Chapter 102 - Chapter 102: Dumplings and Gossip

🕯️Content Warning:

+ Mild emotional abuse and romantic discomfort; Zen's intimacy aversion with Byron borders into coerced dynamics

+ Implied emotional coercion/manipulation from Byron.

+ Subtle reference to bodily autonomy concerns.

Nyxara

By the time evening settled in, the capsule session felt like it had happened in another life, leaving a faint mental fatigue. As if I'd spent hours inside my head and returned carrying a stack of invisible books. I changed into something softer, let Líma help me smooth my hair, and ate a light snack just to keep my body from complaining later. My emotions are tender in that strange post-learning way—exposed but not raw. 

Zen will notice. She is always in tune with my emotional state. I've come to notice it is an Omega trait. I swear 60% of the times I run into Aunt Zira is because she somehow sensed I was feeling emotionally off. I'm slowly becoming accustomed to her sitting with me talking while she somehow relieves me of my mental/emotional fatigue.

Aunt Zira even sent a message saying since I would be spending time with Zen she wouldn't come over so that further confirmed my guess about the comfort being an Omega trait. 

When I arrived at the restaurant, Zen was already waiting—anxious energy tucked beneath careful posture, her smile came a little too quickly, like she wasn't sure she was allowed to be happy to see me. We are truly a work in progress. Every interaction is a chance for us to rewrite the narrative and build a better relationship. Tonight we will talk about fun, silly things. I will eat, laugh, and pretend—just for a few hours—that my current life isn't a series of lessons designed to rebuild someone who has been broken.

Zen's eyes ran over me the moment I sat down. Her gaze softened."Tired?" she asked gently, like it mattered. I exhaled, letting myself be honest without dumping everything on her. "Still dealing with minor side effects from the learning capsule earlier." Zen's expression turned sympathetic in a way that was almost comical. "Oh. Time compression adjustment?" I smiled despite myself. "Yeah. It was a 2:1 ratio."

She reached for her water, then hesitated. "Okay," she said, tone shifting into something lighter, determined. She placed a blue carved turtle talisman on the table to keep what she was about to do private then released enough of her scent and aura that I felt my fatigue ease in increments. "Then just fun, light, silly topics only tonight. Deal?"

Relief warmed my chest. "Deal," I agreed.

Zenaida

I've always loved the way this place smells like ginger oil, charred scallions, and something sweet I can't identify—maybe star anise caramelized into soy. I'm ever thankful that Sänti recommended this place to me when I mentioned craving handcrafted dumplings. It is truly a hole-in-the-wall kind of spot you could only find by word of mouth. It's all mismatched chairs and handwritten menu boards with steam fogging up the front windows. I loved it instantly.

Nyx loves it too. Her shoulders have dropped, and the second she sat down, she has been leaning over the menu like it might tell her a secret. "I told you," I say, grinning. "Best dumplings in the region. And while their crispy chicken and cucumber salad appetizers will absolutely ruin your standards, the main dishes are superior to all similarly made dishes on the West Continent."

"Tell me you are in love with this place without telling me you are in love. Geez, Zen, I hope this place lives up to your hype." She laughs, soft and easy. My Omega instincts told me I'd soothed her enough, so I pulled my scent and aura back completely and tucked away the privacy talisman. 

The joy and pride I feel at having the privilege to care for her and spend time with her outside the Ajei Palace Complex— as a friend—lightens my heart so much I wouldn't be surprised if I was floating. Creators, I've missed this. Being just be a girl with my best friend having fun while out. The waiter soon came to take our orders, and while we waited for our food, Nyx asked about my recent projects. I didn't hold back— excitedly telling her all about my work.

"So," I say, pulling up a holo schematic above the table, "I'm working on a modular holographic keyboard ring. Finger-mounted. Gesture-responsive. It's designed to project a full interface only when I curl my fingers like this with intent for manifestation." I demonstrated, the pale blue light flaring into existence, keys blooming in the air beneath my fingertips.

