“I am positive.” She nodded, tilting her body to peer at the rest of the clan. “I would like to hear their updates before my own.”
“You heard the Beacon.” Kaica stepped beside Oeta and shot Selena a quick smile. “Let’s put her fears to rest and let her know that her nestmates are on the mend.”
“Fathers, I don’t believe we had the opportunity to do introductions,” Xylo announced, guiding Selena to face them. “This is my nestqueen, Selena. She has granted me the honor of being the Primary of her clan.”
Both of his fathers gave Selena a quick bow.
“I believe we’ve met.” Selena let out a short chuckle. “But I’ve heard so much about you both.”
“Hopefully good things,” Suvax teased. “I wish we were able to meet in different circumstances.”
“It was Fates’ will,” Yuwal stressed. “But even so, you have granted us great honor for not only accepting our son as a clan member but also, making him the Primary of your clan.”
“No, you have it wrong,” Selena stressed as she placed her hand on top of the one holding her waist as she locked eyes with Xylo. “He has always been the one giving me the honor to be mated to such an intelligent scholar. He was my first mate, and with his encouragement, I could have the freedom to explore the world around me. If it weren’t for him, I don’t know where I would be today.”
Selena licked her lips and surveyed the room, pausing only to lock eyes with each one of her clanmates and give them a slight bow of her head.
“If it weren’t for any of them—any of my mates—I wouldn’t be the woman standing here before you today.”
“Your Sovereign, Zirene, gave us the privilege to move to Destima,” Suvax began, exposing his neck to the Aldawi leader. “We’ve had the honor to work amongst some of the brightest in the galaxy when we tended to your nestmates while you were away.” He placed a hand on his bandmate’s shoulder. “We hope we can continue to have the privilege to study beside the other research staff in your new medical facility that has recently opened up for your citizens.”
Xylo didn’t miss how his fathers hadn’t used their appendages since they’d entered the nestroom. Typically bondmates would instinctively comfort each other through a gentle touch or, if they were close, by entwining their limbs, but neither male had attempted either gesture.
Narrowing his eyes, Xylo scanned his fathers’ bodies and had to prevent himself from stepping back in shock.
Both of his fathers had tied their limbs tightly to their bodies, preventing them from aimlessly roaming as they would unconsciously do. His fathers had purposely done it—and from Xylo’s guess—they were trying to avoid giving his bondmate, Odelm, and him any hard feelings about their injuries.
“What use is a Circuli male without their appendages?”Odelm pathed, his voice strained.“We are a hinder to not only our clan but our nestqueen—and every Circuli around us knows it.”
“Selena hasn’t had a single negative thought about us other than she takes the blame for what happened,”Xylo snapped at his bondmate.“Getting used to it as we relearn how to work our professions will take time, but this isn’t permanent. Thankfully, with Vowel’s help, it won’t take years. So until they come back, we can learn how to adapt, just like our nestqueen constantly does.”
“While you can continue your research easily, I won’t be able to use the majority of my instruments,”Odelm countered.“And most of the ones I can use without my tentacles, I can’t play them masterfully.”
“If you think Selena would discard you because of your injuries—the injuries you received while protecting her—then perhaps the stasis has left an effect on your brain. I should request the medical staff to evaluate to make sure you are stable. I am sure Oeta is capable of knocking some sense into you if I ask her.”
“It’s not needed.”
“Are you okay?” Selena whispered as she palmed his cheek and guided him to face her.
He gazed into her deep blue-green eyes and wished they didn’t have an audience, so he could voice everything he wanted to tell her.
“I’m fine, Selena.” He leaned into her hand, enjoying the calming warmth radiating from it. “Seeing others with their appendages only reminded me how I no longer had mine—”
“For the time being,” Kaica interjected and instantly covered her mouth with both of her hands as her hair turned a worried orange. “I’m sorry. My nestmates told me how with great care, Circuli are capable of regrowing any body part… other than their head and important vital organs, of course.”
“She is trying to reiterate to Selena that both of your current conditions aren’t permanent,” Chyox hedged as he stepped behind his nestqueen and gently grabbed her arms in his attempt to comfort her. “With time, you will be fine.”
“I understand perfectly well.” Selena scrunched her face in confusion. “Should I be concerned about something?”
“We are fine,” Xylo soothed, squeezing her side as he shot a quick glare at his bondmate. “We are together now, and that’s all that matters.”
Narrowing her eyes, Selena pursed her lips as she studied them. He failed to conceal his exchange with his bondmate.
“Don’t worry about us, Selena.” Xylo leaned down to kiss her forehead. “We have a few things to work through, but the clan’s health should be everyone’s first concern.”
“No secrets,”Selena pathed, looking at both him and his bondmate.“If either of you needs something, let me know. If I should know something, please do.”
Turning her head toward his fathers, Selena closed her eyes for a brief moment to collect herself as she let out an audible sigh.
