by Jade Waltz
Jade Waltz
Copyright © 2020 Jade Waltz
Scaled Heart is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
All rights reserved.
Published by: Jade Waltz
First Edition: August 2020
Contents
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Project Universe Timeline
Author’s Note
About the Author
Also by Jade Waltz
Elemental Dragon Warriors
Project: Adapt
Prologue
KAICA
About one month earlier…
“If you two are going to keep stewing on how you should impress a female, perhaps you should do some research,” Oeta grumbled from her workstation. “Your thoughts are distracting and interfering with my work.”
I stifled a chuckle, happy for once that I couldn’t overhear thoughts like the others around me.
“Kaica should know something about how to attract a nestqueen,” Oeta replied. “Being always surrounded by her sisters and studying other species, she should know what you need to do.”
“Oeta,” I hissed, shooting a glance at the hopeful males. “I thought we were friends!”
“We are,” she replied sweetly. “But I know you would be better at answering their questions than me.”
Glaring at her, I studied the fuchsia glowing coworker as she smirked at me with mirth in her eyes. She was up to something, and I had a feeling I knew what.
She was teasing me, knowing full well that I had a crush on my two coworkers.
It wasn’t my fault I thought both Chyox and Usthu were attractive males, despite the species difference. I just knew they would never think of me as someone they would approach to be their nestqueen. I was just the silent coworker they often forget when I was around.
“Why don’t you ask Xylo how to attract a nestqueen?” I glanced at the star-patterned Wudox, who met my gaze from his position between the two Circuli unmated males. “You are the only one in our staff who is in a relationship. I am sure you have some pointers for them.”
“I don’t know.” His vines contracted around his waist as his petal wings fluttered behind him; a clear sign of nervousness from our boss. “Selena and I started our courting bond as soon as she woke and completed it shortly afterward. Other than showing her kindness and perhaps, how you would care for her, I don’t know what else to suggest. Females, no matter the species, are confusing creatures.”
Rolling my eyes, I sighed.
Such a generic answer. These males need more help than I thought.
I knew I wouldn’t get any more work down for the day, so I started closing my workstation down. It was late, and if my coworkers had any hope for getting into a relationship with a female and convincing her to be their nestqueen, I needed to help them.
They deserve their happiness.
“Xylo, could you explain to me what type of gifts you usually give Selena when you take her on dates?” I paused as Xylo stared at me, stunned. Chyox and Usthu took the opportunity to gather their tablets and started jotting down notes. “Wait. You have given her small tokens of appreciation, right? And have been private outings with her, especially since we have been on Destima for almost a month now?”
“No,” he drawled, confusion laced his face. “Am I supposed to?”
“Yes.” I snapped my head toward Oeta. If I was going to lead this lesson, she can help by agreeing with me. “What do you think, Oeta?”
“You haven’t, Xylo?”
“No, am I supposed to?’
“YES!” Oeta and I replied at the same time. She snapped her head toward me and smirked. “I believe anyone, regardless of the gender and species, loves token of appreciation. Kaica can help you with ideas to what to give to Selena.”
“Because I am a demihuman?”
“Correct.”
All three males were surrounding me, looking anxious as they held their writing tablets, prepared for me to give them pointers.
“The simplest thing you can give a female like Selena is flowers—”
“Flowers?”
All three males paled as Oeta chuckled behind them.
Stars help me.
One
KAICA
It was said that the Stars had a way to guide you along your path, but what if I didn’t want to travel down it?
I often wondered what happened to those who resisted Fate’s plans and made their own destiny. Were they severely punished as the tales warned? Or were those warnings based on a lie that had spread into a galaxy-wide religion?
There were many who believed that all souls of the dead became stars, watching over their loved ones. It was scientifically disproven, yet many technologically advanced species across the galaxy believed in the romanticized fable.
Sadly, my brother Kaede had foolishly fallen for the fabricated tale. Perhaps out of desperation or the drive for love, our leader had lost his way. Kaede was now hunting for Selena, our new Beacon, hoping to return her to where she belongs.
He was acting on his faith that they would be reunited once again. Not out of duty, but love.
Those four letters were the root of all problems.
What was the point of love when all it did was cause pain? Was it worth all the trouble?
My brother was chasing love desperately and now, one of my sisters had fallen for its allure. Like a seed, once planted, it only took a little attention to sprout and take root deep within their heart, refusing to let go.
Which one of us would be next?
I shivered at the thought as I scanned my patients' readings, making sure my infirmary was in order before Xylo's fathers arrived.
