The hivemind is conquering for me?

”Apollo? Why have you brought me out here? Are we having some alone time?” Onyx purred as she tried to get close to me. I then immediately backed away, stunning her.

”Alone time? Are you serious? I just asked a question. Answer me now!” I demanded, shocking Onyx again, only this time she replied instantly.

”I was performing a task with Astra’s assistance. I don’t understand why you are mad at me?”

”You don’t understand why....” I groaned in annoyance and watched as Onyx got more and more worried. I would usually try to console her at this point. But I was pissed.

”I almost died, Onyx. Again. And once again, you were off somewhere else instead of doing the thing you are supposed to do. Be my cloak and shield. Protect me. My Legs are broken. Ribs broken. The only reason I am alive is by sheer dumb luck and I know you don’t care about the latter part, but Sithrik died and Gabrielle is severely injured.”

”Apollo... I’m sorry. I didn’t-” she tried to explain, but I was too angry and yelled,

”-But you did know. You always know. I tried to scold you the other month about running off doing shit without telling me and because of it, because you were not by my side to help me when I needed you most. I nearly died. Tell me, does that sound like a good future for you? Me in the ground? Because I am telling you right now, you have another thing coming if you think you are eating me if I do kick the bucket.”

Onyx began to visibly shake. I had never raised my voice like this before. She was clearly upset. I wanted to flip immediately. Console her. I loved her so much after all. But my other methods had not stuck, she needed to learn.

”Apollo. I am so sorry. Don’t hate me, please. I was just trying to help you the best way I could. By-”

”-By looking into the future? Again? Something I and Jewel have told you multiple times to stop doing so casually? Because this is the result Onyx. You look ahead and forget what’s going on now. I mean you walked away, knowing I was going into a battle. You left me. Alone. With these humans. Willow is a Hybrid and while I love the cultists. I need a true bio-form by my side. But Onyx... If you can’t do that for me. If you can’t be there when I need you the most. I will find another bio-form more suited to the task when we get home. Do you understand?”

Onyx felt herself almost regurgitating without meaning to upon hearing that. That was a fate worse than death. To be replaced because she was bad at her job? Her one job. To protect her King...

Her entire body was shaking like leaves in the wind. Her eyes began to glow, but flickered as tears began to pool and fall.

”I’m sorry Apollo. I won’t do it anymore. I promise. If I ever see something. I will tell you I want to go and for how long. If you say no. I won’t. I promise. Please Apollo, don’t replace me. I love you.”

’And that did it.’ I thought to myself as Onyx flashed me the most vulnerable look I had ever seen an entity of the hive give me. This apex predator. This perfect killer was about to have a mental collapse because I simply scolded her.

Letting out a big sigh, I opened my arms wide and said softly, ”Come here, you.”

Onyx slowly pitter pattered over, not sure of herself, until she slowly pressed herself against my chest at which point she began to violently sob.

I then wrapped my arms around her, the action made her feel safe as she began to let out her feelings. The way she was crying. I could tell she was regretful. That she has finally saw what she was doing wrong. What it did to me. Especially as one of her fingers began to trace the outline of my ribs through my muscles, making her cry even more, feeling the damage I had sustained in her absence.

I began to stroke her curly brown hair slowly and softly as she continued to get it all out.

”You know I love you, Onyx. You know I love future Onyx as well. So instead of trying to take her place. Just stay with me. Be with me. I don’t want to replace you. You don’t want that either, do you?”

Onyx shook her head.

”Good. I am glad to hear that. It means you might actually listen to me for once and take it as a punishment you don’t get off on. Now look at me.”

Onyx did, she pulled away slightly, keeping her bosom firmly planted against me and looked up. Her eyes had turned red and tears were coating her brown skin.

I couldn’t help myself and grabbed her chin with my fingers. ”Even like this, you are still so beautiful.”

I watched as her lips struggled to suppress her smile and found it adorable. I then used my other hand to wipe away her tears and took another look at her.

”Perfection.”

I then leant down and kissed her, something she hungrily accepted. I could tell she was desperate to get back into my good books as her tongue was going crazy, but it just made me laugh and need to pull away.

She tried to chase my lips, but I stopped her with my hand and caressed her cheek, at which point she nestled her face into, looking up at me with a lovestruck expression.

I just sighed, giving up. ”It’s impossible to stay mad at something so beautiful. Come on, let’s head back.”

Onyx felt relieved. She saw her whole universe ending for a moment then. She was about to jump back into her safe space before realising she couldn’t? Apollo was preventing her?

”A-Apollo? Can you allow me back into your Mindspace?” She asked.

”No.” I replied. ”I might have forgiven you, because I love you, but you still need to be punished. So until the end of the war. Until we win. No Mindspace for you. You are just going to have to slum it in real space with the rest of us.”

*Thud*

Onyx fell to her knees and looked at the ground with a dead expression. ’No Mindspace? No...’

There was almost no better feeling than being in her mate’s very mind. Next to his delicious Origin. Basking in its power. It was addictive. She couldn’t just have it taken away... She had to act fast and do something, anything to avoid this punishment. It was too cruel!

Apollo had certain weaknesses. She could exploit one right now, but which one would work the best...

’Yes!’

She had an idea. All she had to do was execute it.

”Onyx? Are you alright?” I asked, concerned as she fell to her knees.

She then proceeded to position herself on her back, her hands lifted slightly above her as she looked up at me with her big glowing eyes as she proceeded to say,

”Moo.”

Doing an octuple take to make sure what just happened, happened. I felt I had to ask. ”Sorry? Did you just say ’moo’? Or am I going crazy?”

”Mow?”

Onyx continued to just stare at me with these hopeful, desperate and shockingly adorable eyes. However, as adorable as she was, I was beyond confused as to why she was suddenly doing this.

Until I felt anger through my link to Sapphire and the word. ’Thief!’

It was then it clicked and I just laughed.

”Onyx? Are you trying to pretend to be Sapphire because you know I am a sucker for her acting cute?”

”... Moo.”

The look of desperation on her face was too much. She looked like a child with its hand stuck in a cookie jar. I wanted to gobble her up here and now. But it wasn’t appropriate, we needed to get back.

”Whatever you were trying to accomplish, it didn’t work. Now get up and in my arms. I need to carry you back since we flew quite a ways away.

Onyx, who was in the midst of questioning her cuteness in the eyes of her mate, suddenly perked up. She was going to be carried by her mate? Held close to him more? Perhaps there was a benefit to not being allowed in the Mindspace. Free snuggles!

Onyx then proceeded to swiftly get up and run towards me. She then jumped towards my chest and I instinctively reached out underneath her and held her in a princess carry.

As she got comfy and nestled against my chest. I felt like she was too happy again for someone who just had that reaction to not being allowed in my Mindspace. ’Why does it feel like I have still been played?’

I simply shrugged my shoulders at that thought and the two of us made our way back to the fort.