The Price of Salvation
Jared watched their intertwined hands disappear through the sliding glass doors. He turned his gaze back to his own group. Cassian was a colleague Jared respected. Seeing him find favor with a female made Jared hope the fox found true happiness, though he quietly wished Marcella would keep her focus entirely on Cassian.
Lyle, usually the quietest of the bunch, spoke up. "I hope her other matches keep her busy. We really don't need her coming after us again."
Orson focused on Sylvia's pale face. He shifted his grip, helping Garrick support her weight. "Ms. Rostova, you should stick to resonating low-ranking therians. Look at what Ms. Vance accomplished today without draining herself."
Sylvia had spent almost the entire day waiting for and resonating a single 9-Star therian. The grueling process had consumed ninety-seven percent of her psionic power. She could barely keep her eyes open. Her knees buckled with every step.
The other four males immediately voiced their agreement.
"Orson makes a valid point, Ms. Rostova. You cannot keep sacrificing yourself like this."
Sylvia felt a surge of warmth at their concern. She shook her head. "Who will handle the high-ranking therians, then? They will succumb to the contamination if I ignore them."
Silence fell over the five males.
Vaughn rubbed the back of his neck, his brow furrowed. "Marcella is an S-tier female now. Shouldn't she shoulder the burden of the high-ranking therians?"
If Marcella focused on the elites, Sylvia wouldn't have to push herself to the brink of collapse every single day. If Marcella stuck to low-ranking ones, the hardest cases would always fall on Sylvia.
Garrick nudged Vaughn. "Go talk to her about it, Vaughn."
The other three males instantly found the lobby ceiling fascinating, deliberately avoiding Vaughn's eyes. None of them wanted to volunteer for that mission.
Vaughn choked on his next breath. "Why me?"
He dreaded the idea of Marcella sexually harassing him again. The memories of her previous behavior still made his skin crawl. Yet, watching Sylvia tremble from exhaustion twisted his gut.
Sylvia gathered her remaining strength and stood a little straighter. "Stop this right now. You all seem to forget a fundamental law. Females have absolute autonomy over their resonance choices. No one can force them. Marcella is an S-tier female. The system values her choices just as much as it values mine."
Her strict tone shut down the conversation. The therians exchanged defeated looks, reduced to silently praying Marcella would eventually decide to take on the stronger therians on her own.
Inside the sleek hovercar, city lights flashed past the tinted windows. Marcella scrolled through AetherWeb on her terminal. She searched for historical data on Sylvia's resonance sessions.
When Sylvia first started working, she had also focused on collective resonance for lower-ranking therians. She only moved on to the elites after building up her stamina and psionic reserves over time. It made logical sense.
The public discourse on AetherWeb, however, lacked that logic.
Trending topics dominated the holographic feed.
'S-Tier Female Ms. Rostova Resonated High-Ranking Therians'
'S-Tier Female Ms. Vance Resonated Low-Ranking Therians'
The comment sections were a battlefield of mounting public pressure. A vocal faction argued that lower-ranking therians deserved S-tier attention, preaching equality for all ranks. The louder majority, however, relentlessly criticized Marcella. They argued that the Aether Beastworld only possessed two S-tier females, meaning their duty was strictly to save the highest-ranking military assets. They accused her of wasting her potential on therians who could be treated by lower-ranking females. The public pressure weighed heavily on her screen, demanding she follow in Sylvia's footsteps immediately.
The system's voice chimed quietly in her mind. "Ms. Vance, do not let their perspectives sway you. You should do whatever makes you comfortable and happy."
A faint smile touched Marcella's lips. "You make a good point, System."
She closed the terminal interface. Surviving and earning vitality points remained her absolute top priority. Taking on a 9-Star therian right now would likely put her in a coma. Step by step was the only sensible path forward.
She shifted in her plush seat and looked over at Cassian. The neon lights cast sharp angles across his handsome face. "Cassian, what are the requirements for me to go to the battlefield and perform resonance there?"
Cassian blinked, clearly caught off guard by the question. He turned his head to meet her gaze. "Ms. Vance, the frontline is incredibly dangerous. The contamination levels in those zones are volatile."
Marcella held his stare, her voice firm. "I know the risks. I still want to go."
Cassian studied the raw determination in her eyes. Pride swelled in his chest. This female shattered every preconceived notion he held about her kind. She did not seek a pampered life hidden behind fortress walls.
Cassian's tone shifted to a serious cadence. "The military regulations are strict regarding this. An S-tier female traveling to the battlefield strictly requires the protection of five mates. You cannot go with less. The environment is too unpredictable. I highly suggest we wait until your other four matches move into the mansion before we plan this trip."
He paused, leaning a fraction closer to her. The scent of rain and musk drifted from him, wrapping around her senses. "Do not worry about the dangers, Ms. Vance. I will personally protect you. I will not let a single scratch reach you."
Marcella felt her pulse kick up a notch. She smiled, holding his gaze. "Thank you, Cassian."
Cassian returned the smile. He reached out and gently pinched her cheek. "Protecting you is both my solemn duty and my greatest honor."
His deep, gentle voice washed over her, and that captivating smile made her heart race. The romantic tension filled the small cabin, making the air feel thick and warm. She could see the faint silver glow in his eyes, drawing her in.
The system squealed in her head. "He really knows how to use his charm! Truly a nine-tailed fox!"
Marcella averted her gaze, her cheeks burning. She cleared her throat to dispel the thick atmosphere. "So, what are we having for dinner tonight?"
A soft, rumbling chuckle vibrated in Cassian's chest. "I will cook whatever you are craving."
Marcella tapped her chin. "I don't even know what ingredients you stocked up on yesterday. Let's figure it out when we get home."
Cassian nodded. "Whatever you wish."
The hovercar hummed as it descended toward Marcella's Haven. The landing gear touched down on the private pad with a soft hiss.
Cassian stepped out first, offering his hand to guide her down. Marcella took it, feeling the solid warmth of his palm against hers. They walked up the sweeping driveway to the front doors, their shoulders brushing with every step. The quiet evening air wrapped around them, isolating them from the rest of the city.
Cassian looked down at her, his gaze lingering on her lips. The space between them seemed to shrink. The connection they had built over the day pulled them closer together, forging a deep, silent bond. Marcella felt a flutter in her stomach, anticipating the quiet evening they were about to share.
The heavy front doors slid open as they approached the entrance.
The robotic helper rolled into the foyer, its mechanical voice slicing through the quiet intimacy. "Welcome back, Ms. Vance. Your mate, Dante Alarie, has arrived."
Marcella froze on the threshold.
Cassian stopped mid-step, his jaw tightening instantly.
Both of them looked past the robot and toward the living room.
A man stood near the center of the room. Marcella stared at the newcomer, instantly dazzled. Another absolute beauty had crossed her threshold. He possessed an elite, commanding presence that filled the space.
Cassian's warm expression vanished. The romantic softness in his eyes morphed into a sharp, territorial glare. He fixed a dark look onto the man who had just shattered his perfect moment, sparking an immediate, highly tense rivalry.