Chyox huffed and wrapped his four tentacles around his torso.
Anger boiled in Xylo. How dare Chyox disregard her privacy and question Xylo’s treatment of her. He narrowed his eyes at the Senior Healer, prepared to defend both himself and Selena’s honor.
“That is enough,” Prince V’dim snapped. “You two are supposed to be working together, not fighting each other. Chyox, you overstepped yourself and needlessly scared our guest. Xylo is the one in charge of this patient. If you had any worries or questions, you should have first spoken with him before barging into the human’s recovery room. Do you understand?”
Chyox broke eye contact with Xylo and turned to the princes. He bowed his head and replied stiffly, “Yes, my Prince, I understand. I was only concerned because of her importance... and with her pregnancy—”
“Pregnant? I’m pregnant?”
Xylo felt Selena stiffen behind him in shock. She released him and tried to pull away. His vines loosened, allowing her to step free, and he turned to face her.
“Xylo. Please, tell me he’s wrong.”
Xylo could hear the hurt in her voice and could feel her betrayal through their bond.
Silence fell upon the room.
“K’dyth, you are not needed any longer.”
“Yes, Prince V’dim.”K’dyth bowed, then added as he madehis way to the exit,“But we should to discuss the security of the human female when you are available.”
“How does she understand Galactic Common? Why is she questioning her pregnancy, Xylo?”Chyox asked, his mental tone dismissive.
“She learned Galactic Common as a second language but isn’t fully comfortable speaking it. I had not yet had a chance to inform her of her condition, she was still weak, and there were other concerns when she awoke a few hours ago—”
Xylo was shoved aside, interrupting his diatribe.
Anger. Hurt. Frustration. Pain. Confusion.
Selena’s tumultuous emotions crashed through him.
“I don’t care who you guys are. Primitive... I can call you names also. A walking, talking house plant and squid-fish-men. Ha! For all their faults and casual cruelties, at least the Yaarkins respected my privacy whenever I used the facilities, so long as I came when called.” Selena locked eyes with Xylo, her voice as full of rage as her face.
“You can stop talking silently behind my back—I know you’re doing that secret conversation shit. You’re speaking telepathically—I see your eyes shifting as you address one another. Xylo... am I pregnant?” she demanded. For all the anger in her voice, her eyes were full of pain and hurt.
He glanced warily at the princes and Chyox before returning his gaze to her. Her blue-green eyes bored into his as he steeled himself for her reaction.
“Yes, Selena. You are pregnant with twins, though we have been unable to confirm your due date.” He paused, but she stood in stunned silence. “Do you know who sired them? What species they are? Any information you could provide would help us determine what to expect for the rest of your pregnancy, delivery, and how to provide care for both you and your offspring.”
Xylo watched with concern as she covered her mouthwith her hand. A choked sound escaped as her eyes brimmed with tears.
“No. He never told me anything about himself. It’s all been some big secret... something about my safety and other issues.” Tears streamed down her face. “Why would you have kept this from me, Xylo?”
Xylo wanted desperately to comfort her, to pull her close and wrap his vines around her, but he knew now was not the time. She was in a fragile state and would resist.
“I promise it was not my intention to keep the pregnancy from you, Selena. You fell asleep before I could to talk to you about it. We were distracted by other topics as you know.” Xylo paused to take in a deep breath. He pleaded, “Please, do not doubt me.”
Xylo didn’t care the others were still in the room. He needed to find a way to fix this before he lost her. A blanket of calm fell upon him—Prince V’dim manipulating their emotions—and he could see the others start to relax. The prince might not be female, but he was still royalty and a strong empath.
Selena closed her eyes and turned away from Xylo.
“Leave,” she whispered.
He could hear the raw pain in her voice.
“Selena, please...” Xylo begged, stepping closer to her.
“I said leave!” she yelled, wrapping her arms protectively around her torso.