We were on the brink of war, Selena was still missing, and two of her clanmates lay in barely stable condition in the infirmary. There was no time to dream about a relationship, much less start one; not when I was responsible for the endangered lives in my care. No matter how much I wished I was in a relationship, to be able to share the burden of the current situation with another, trying to start one with someone right now would be irresponsible.
It would have to wait for another time.
“Agent Kaica, the Abyssal Fire has entered the atmosphere and will be landing momentarily."
Sighing, I glanced at the Master Healer, noticing the worried orange tint of his naturally light-green skin.
"I've told you to just call me Kaica," I muttered, annoyed by the Circuli male’s insistence on using titles with female coworkers. To him, nestqueens always deserved to be respected—almost revered—even ones without a clan. My differing species didn’t matter to him. It was as if he treated me with an ingrained sense of duty. "I want to step as far away from formalities as possible. Besides, I’m no longer an active agent. Like you, I’m only a healer."
Chyox pursed his lips, a gesture he had pick
ed up during frequent interactions with Selena, as his tentacles shuffled around him.
“Technically, I outrank you—”
“Are you really going to go there right now?" I hissed, slamming Xylo's chair back and wincing when it fell over. I didn't miss the fear that flashed in his eyes. What he had to fear was beyond me. "Look. We have greater concerns than who should be in charge, especially since our patients’ fathers are about to arrive. I know emotions are running high, but you can’t keep trying to pull rank on me just because Xylo is unconscious and Oeta is resting."
The worried male stared at me with his mouth agape, unable to muster a reply.
Sighing, I picked up the chair, irritated I had allowed the stubborn Circuli healer to get under my scales. Typically, I controlled my emotions tightly, unlike my siblings who were more blunt and vocal.
Ever since I’ve been here, somehow, there was something about him always made me curious about what it would like to be with him, to have him by my side as nestmate to his nestqueen. I tried to give my unmated Circuli coworkers subtle hints whenever they questioned about how to attract a female and show them they were interested.
But no matter what I did, no one got the hint.
I don’t know if it was because they were still dense when it came to speaking with females, even after all of my coaching. Or it was because they saw me as being unavailable, unapproachable, or not nestqueen material.
Every time I thought one of them would get the courage—or hint—to ask me to be theirs, they left me disappointed.
After many opportunities had come and gone, I had given up on hoping to be with another. Let my siblings have the luxury of being in relationships, surrounded by those who love them. Instead of beating myself up, I will put my focus on my research and healing others, since that is what I succeed at.
Who wants to be with an assassin? Especially a member of the Fab Five, the intervert with the unruly hair.
No, I didn't have the luxury to show my feelings as my sisters did, so instead, I had trained myself to remain stoic.
Unfortunately, the calm I thought I’d find while working planetside had turned to stress, making it extremely difficult to keep ahold of my emotions.
Glancing at Xylo's desk, my temporary workstation, I surveyed the map of the villa I had pulled up before Chyox entered. Sadness flooded me at the realization that the property seemed dull without Selena and her cubs. Their presence had brought life to every space, filling the villa’s rooms with their laughter wherever they went.
The guest wing was large enough to provide temporary living quarters for the arriving fathers, but if they intended to remain on Destima, we would need a more permanent solution. It was safe to assume that both Odelm and Xylo’s sets of fathers slept in a nestbed, so the small rooms wouldn't suffice for extended stays.
I would need to contact Z about relocating them once we settled our more pressing problems. Selena’s plateau was easily spacious enough to build a complex for her clan’s relatives, and at enough distance to allow her clan the privacy they deserved.
For now, I would have to make do with the available resources and hope none of the newcomers would be offended by what I offered.
"How much do you know about their fathers?" I traced the guest wing on the map, feeling the smooth display screen beneath my fingertips.
"They are the best parents a hatchling can hope for upon adoption." The odd tenderness in his voice made me pause, my gaze flicking toward him. Chyox stared at my still hand on Xylo's vid display, not noticing that I was studying him. "They were some of the lucky ones."
"Lucky?”
He frowned as his violet eyes met mine. “While female Circuli offspring are almost guaranteed to be gathered by their mother’s clan, male offspring are often abandoned at the Hatchery. We are then either adopted by bonded unmated males or taken to the warrior academy, where we gain our unique nicknames.”
“I knew that.” I shot him a small smile, unsure why he was mentioning this now. “But that doesn’t explain why both of their father sets are so special.”
