“If he dares attempt another senseless mission against the Aldawi empire...” Kaede glared at the other ambassadors. “If any of youishwith my clan, I will end you.”
“You wouldn’t have to, Agent K.” Oeta grinned. “I would do it myself.”
Chapter Three
Zirene
His Nova reeked of him.
No matter where he inhaled, Zirene could barely pick up his Beacon’s unique floral scent. He hadn’t realized Kaede could bury her aroma beneath his odor. He never had to worry about his Circuli nestbrothers leaving their claim on her, for males of their species didn’t mark a nestqueen.
Growling, he squeezed her closer, engulfing her body with his and hoping he could cover Kaede’s marking, even temporarily.
He could wait until Selena settled before he rightly marked her again. The fate of his Circuli nestbrothers was more important than his desire to reclaim her.
Having her sitting in his lap, wrapped up in his arms was enough—for now—to curb the darkness within.
“What’s wrong?” Selena whispered, placing a hand on his cheek and directing his face away from her neck. Frowning, she searched his face. “Is there something else you aren’t telling me?”
“You smell like him,” he grumbled and winced, hating the way the words sounded on his lips. He felt like a cub complaining to its mother.
He was the Sovereign of one of the most powerful territories of the galaxy, and yet, such a minuscule thing bugged him. He had always allowed her to surround herself with any males she fancied, as long as they weren’t Aldawi. Selena washisNova, and no one, not even his late sire, could break their bond. Their souls were forged as one by the Fates, and the Stars had led them together.
Kaede had returned Selena to her rightful place beside her clan, and in doing so, had joined the ranks of her mates. Zirene couldn’t deny Kaede’s unique traits made him the only male qualified to rescue her—besides himself.
Zirene had to look past Kaede’s actions, because no matter how much he disliked it, or wished their mating had happened at another time, it was Fate’s will. The Stars had led them down this path, and he must accept it. He knew what happened to those who tried to resist their destiny: they faced dire consequences. He hoped the darkness lurking around him was punishment for not following their plans for him—for them.
Am I the cause of all of this torment?If I had taken over as Sovereign from my late sire many years ago, could all the misery Selena suffered have been prevented?
It took all his control to push down his dark thoughts, fight his instincts, and stop himself from taking her in front of the crowd, marking her inside and out for all to see. If he did so, she might forgive him over time, but he wouldn’t dare test that theory.
A leader must always be in control, at any cost. If he gave in to his temptations, he would only show his citizens how far he had fallen, how unstable he had become. He could be deemed as unfit, like his sire before him, which would cause the Aldawi empire to fall into deeper disarray. His former supporters might pressure his brother, Royak, to challenge him and take over, and outsiders like the Quaww would see an opportunity to invade.
Did he still act for the good of his people? Or had he passed a turning point in history, like his ancestor before him, making his reign as detrimental to the Aldawi as the Great Dimming?
Because of their Nova-Shadow connection, Selena was both his weakness and his strength. Zirene didn’t like living at her mercy, but he would never fault her for it. According to Oeta, the closer and more intimate their relationship, the stronger they would become. Their connection had given him the strength he’d needed to overcome his sire and rule above Royak—but what had it given her?
She wasn’t Aldawi, even though she had absorbed some of their traits through their mating and marking rituals. Would she gain any strength through their connection? He wondered how much time they needed to spend near each other to stabilize him, and whether or not he needed her physical touch or could she merely stay within the boundaries of his dominant aura.
There were too many unknowns....
He had his scholars scouring the Aldawi archives for any data that had survived the Great Dimming, but so far, their search had been fruitless.
She had been away far too long. He needed her to beat back the shadows threatening to overcome him. She was his light—his Nova, his Beacon—and this whole time, he’d only had their time in the dreamscape to guide him away from chaos.
Zirene knew she would need to take care of his nestbrothers. They couldn’t spend all the time together that he needed to beat the madness. He could tolerate the uncomfortable sensations he was experiencing, for he knew how sensitive and territorial he became around Selena. If she hadn’t been away when she accepted Kaede, his mating and marking wouldn’t have been as big a deal or have affected him so badly.
He could wait—he would wait—and get over the stench of her newest mate on her skin.
They hadtime.
He would show her all the appreciation and love he felt for her, instead of allowing the others to pick up his slack. While he had shared the dreamscape with her, he had fallen into old habits and become dependent on their special time together to fill the gaps he had missed in person.
Raising their cubs. Holding her when she was upset. Comforting her during hard times, like those soon to come. Bonding with her clan and forming stronger relationships with his nestbrothers, regardless of their differences in social rank. Helping her with her vision for Destima.
These were all things he couldn’t do as the Aldawi Sovereign, but as Zirene, her mate, he could.
She opened her mouth and frowned as she sniffed her shoulder. “Do I smell bad?” She watched her hands toy with his mane.
