly what I hoped you’d say, but you managed to word it exquisitely.And do you have any particular qualities you’re prioritizing?Something non-negotiable?”
Bellam smiled, clearly enjoying the conversation.“I suppose that’s where Veritas comes in… to ensure we get the balance right.”
“Exactly,” Lourdes said with a knowing grin.She had a way of making every conversation feel like a private therapy session and intimate interview rolled into one, as if we were unraveling the secrets of the universe rather than discussing our personal futures.It was a true gift, one I had always admired.
Just as Bellam began to settle into the comfort of having twice overexceeded Lourdes Vasthane’s expectations, Lourdes tilted her head and pivoted the exchange.“So, tell me, Isara, whatever happened to that Vale-born magnum opus you were so smitten with?”
Bellam perked up, clearly interested in the backstory.“Yes.That is exactly what I want to talk about.Isara would never say much about Joss.Now that you’re here, maybe she will.”
“Never?”Lourdes said, surprised.“It’s all you ever talked about before.I thought for sure you’d relocate to The Vale.”
“What?”Bellam gasped, as if she’d heard the most scandalous disclosure of the year.
I exhaled, absently tracing the stem of my leir between my fingers before answering.“You know I’ve always wanted Maxim.But the Bacchanal Years of our twenties exist so we can explore, figure out what we truly want before the Veritas.Joss was the only one who ever made me question it.”
Lourdes stifled a giggle.“And they never even… you know… went beyond a few hours of lip chaffing.”
“Wait a second,” Bellam said.“How long did you two date?”
I adjusted in my seat.“Almost two years.”
“You dated Joss for two years without going beyond a Tier Three mesh session… when you were supposed to be engaging in absolute hedonism?”
“They’re… religious… in The Vale.”