Nyx's eyes go wide. "Zen! That's just wow! This will be a very useful artifact. Even I would pay well for such a convenient tool. Let me know when you need a tester. I volunteer as tribute!" Warmth spread through me, pride and relief tangled together. "Right! I want to make this my primary artifact. I would certainly love to have a second person testing out the functions so I can work out the bugs. I'm still refining the haptic feedback, though. It's tricky without—" My wrist watch buzzed with a notification.

I glance down automatically, expecting a system alert about one of my monitored ongoing projects when I see that I've received a new text message. From Byron.

[Hey. Something came up. Can't do dinner tomorrow. Rain check?]

That was it. No explanation. No apologies. Just the expectation that I will be okay with this change of plans. I'm not okay with this lack of consideration. The warmth that had been building in my chest dims, like someone smothering my joy. I didn't reply right away. I told myself I'd reply after we ordered. After I remembered how to breathe without feeling stupid.

Before I can decide how to respond, another message slides in. From Säntiägo. Byron's twin brother and a person quickly becoming a close friend. The tone of his message is completely different from his brother's.

[Hey, Zen. Heads up—I just got confirmation. I'm transferring to Kaethryn's main branch in Solhara. I'll be in-region tomorrow. Any chance you'd want to grab a meal? Oh, and bring Lady Nyxara Ajei. You've talked about her like she's a legend. I'd like to finally meet her.]

I stared at the screen, then I laughed. It slipped out of me before I could stop it—short, breathless, a little disbelieving.At the same time my scent of bitter lemon and decaying osmanthus slipped from my control before I tucked it away with clenched fists. I can't believe how two texts can be worlds apart. One breaking plans once again, the other excited to make plans and meet my best friend. Byron showed little concern about Nyx beyond any benefits my renewed friendship with her will bring him through me. 

While Säntiägo showed concern about her medical journey. He even took the time to talk it out with me about how I felt having her back in my life. He took the task of coming up with content for lessons off my plate so that I could focus on rebuilding my friendship with Nyx and heal any old mental wounds I've gained over the years.

I giggled until I remembered I was out with Nyx. I looked up at her to find Nyx tilting her head, watching me with a quiet attentiveness I've noticed she has now. "Okay," she says gently. "So what has caused you to go through at least five different emotions in the space of a minute?"

Hesitating for a moment, I consider whether I want to admit my situation. Nyx has a lot on her plate, and I don't want to add my situation to it. Yet when I look into her eyes, I can't help feeling she may be the catalyst I need to guide me in making a decision. So I slide my phone across the table to her. Let her see the evidence for herself to judge with no context from me.

She reads both messages. Her expression doesn't change much from neutral—but her eyes sharpen, just a little. "I thought you said your boyfriend's name was Byron? Why are the messages from him giving me douche canoe energy? You've been putting up with this nonsense for a year now?" She scrolls back through the history to see how he was so attentive in the beginning, but then about 2-3 months after we were matched and he moved here to attend Sentinels of Accord Academy, he changed. 

I had begun to suspect that it was never Byron who was talking to me and had video chat with at first, but Säntiägo. But when I investigated, it was indeed Byron I had been talking to. He had just been getting advice from Säntiägo. Sänti admitted this a while ago when he reached out to check on how things were going between me and Byron. I would be blind not to notice that Sänti has become interested in me. Especially when he flirted with me, asking if I ever wanted to be a part of a twin sandwich. I shut that down fast. No way in hell would I want to be intimate with Byron unless I have to. Kissing him and touching him now is a chore that I avoid as often as possible.

I don't want to actually be in this relationship with Byron, but he has been one of the only ways I could leave the house without my second mother questioning my whereabouts every 10 minutes. Gosh, I was lonely. 

"And who is Sänti with heart, moon, and book emojis? Are you cheating on the douche canoe?" Nyx looked at me with waggling brows and a mischievous smirk that made her look like the Crown Consort. "Get it, Zennie! Get it! I wouldn't have expected it, but I'm here for you transitioning to better people and hopefully a better dick." I was out of my chair and slapping my hand over Nyx's mouth so fast I knocked my chair over. Luckily, it's a busy and loud place, so it didn't draw too much attention.

