[Bonus chapter] Crackled Glass

Byron shook his head with exasperation.

"Darling it's not venom. Venom is used to kill prey. You're not prey and I would never hurt you."

"Dante told me that it was used to subdue prey and make them do what you tell them to do."

Byron shook his head. "That may be true a long long time ago when we were much more animalistic, but in this day and age, nobody uses it for that purpose. It's easier just to use magic for mind control."

"M—magic mind control?"

"Yes, Darling. I couldn't possibly go and bite every single opponent that I needed to control. That would be disgusting as I am not one who is willing to share my essence with someone I don't truly love."

"You can control minds without biting people?"

"Hmmm. Yes, of course." He waved a dismissive hand.

"Done subtly and over a wide swath of population, it's called 'charisma and the ability to sway people to your way of thinking'."

"I see." Candi marveled at the polar opposite viewpoints of the exact same act. It was all just a viewpoint depending on intent.

Calling something a 'venom' instantly relegated it to something bad to be avoided. Calling the same thing an 'essence' suddenly lifted it into something that was desirable.

"Do you use your mind control to sway people?" She asked him.

His eyes glazed over with exhaustion.

"Every day of my life, up until recently."

"I don't understand. How do you use it?" She asked.

Byron gave her a dry tired look.

"Every good ruler or monarch has to have this ability because it has to be used all the time or people start calling us dictators. When I was the Crown Prince, I had to be present in court sessions and lawmaking sessions every day and I had to sway people to my way of thinking all day long."

Candi nodded with understanding. Dante didn't use the subtle mind control because he never needed to. Businesses were run in a different way than governments.

As the Chief Executive Officer of all the CEOs, he didn't need to work magic to issue an executive decision. He just announced it and his people simply followed protocols and did what he told them to do.

If Dante ran the empire in the same manner as he did his businesses, no wonder he was being called a dictator.

Byron sighed and leaned back fully on the chair, pulling Candi deeper into his arms.

"It's actually quite liberating to no longer be Crown Prince. I can do whatever I want to do and not have to worry about how it will affect the galaxy."

At that moment, the alert sounded. They were coming into traction distance of Raptor 600 and would be docking soon.

She sighed and got off his lap. They were getting close to Slate's warship and she needed to strap down for the landing.

"Thank you for letting me cry on you. I needed your strength for just a moment there."

She went to the other command console and strapped herself down.

Byron looked sad. "I'm always here for you Darling. Don't ever hesitate to call me if you ever need me for anything."

Candi nodded.

Byron turned back to the front monitors and waved his fingers. Instantly, a visual of Slate appeared.

"I'm here with Candi."

Slate nodded, his bright blue eyes filled with relief.

"Bring her in."

His visual winked out and the traction beams reached out to grab the transport pod.

Slate was waiting for them when their transport pod opened up. He was standing inside the hangar, wearing his full Prime Warrior outfit.

There was no doubt that he was dressed for battle. His face was grim but his arms were outstretched as he saw her emerge.

Candi sobbed and ran towards him. She jumped into his arms and heaved a ragged sigh of relief.

The most important thing in her mind at that moment was that he was unhurt.

"Hush Love. It's all going to be okay." Slate was shushing her gently. He carried her as the two Princes made their way to the command deck of the Raptor 600.

As they walked, she could hear Slate and Byron talking about the war and battles and warship numbers, but their talk was so elevated that she did not understand much of what was said.

Slate didn't need to say anything to Candi. His touch was familiar and reassuring and she was content just to let him carry her to the command deck.

"Did you get a chance to see the Avgo Events?" Slate whispered into her ear, even as he continued chatting war numbers with Byron.

"No," she whispered back.

"I'm going to sit you down on a console and let you watch the whole thing while I do a little bit of work, okay?"

He set her down onto a command console egg chair and leaned in, pressing his lips onto her forehead for a long tender moment.

"Just sit here and relax for a bit and watch the show."

He jabbed at the armrest and a virtual monitor popped up in front of Candi. The sounds of the audience and Lorem Ipsum began to fill her ears.

Slate cupped her face gently with one hand in a gentle caress, and then he moved away to join Byron who was already in deep discussions with a group of Erenveil space warriors.

The first thing that Candi saw was Anaïse's memorial service.

There was a soothing sad song that played as a group of silicon glass people of various colors walked onto the stage carrying huge white stargazer lilies, white pillar candles, and pale blue ribbons tied into intricate bows the size of pomelo grapefruits.

Several singers stood in various spots singing a cappella as a second group moved forward carrying an open litter that held the shattered blue remains of the Princess Anaïse Paroles.

The pieces of glass sparkled in the spotlights, looking like precious gemstones.

They walked around the stage for a couple of rounds and then placed the litter onto the stage floor.

Those carrying the flowers and ribbons followed behind them and placed the flowers, candles, and ribbons on the floor around the litter.

They all stepped back behind the litter and began lifting their hands and voices into the sky, as if to lift her soul up heavenward.

In acquiesce, the tiny pieces of what was Anaïse began to rise upward, sparkling and shimmering as it moved. The tiny shards began to twist and turn, almost seeming to move with its own powers and mind.

Slowly, the pieces began to merge into the shape of that which looked humanlike.

Candi gasped as her hand flew to her mouth in shock.

As the pieces of glass fused, it was taking on the shape of Anaïse.

Once the last piece of glass moved into place, the humanoid shape that was Anaïse stepped off the litter and walked to the edge of the stage.

The crowed gasped and oohed.

Was this a trick of the lights? Was this really Princess Anaïse Paroles, or was this just some magic that was being used onstage by the grieving pall bearers?

The spotlights shined on her, scattering a million rays as her crackle glass skin caught the light and bounced it back all around her.

She looked dazzling!

"Hello everyone." She said as she threw her hands up into the air, releasing a hovering blue Avgo gemstone. "I'm back!"

The crowd went wild!

It really was Anaïse, in all her dazzling glory.

Her skin was no longer smooth and blue. It was now cracked beyond belief, but she was still the same Avgo Contestant who had been one of the front-running favorites of the audience.

"Thank you for giving me the opportunity to showcase my magic talents, the ability to be shattered and yet still able to rebound with resiliency."

As she bowed, the audience stood and applauded. This was serious magic being displayed and it deserved a standing ovation.

From the deck of the Raptor 600, Candi covered her mouth in disbelief as tears rolled down her face.

Anaïse was well and unharmed! Oh thank heavens!