Chapter Twenty-Three
June 14th, 2231, Solar System, En Route to Earth Aboard Core Flagship Qilin
Perched on her throne, Julia stared at the message in front of her. She’d read it countless times since receiving it from Yan on Chiron. Every time she read it, her heart pounded. That made her grind her teeth in frustration.
Some things weren’t allowed for the Immortal Empress. Anger was a righteous dispensation granted to all monarchs and leaders, and so was disappointment. Fear wasn’t allowed. It was the refuge of the weak and the powerless.
She didn’t doubt Yan’s report or the details he’d passed along. He would never betray her no matter what was done to him, but what he perceived and what had happened might be two different things.
Elias couldn’t be the one interfering with her. It w