"I'm not getting any dick from anyone. Also I'm not cheating. Sänti is Byron's twin brother who became my best friend during the years I was exiled from you. He understands he has been demoted to other best friend and is grateful to even be allowed to still know me. His words not mine." Nyx was laughing behind my hand and I sat back down in my chair giggling remembering the silly text from him.

Nyx agreed to hang out tomorrow—in fact, she said that both her and Sänti can be like tourists that I show the sights too. I happily agree and text Sänti back while ignoring the message from Byron. He'll be annoyed later that I ignored him but that is day after tomorrow Zenaida's problem.

The food arrives then—steam and color and clatter—and for a minute we eat in silence. The dumplings are perfect, which almost makes it worse. I chew, swallow, and finally sigh.

"I don't know if I should break up with him," I admit. Saying it out loud makes my throat tight. "Byron, I mean." Nyx sets her chopsticks down, giving me her full attention. "We're barely compatible," I continue, words tumbling faster now. The rice wine apparently is potent tonight. "Scent-wise. That's it. And even that's… thin. But my second mom pushed for the match, and I told myself I could make it work. That if I tried harder, maybe he would see my efforts and try too."

I shake my head. "It's been a year like you said, and there is always something new that just proves I will be deeply unhappy mated to him. The latest thing is him wanting to be my only Velari because he is an Alpha, while he would be allowed to have others." Nyx's jaw tightens, just slightly. 

 "He said that this is how mating circles are formed in his region, but Sänti denied that to be the truth. He says only a minority of circles are like that in their region and that even globally, it's typically only practiced in the regions who have a monarchy to keep the bloodline of the ruler centralized. 

After that confirmation, I told Byron that I wouldn't want to live the rest of my life bound to only him. That here in Solhara we do not limit ourselves in such a way that the Alpha Prime mates as many Velari as he wants while Betas and Omegas only get the Alpha Prime. He told me it was for my own good. That I don't need anyone else but him." I almost puked recalling the memory. I was going to break up with him then if my second mom hadn't convinced me that we would make sure in the mating contract that he can't limit me like that."

"Truthfully Nyx, I don't trust her to do as she promised. I've come to accept she may not have my best interests at heart like I kept telling myself." I downed another shot of wine feeling my eyes begin to well up. Nyx chews thoughtfully before she shifts topics seeming to sense I'm not ready to touch deeper on the topic of my second mom.

"How does Säntiägo fit into this lovely web?" She taps my nose with her chopsticks which knocks me out the funk I was sinking into. I giggled and got back to eating. 

"And then there's Säntiägo," I sigh contently saying his name. "Outside of my grandparents, eldest brother and second eldest sister he is the one who checks on me every day. Who helps me troubleshoot my designs. Who actually listens when I talk. And now he is transferring to the diplomacy track here, and I don't know if I'm being unfair or stupid or just… scared to be the one who changes things. I don't want to settle anymore for whoever is tossed my way."

I stare down at my plate. "I don't want to dishonor or cause problems for my Crest House. But I also don't want to wake up five years from now still waiting for one man to be someone else. Someone who if I'm not reading things wrong wants me all on his own."

Nyx doesn't answer right away. She thinks. That's another thing I've noticed about her now. Nyx weighs things before she speaks. "Try one more time," she says finally. "With Byron. Clearly. Honestly. Tell him what you need. If he can't—or won't—meet you there, then you'll have your answer." I nod slowly. "And once you have your answer," she continues, "talk to your dad. Not your second mom. This is about you. About your future. Not about maintaining someone else's plans."

I let out a shaky breath. "I don't know if he'll listen." Nyx reaches across the table, covering my hand with hers. Her grip is warm, steady. "Then you won't be alone when you try," she says. "I'll be there. I promise. You're not a bargaining chip. Not for anyone." The worry about this situation just became lighter now that I have a direction. I squeeze her hand back, blinking fast. "Thank you." She smiles, small but fierce. "Always."