“I believe it is good for Selena to express how she feels. It prevents misunderstandings. We will already have enough of those with our different cultures. My biggest question for her is...” Xylo turned to address me directly. “Selena, what do you want to do with all your offspring—current and future ones?”
“Huh? What do you mean?” I asked, confused. Do with them? Of course, they’d stay with me.
“Both Wudox and Ulax nestqueens typically only keep their daughters, placing them in their resident hatchery to be raised by their nestmates. They send their sons to the local or regional hatchery and never reclaim them.”
“Why would they do that?”
“Male offspring are considered military fodder. If a male is sent to the regional hatchery and is left unclaimed by thetime he fully matures, that male is sent to the military academy. The tradition started when soldiers were desperately needed during the Ulax and Wudox wars. Once we signed the peace accords, the tradition remained to ensure we could protect our planet from invaders. When our technology progressed to allow space travel and the Aldawi came, our military was instrumental in assisting them and CEG in the Yaarkin War.”
“That’s horrible,” I gasped, covering my mouth with my blanket.
“It is life.”
“Well, I am neither Wudox nor Ulax. I will be keeping my children, no matter how they turn out or what gender they are. I won't abandon them. And I want whoever I’m with to raise them as their own.”
Kaede interrupted, laughing. “You forget that you carry Aldawi offspring—even if they turn out to be hybrids. The Aldawi have different thoughts about family and children.”
“And those are...”
“Females and males live in separate communities. While the males are politically and militarily in charge, the females are self-reliant businesswomen. The females pay taxes to the government and live in their own communities; the only males with them are their adolescent sons and the rare males they claim as mates. Typically, female Aldawi only interact with males when they are in heat. Then they will couple with any male—no commitments. Their sexual needs during heat drive them to seek out multiple partners for the entire week, usually staying at a female haven in neutral grounds outside a male community. If she becomes pregnant with a litter, she’s under no obligation to tell the male—or males—who sired them. The only exceptions are the rare cases of bonded or fated mates—Nova. Honestly, the temperaments of thegenders do not mix well. They rarely want to deal with one another, other than during business deals or a female's heat.”
“Now what he said to me makes more sense,” I mused. “But he said he wants to claim me, not the other way around.”
“He’s hoping the difference in your species will allow him to do so to protect you and your offspring. Knowing your relationship status at the time of your mating was nonexistent may cause some issues since neither of you claimed the other. Failure to do so at the time of conception will raise questions. He’s hoping to have that resolved before we arrive.”
Turning to Xylo, I searched his worried face.
“Xylo, he knows about you and our courting bond. He said that as long as I didn't claim any other Aldawi, he would welcome any additional males I claim,” I stated soothingly, trying to banish his worries.
He traced my face with his teal eyes and visibly relaxed.
“It seems there is much to prepare before we get to the space station. It seems we may have a legal battle on our hands.”
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Selena
Kaede and Xylo spent another hour discussing preparations though I tuned most of it out. When they finally decided to call it a night, I walked them to the door and wished Kaede a good night, putting my hand out to prevent Xylo’s exit. Once Kaede had passed out of sight, I turned to face Xylo.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
He looked at me in confusion. “I was planning on going to my cabin to retire for the night.”
“We are court-bonded, right?” I leaned forward and grabbed his hand. “Isn't it a traditional part of your culture that you stay with me from now on? I mean, assuming you want to...”
He looked down at our entwined fingers.
“Of course, I do. Are you sure this is what you want?”
Raising my other hand, I ran my hand along his jaw, tipping his face up so I could see his eyes. He closed his eyes briefly as he leaned into my touch. The scales of his face felt cool against my hand but not hard—smooth and supple.
“I believe so. I asked you, didn’t I?”
“Then I wouldlike that.”
He let go of my hand, and I slid my hand down his cheek in a last lingering caress.
Pausing before the door to the master bedroom, I turned to him nervously.