“They allowed their sons to become whoever they want to be instead of forcing them into a role.” The white-green hue of his body turned an upset grey. “My fathers wanted me to follow in their footsteps as business owners." He sighed, turning toward our patients' readings projected on the display wall as his tentacles tightened around him. "When I rejected their suggestion, they adopted a few more sons who were, of course, willing to take over their shipping company. Since then, my fathers no longer pay attention to me, no matter the prestigious achievements I’ve earned."
He was jealous.
Though I was about to meet Xylo’s fathers, his former mentors, this wasn’t the time or place to travel down memory lane. He needed to get over any resentment he harbored against the Master Scholar and focus on the roles we both had to play to save our patients’ lives.
An alert from my AI, IZO, flashed in red around my peripheral vision.
I cursed as an image of an old merchant ship settling on the villa’s landing pad appeared on my vision’s overlay.
“They are here.”
Chyox nodded, keeping his focus on the patients’ readings. “That was quick.”
Rolling my eyes, I walked toward the door and paused behind the Master Healer to find what had captured his attention. I saw nothing out of the ordinary in either Odelm or Xylo’s charts.
Was he moping?
“Listen,” I hissed. “I’ve had it with your attitude. While you may not have the fathers you wished for, at least you had the privilege to be raised by a family. Have you ever considered that some long for the opportunity to be cared for by one parent, if not two? Your jealousy of Xylo blinds you to how lucky you are compared to those around you. Selena, my siblings, and all demihumans on Destima were raised in worse conditions than your species' unclaimed."
Chyox jerked away from me as if I had smacked him. If I were one of my siblings, I probably would have considering the rage that was boiling in my heart.
"Kaica," he muttered, pressing against the display wall. His violet eyes widened as his skin turned a frightened white. "I didn't realize—"
"You can't say you didn't know," I spat, clenching my hands into fists to resist doing something I would regret. "I've seen your reports on Selena. What you had was a luxury, like any Circuli male raised in the academy."
"Please, Kaica," he begged, taking a step closer with both hands raised in the universal gesture for surrender. "Forgive me. I didn't mean to offend you—or anyone."
My breaths were quick and shallow as my rapid heartbeat filled my ears. Shaking my head, I tried to clear my dark memories, uncurling my fists.
Every step he advanced, I matched in retreat toward the exit.
"I am sorry, Kaica," Chyox whispered calmly, even though his coloring was still tinged with white. His worried gaze landed on my hair.
I closed my eyes and groaned.
Of course. It changed color in response to strong emotions, much like Selena's spots.
If I didn’t love my hair long and styled, I would have buzzed the strands years ago. The open display of my inner emotions was frustrating, to say the least. At the moment, it was morphing between an upset grey and an angry red.
Even if I had cut my hair, Chyox was an Ulax. His species could see my aura naturally. Right now, I was an open datacube for him to read.
I couldn’t fall apart. Not now. Not in front of him.
I had to prove to Z and my siblings that I was independently capable and wouldn’t buckle under pressure.
There was a difference between following orders and giving them. The many sleepless nights I’d spent wondering what to do and searching for solutions had finally taken their toll on me.
I was growing unstable.
Shaking my head, I turned around. "I don't have time for this."
Something wrapped around my wrist, yanking me to a halt.
"Kaica…"
; A shiver passed through me, stopping me in my tracks.
I mustn’t get my hopes up once again, only to have them crushed, especially not before I am about to meet our guests. Now isn’t the time to fantasize about starting a relationship.
Glancing at my wrist, I grabbed the offending tentacle with my free hand.
"If I were you, I would let go. Our honored guests are here and you are making me late."
A sigh filled the tense room and suddenly, he freed me.
Without looking back, I left, running from the male who always unraveled me whenever he was near.
Two
CHYOX
I had done it again.
I had allowed my past to blind me to the present, offending the one female I could tolerate.
Tolerate.
That wasn't the correct term. Something about the word didn’t taste right.
My tentacles tightened as an startling feeling washed over me, like diving into freezing water on a hot and humid day.
Memories of all of the times Selena had lashed out at me suddenly flooded my mind and I re-examined them from a new perspective.
Had I unconsciously been punishing Selena for my jealousy of Xylo?
I had allowed my anger to cloud my judgment and failed to provide her with the medical care she should have received. Granted, since moving to Destima, I have gotten better, but I fear it will take time for me to repair the damage I may have done.
Now, I worried I was making the same mistake with Kaica.
Did demihumans somehow bring out a side of me that made me lose my direction?
Every demihuman I had met acted completely unlike Circuli nestqueens, and yet, besides their openly sexual nature, I liked the difference.