62.1. Back Home - Part 1

"No, don't stop the car!" I say quickly because my partners start to freak out. I wasn't blocking them out of my mind so they heard everything that just happened.

"But he must be near!" Erik is still trying to make the driver stop.

"The streets are overcrowded and there're countless buildings all around, he can be anywhere," I shake my head. "Besides, he's seriously dangerous. I don't think any Draconian would stand a chance against him."

"But he's still human," Gotrid opposes. "What could he do when facing magic?"

"Fry his opponent's brain from the distance," I say darkly. "And I don't forget he isn't completely human, just like I wasn't."

"What did he say to you?" my Viceroy asks because she didn't hear it.

"Not much but he confirmed to be my biological father," I clutch my fists.

"Not much," Liana rolls her eyes. "Aefener, you're the son of a multi-billionaire!"

"Who's most probably a psychopath," I add, not happy about the prospect.

"Love, are you okay?" my partners worry.

"He didn't do anything to me," I assure them. "And this time I was ready to push him back if needed."

"Still, it shows how defenceless we are against something like that," Liana chews her lip. "Telepaths are possibly even more dangerous than monsters."

"Well, thank you very much," I snort, offended a little.

"Aefener, do you even realise that the only thing stopping you from abusing your special ability is the fact that you're kind, respectful of others and have high morals?" she points out. "Most people would have used it to their benefit immediately. Ever since you told me, I've come up with hundreds of applications. If I had that kind of power, I could become this country's Prime Minister in a year."

"Would you?" I'm taken aback.

"Well, maybe not the Prime Minister, it's more trouble than it's worth I think," she answers hesitantly. "But it's for the best you have it and not me. I'd definitely use it for my own personal reasons."

"Don't forget Ryuu is an empath above all," Erik reminds her. "He..."

"Oh, that's it!" I almost jump and the seat belt painfully squeezes my wings. "Takeda... I mean my father... I don't think he's an empath."

"How can he not be?" Liana doesn't understand.

"He can certainly do long-distance telepathy and read other people's thoughts on direct touch just like me. He can even harm other people from the distance," I theorise. "The thing that was bugging me about our first encounter and I didn't realise it until now was that he could talk to me but he couldn't perceive my emotions or send some of his to me."

"Which is a good thing? It means he's not as powerful as you," Liana scratches her left wing nervously.

"On the contrary, I'm afraid it's a very bad thing," I shake my head. "If he can't perceive what others feel, he won't care as much."

"That's... damn," Gotrid curses.

I stay silent for the rest of the ride but my partners can feel that I'm thinking frantically. They're caressing my wings, letting me sort my thoughts and feelings. So I do have a living father. I'm Ryuuto Takeda. Not that human surnames mean much to a Celestial but it's still something.

Did my Mom work for him while creating a prototype of Draconia Online for Nebula and they fell in love? And then she left when she uncovered something sinister about her lover? Maybe she didn't know she was pregnant at that time so my father couldn't read it in her mind. I doubt he would let her leave if he knew.

The rest of the journey is uneventful, giving us a rare breather. We arrive at the airport, the plane takes off and we resort to our compartments. It's only morning but we're dead exhausted from the conference. I don't have the energy to talk about my father so Liana doesn't open up that topic for now. Besides, we wouldn't be able to do anything about it while on the plane anyway.

I snuggle to my partners and we spend the journey cuddling, watching movies and snacking. I'm happy that Erik doesn't make a scene every time Gotrid's wings touch him accidentally anymore and that he seems to be slowly warming up to him. Similarly, I'm happy that Gotrid doesn't see Erik as an inferior human but an equal rival even though I don't want them to be rivals. I doze off, feeling comfortable and safe in their embrace.

*****

"You're kidding!" I'm standing with my mouth open wide when we finally get home.

When the door of the elevator opened, I expected to see the familiar hall that leads to the apartments on this floor. Instead, it looks like we entered someone's lobby right away.

"This whole floor is yours now, Your Majesty," Ayala announces proudly. "We're sorry it took so long but they couldn't remodel the walls with you being here."

"B-but... where will the others be?" I'm left speechless.

"Her Excellency and your adjutant Luviael occupy the floor directly below you," Ayala explains. "Ingri wanted an apartment closer to the ground level because she hates the hights and she flat-shares with her friend ten minutes away from here. Lord Fefnir and Rien have an apartment two floors under you. We have much more space now that almost all Clawfangs left and we never had many Earthborn to begin with."

"There'll be thousands of new Celestials coming, though," I remind her. "We're wasting space."

"This building is the official seat of our government, Your Majesty, it won't serve as a sanctuary anymore," Cien shakes her head. "We're securing suitable apartments for our people nearby within a pleasant flying distance."

"It's amazing, Ryuu!" Erik is running around, opening all doors and peeking inside.

"Sweet, we won't be squeezing here after all," Gotrid is relieved. "Where's my stuff?"

"Your luggage should arrive in a few minutes, Royal Consort," Ayala assures him. "There isn't any agenda for today so make yourself at home."

"Let's go exploring!" Erik grabs my hand and with a huge smile pulls me after him.

In just a week, the people Liana hired managed a miracle. I guess when one has money, anything is possible. I'm a bit nervous in the beginning because I don't recognise anything but then I notice my possessions being carefully positioned all over the apartment.

I find my retro gaming consoles in one of the rooms with a cosy Celestial-friendly sofa, a huge screen and shelves for my figures, most of them still empty and waiting to be filled with Gotrid's contribution. I'm astonished when I discover a proper study. Yay, I won't have to sit with the computer on my lap in the living room to do some last-minute evening work!

But it's the bedroom that astonishes all of us. It's a spacious room and there's a huge custom-made platform bed with a real canopy! I take off my shoes to try it out right away. I lie on my stomach, fully spread my wings and there's still a lot of space left on both sides! That makes me instantly happy and I start rolling, my feathers suddenly being everywhere. Humans don't realise how uncomfortable it is to be a different species and being forced to use regular furniture you don't fit.

"What about let us join you?" Erik pokes me. "I've never seen a bigger bed in my life and you still somehow manage to take all the space, hon."

I smirk and because he isn't expecting it, I pull him down to me and make him lose his balance. I sit on his thighs, tower over him and spread my wings in victory. It doesn't happen often I get an opportunity to top him in bed. I forget about my father for a second and just feel ecstatic we have this moment to just enjoy ourselves.

"Out!" I hear Gotrid hastily ordering the guards and closing the curtain around our bed.

I lean down and start kissing Erik feverishly all over. He hugs me around my back and his fingers find my sensitive spot between the wings. Gotrid helps with undressing me. Our jet lag is momentarily gone, overshadowed by desire.

"My Emperor," Gotrid whispers into my ear and the way he says it makes me shiver.

Everything dissolves and only love remains. Gotrid and Erik are my treasures, I'd conquer the world for them. I pity my father for not being an empath and missing all that. Telepathy should automatically go hand in hand with empathy so that the bearer of such a gift won't become dangerous and forget about the others.

"I love you," I say aloud because I like how it sounds.

And then there's no more room for talking or thinking rationally. My love is overflowing and I let it out.