“They don’t drown!” I pointed out.
“That may be so, but I wouldn’t call helplessly floating around something to be proud of either.” He shot me a grin. “Anyway, your Shadow left after speaking with the cubs. He’s currently in his office, making sure the progress of his new capital is going well. The princes wanted to try to learn more about the outsiders, for they enjoyed their company yesterday, and Xylo wanted to check your records.”
“You better not prevent him from seeing them,” I hissed. “He deserves as much as you do access to my medical records.”
“I didn’t, but I told him that he couldn’t do anything else. I don’t need him to overwork himself when he’s still mending, and I will tie him up to a lounge chair outside if I have to.”
“I don’t believe you will need to.” I frowned. “But I think I need to speak with Odelm.”
“Are you sure you don’t want to continue lying here with me, shirtless and rubbing your feet?” he teased, bringing a foot to his mouth and nipping my ankle. “I can make it worthwhile.”
“I’ll need to postpone it,” I said, biting my lip.
“Your loss.”
Chapter Forty-Three
Odelm
Swift energy burned through him, jolted him awake.
Swiftly, Odelm sat up, feeling the rolls of pleasure course through him. Instantly, he knew his nestqueen was experiencing an orgasm, and from the stream of thoughts that bombarded him, it was Kaede who was with her.
As he blinked, he caught movement beside him and noticed that Xylo was awake too. Glancing around, he was shocked to see the rest of the clan, Oeta, and the outsiders sitting around them.
The twin suns were setting in the distance as the solar orbs began to glow. There was a long table filled with trays of picked over exotic food and half-filled containers of drinks off to the side.
“I take it that it’s been done?” Zirene asked, glancing between his clanmates. “I was wondering when he was going to tell her.”
“What’s been done?” Tori asked as Celyze hushed her.
“Kaede told Selena that she’s pregnant,” Xylo confirmed, grinning. “He’s the sire.”
“Selena’s pregnant?” Tori exclaimed, gripping Celyze’s arm tightly. “And you didn’t tell me?”
“I’m sorry, my StarPyre, but it’s not my story to tell—”
“And everyone knows you love to gossip and can’t keep a secret,” Luywn muttered, crossing his arms.
“I can keep a secret!” Tori huffed, turning her back to her clan. “It’s not my fault!”
“How did she take it?” Zirene asked, ignoring Tori as she grumbled to her clan.
“I assume she took it well since she sealed him to her,” Xylo muttered. “She formed a mental thread with him, connecting him permanently to her.”
“She’s capable of doing such a thing?” Celyze’s mouth dropped open. “I knew she was connected to the four of you through your mating spores, but I didn’t know she could do it without it.”
“If she bound Kaede to her, what stops her from permanently binding the rest of us as well?” Zyxel looked between Odelm and Xylo.
“Nothing,” Xylo replied. “Unless you don’t want it. I highly doubt she would force a connection with either of you, especially since she doesn’t like conflict, and being bound to someone who didn’t want to, to begin with, would only cause her heartache.”
“Wait,” Tori drawled, with her mouth open in shock. “Are you saying you’re capable of feeling her…. At all times?”
“Correct,” Odelm replied, nodding. “Unless either of us blocks each other.”
“We can hear her too,” Xylo explained. “It all depends on what species of Circuli we are and how deep of a connection we have with her.”
“We know whatever she thinks or feels whenever she’s awake,” V’dim explained. “That’s how we know if something is wrong with her or if she needs something.”
