My Shadow’s posture instantly relaxed. His shoulders sagged, and he took a deep breath. Letting out a long, drawn-out sigh, his royal-purple eyes roamed my body as if searching for something wrong. His tired gaze stopped at my stomach, and just as I was about to glance down to see what he was staring at, he snapped his eyes back to mine.
“We can tour the empire when we gather our cubs from Masmi.” He rolled to his paws and curled over on all fours, halting on the other side of Xylo’s body. Reaching over, he palmed my cheek and rubbed his thumb along my jaw. “Our people want to meet their leaders, and what better way than visiting each sol system’s capital? After Mwe accepts our petition, we can make an empire-wide announcement at Odelm’s performance hall about all the changes we are implementing before we leave for Liskta.”
“How have our cubs been?” Leaning into his paw, I sighed. “I want to speak to them.”
“They are completely healthy and excelling in their lessons.” Grinning, he grabbed my sides and scooped me up, carrying me over Xylo and placing me between his legs. Wrapping his arms around me, he held me close as loud purrs erupted from his chest, vibrating against my back. He laid his head on top of mine. “When you are ready, we can page them so you can see for yourself if that will make you happy.”
“I would love to,” I muttered, studying my motionless Circuli nestmates. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. Color had begun to return to their ashen bodies, but rather their bold shades. Their skin seemed iridescent, as if a milky film covered them. I didn’t need a healer to tell me that they still needed time—something I never seemed to have enough of. “But first, I want to make sure my nestmates are stable.”
“They are,”Vowels assured us, materializing beside the bed. His golden ethereal form radiated a soothing glow with his long hair pulled back at the nape of his neck. He stood in a relaxed stance, surveying my Circuli mates with his hands tucked into his baggy pants, muscles protruding from his sleeveless vest.“There is no reason for concern. I’ve released them from the psychic construct, but it will take some time for them to wake from their deep slumber.”
“How long have I been unconscious?”
“Exactly three days,” Kaede replied as he teleported in front of the nestroom’s window. His black cape snapped in the wind, blocking the sunlight filtering through the waterfall. His lethal assassin’s uniform would seem more sinister if we were strangers, I supposed. “I’ve been playing host to your ambassadors for three long, tiring days while Oeta managed the healing team who supervised the five of you.”
“It couldn’t bethatdifficult,” I teased, biting my lip as I relaxed in Zirene’s embrace. The softness of his fur made me fight the urge to rub against him like snuggling into a warm, purring blanket. “The villa’s estate is large, and there’s plenty to do. Between the hatchery, the sanctuary, and the private chefs in the dining room, you shouldn’t have had a hard time.”
“I don’t know what’s worse—hearing Tori talk endlessly about how the island reminds her of some exotic location on Earth or Zyxel demanding that I give him access to your secret files. The annoyingfraxdoesn’t know when to back down, and he even tried to convince Oeta.”
“He doesn’t need to know more about Selena,” Zirene hissed, pulling me closer as he tightened his embrace. “He can learn to appreciate the access he has and study what we haven’t restricted. I understand Selena may be his fated one, but until she accepts him into the clan, he can learn his place.”
“Has he really been a bother?”
“He’s more annoying than Q,” Kaede scoffed, unclasping his cloak and throwing it onto the grass. “The others understand which privileges they’ve been given, but he keeps digging to learn more about you.”
“Why are you hosting them?” I tilted my head back and stared at my Shadow. “Wouldn’t Kaede’s skills be better used elsewhere?”
“The ambassadors are my responsibility,” Kaede interjected. He disappeared, only to reappear on the other side of Zirene. Leaning his back against the pillowed headboard, he folded his hands behind his head and watched us. “It was my call to accept your foolish task and bring them here. Once Mwe determines their fate, I will be free to put my focus elsewhere.”
“Couldn’t REI watch them?” I glanced at my golden Oetsae, who strode casually around my sleeping Circuli mates. “Or has something happened while I was in your psychic construct?”
“Nothing happened.”Vowels glanced between my two conscious clanmates.“REI can supervise but not speak with them. Kaede was able to answer questions and assist them.”
“And they had plenty of questions,” Kaede mumbled. “Tori would like to know when she can see you again. She is concerned about what she’s heard about my Circuli clanbrothers and wants to know if there’s anything you need.”
“She’s a good person, Kaede.” Chuckling, I rolled my eyes at my grumpy assassin. “She cares about us and deserves our reassurance. Celyze probably told her what happened, and she wants to help out.”
“But she doesn’t have to be so… persistent.”
“Soon, Mwe will be here, and you will be free from your duties.” I glanced at Vowels, who was already staring at me, prepared for my question. “About how much longer we will need to be here? I know how the Circuli excel whenever they can bond with nature. While this nestroom has a stream and plant life, they would probably feel better outside, even for a short period.”
“They should be able to leave once they wake up.”He gracefully walked around my nestmates, studying them.“Their bodies have healed enough to survive independent of you. I have already told your Shadow that they need to touch you while you sleep, so I can continue to heal the damage that remains. Until their coloring has fully returned to normal, they will need a constant boost from me at night. I advise you not to leave Destima until I finish my task.”
“What about my Favoreds’ appendages?” I whispered, eyeing the scars on Xylo’s back. “Will they get them back?”
“Circuli are capable of regenerating if given the proper care and support from their nestqueen,”Vowels began.“It takes an extreme amount of energy and time to grow any missing body parts. While I know I am capable of doing it, I want to warn you that it’s not going to be an overnight procedure.”
“How long will it take?” Closing my eyes, I clenched my hands into fists, dreading the answer, though not knowing would bother me more.
“If I am given enough of your night lamps to use as energy, and they touch you every night, I estimate about a year until they are completely restored.”
“A year?” Covering my mouth, I gasped. “Isn’t there a way for you to accelerate the healing process?”
“Unfortunately, no. Since they both have multiple appendages, it will take longer than normal. Limbs take a long time to grow, especially when violently severed. Unless you want me to focus on one mate—”
“No, I don’t. I refuse to pick between them. I am grateful you can do this for my nestmates, and I know they will be too. I just wish it could be a quicker process.”
“You are my host. If you were the one injured, I wouldn’t need nearly as much time. I can only do this because they are your clanmates, and you have their mating spores inside you.”
