Selena
Waking up alone in a room that wasn’t mine after a night like last night wasn’t an experience I wished to repeat. Crying myself to sleep hadn’t helped matters. I had returned at such a late hour that I hadn’t wanted to ask Vowels to call Celyze and retrieve me.
I had probably been harsh with Zyxel, but he wasn’t trying to understand how I felt or the position I was in. I knew some species swore themselves to their mates the same day they met, but I wasn’t like them.
My heart was still raw from my kidnapping and fear for my mates’ survival. How could I accept someone I hardly knew just because the Stars had decided it was time for us to meet?
The Stars may have granted me some amazing gifts recently, but I couldn’t be thankful when they had placed all my mates in danger of a slow death while I was absent.
All Zyxel wanted was for me to openly accept him and allow him to comfort me, yet he didn’t understand that I needed familiarity, not more unknowns.
“Vowels. Do you happen to know where Zyxel is?”
“He’s in the lifedome, fighting Luwyn.”
“Why is he fighting Luwyn?’
“He mentioned something about Luwyn challenging him to a battle for your honor, and the honor of all females in the universe.”
“Oh, Stars!”
I hadn’t known how common it was for males to battle each other over trivial matters until I met my mates. While my nestmates didn’t fight beyond some friendly sparring, I had witnessed enough aggression on Destima and this base to know it held true across many species.
If one male looked at another male’s mate the wrong way, he challenged him.
If a male spoke to someone another was interested in, he challenged them.
I suspected Luwyn was fighting Zyxel because Tori’s clan had found out about last night. Either she had sent Luwyn or he had come on my behalf.
All I had wanted was to try to clear things up between us. That was what I got for sleeping in late.
After roaming aimlessly through the halls, I had confirmed the discovery that every corridor and door was unlabeled. Zyxel had ensured I had an escort because, without one, I would have been lost. Luckily, Vowels was leading me via a map he had stored in his memory.
When I approached the lifedome’s entrance, the doors slid open, revealing a recently washed Ryzen staring directly at me. Without his robe, I could see the sleek physique he displayed proudly. He was dressed in black pants and a golden vest. His emerald runes and the streaks in his golden hair seemed as alive as his glowing emerald eyes.
Scanning his body, I couldn’t find any of his daggers sheathed on his body and wondered why they had been sitting next to him in his infirmary room if they weren’t important.
“You were the exact person I was hoping to speak to.” His voice was honey-thick with a smile. “I was wondering if you had time to talk.”
“Are you going to ask me about the sparring match?”
He frowned. “No… Should I?”
“Forget I mentioned that.” I waved him off. “Then, are you going to tell me that you think we are destined to be together?”
His smile dropped as his eyes hardened. “My kind doesn’t believe in mates and love.”
“Then we have nothing to worry about.” I giggled nervously, trying to change the subject. “So, what do you want to speak about?”
“I was wondering if we could speak privately about what happened yesterday.”
“As long as we speak in the open. I’m sick and tired of being cooped up and want to enjoy the air in the lifedome for a while.” I glanced behind him, searching for the crimson male, only to find him battling in the open field across from our entrance. “If that is okay with you?”
His face softened and he followed my gaze. “Those two are always fighting,” he chuckled. “I understand why you would want to stay in the lifedome. Much entertainment to be seen.”
“Exactly.”
“I know the perfect spot with a good view and some privacy.”
