Silence met me.
Placing my hand on the glass above Xylo’s chest, between his hearts, I studied his features and noticed his vines and petal wings were missing. My eyes flew to Odelm’s Cryopod, finding his tentacles gone, too.
Images of their past selves flashed before me, followed by the last time we had been together, and how I had left them lying bloody on the floor. If I had known they would be forever disabled, I would’ve fought harder to remain by their sides in the throne room as Zirene dealt with his sire.
It was my fault they were hurt.
“I believe Selena asked you a question,” Kaede growled at the healers, wrapping an arm around my waist as he pressed against my back. The warmth radiating from him soothed my worries when he made his presence known. “You should’ve been prepared for this moment, so answer her, or I’ll open the Cryopods myself.”
“Our recent data tells us it would be unwise to open them all at once,” Chyox replied, looking for his team for assistance. “Releasing the princes first would be best, because they could help Selena establish her reign over the moon’s network while preventing any more jarring mishaps in this abnormal transition.”
“I agree.” Suvax walked over to the display table and scanned the four bodyform charts. “No matter how much I would love to speak with my son again, waking him at the same time as the princes is not feasible. Once we know how the princes react after waking, we can gauge how much assistance Xylo and Odelm will need.”
“Then make it so,” Zirene growled, stepping beside me, placing his hand on top of mine. He shot a glare at Kaede as his ethereal flames flared, then his dark gaze landed on mine. “If you are ready, we will wake the princes, but if you would rather retire and get a good night’s rest first, we understand.”
“She won’t be able to sleep until she knows they are fine.” Kaede chuckled in my ear, squeezing me before releasing me from his embrace. “I could barely convince her to rest on our journey home. Believe me, she won’t feel better until we are reunited.”
“Then we will proceed one day at a time.” Zirene pulled me closer and took my other hand, placing it between Odelm’s hearts on the Cryopod. Resting his head on top of mine, he stood behind me, tail flicking against my legs. “It’s up to you—can you wait a little longer to be reunited with Xylo and Odelm? Or do you need all your mates to wake up now?”
As much as I would love to wake them all, rushing the process would be irresponsible. Chyox was right; I needed the princes to help me establish Destima’s mental network and figure out what had happened to our clan’s connections before I woke my Favored in this mess. They would need all the comfort they could get, since they had lost their appendages. If they woke up to find our direct bond thread severed, they would feel devastated.
I couldn’t do that to them. I recalled how they had reacted on theDestinywhen my void locked the princes into my dreamscape as they searched my memories. They had said they had seen our bond threads, but they hadn’t been able tofeelme—like they were connected to a black hole.
In their fragile states, I didn’t want to fathom how they would feel as they came to.
“The princes,” I muttered, knowing it was the right thing to do but still feeling guilty. I was so close to my clan, and yet, so far away from reuniting us. “As much as I want us all together, I want to make sure everyone is safe before I proceed to my Favored.”
“It will be done,” Zirene announced, releasing my hands. “My Nova has made a decision. Wake the princes.”
Leaning over Odelm’s Cryopod, I traced the glass, mimicking brushing his clear anemone hair from his frozen face. His body was a light gray with white speckles throughout, almost like opaque ice, unlike the shades of violet that I had grown accustomed to. A smile crossed my face as my gaze landed on my mark on his neck, knowing no matter what, Odelm was still mine.
“I don’t know if you can hear me”—I whispered, kissing the spot on the glass over his lips—“but know that I am home, and once things are settled, I will be here when you wake up. I love you. Please don’t lose hope.”
Staring down at him, I pulled away and brushed the tears that continued to flow from my eyes. I hated this feeling but knew it was for the best.
We would get through this together, though it would take longer than I had hoped.
Turning toward my Primary, I peered at him and wondered how he had felt when he first came across me, locked in stasis. I’d been a pregnant female of an unknown species. It had been his job as the Master Scholar to figure out what I was and how to deal with me.
Here we were, our roles reversed. I didn’t know Fate’s will for us and how the Stars would lead us down our path. I was the one gazing down at him, wondering what to do with all of the new responsibilities thrust upon me.
We hadn’t asked for any of this, and yet, I could do no more to fix it than to slowly return our lives to normal. My nestmates deserved to be welcomed in loving arms to a stable mental network after the sacrifices they had made to protect me.
It was my role as this clan’s leader to provide them with the love, guidance, and strength my mates needed to thrive.
“You will be safe here and, soon, in my arms. I promise, Xylo. You have nothing to fear.” Placing my hand on the glass over his, I leaned over and kissed the glass above his lips as I had done with Odelm. “You honor me, and I won’t forget what you did to protect me.”
Chapter Eight
Zirene
He hated seeing his Nova like this.
He fumed at the thought of Commander Ryzen’s twin brother. If only he had contacted him about Selena, he would’ve entertained the idea of arranging a meeting like a civilized leader. But Xenak had designed a ploy, using his sire’s hatred of his Nova to blindly accept a shady deal to get rid of her… and he had nearly incited a war with the Quaww.
Zirene hated cowards who played mind games with him, and that was what Commander Xenak had done. He knew that the Quaww had been overstepping their boundaries and toying with the Aldawi empire by starting skirmishes along their shared border.
If he weren’t so occupied with not spiraling out of control while he took over as Sovereign, he would’ve entertained the idea of challenging the Quaww at the Assembly.
