At random, I grabbed a pair of black baggy pants and a loose emerald tank. Ignoring the rest, I searched for a pair of shoes. My eyes lighted on a pair of golden slip-ons. I scooped them up and headed to the bathroom through the connecting door. Given my newfound love of water, I was eager to test out the divine bathtub. I set everything on the shelf next to the tub, then paused to let Xylo know what I was planning.
I sought out the golden thread that connected us. Did it seem a little more substantial today? Thicker and shinier, thestrand felt more refined, woven tightly throughout my mental shields—the mental shieldshehad taught me to build in our dreamscape. Following the strand, I connected to Xylo, testing our strengthened link.
“Is it safe to take a bath? Or should I get dressed and come out to you?”
“Kaede was at the door. He is wondering why you have not had breakfast yet. Do you want to bathe before we eat?”his deep mental voice stroked along my nerves, making me shiver.
I looked sadly at the tub, then shrugged. Food first. I was hungry and didn’t want to keep anyone waiting. And I wanted plenty of time to soak and enjoy.
“Let me get dressed. I’ll be right there.”
I washed and dressed quickly, then walked out of the bedroom, snapping my wristband back onto my forearm.
Kaede wore the same uniform as yesterday and stood in the center of the room, whispering to Xylo.
“Good morning!”
Both males turned toward me and a smile crossed Xylo’s face. He seemed different—perhaps happier—today. Was completing our bond the cause of it? I hadn’t realized it would make such a difference to him.
“About time you got up. You shouldn’t be skipping meals,” Kaede fumed.
“What time is it?”
“Past lunch, which is the reason I’m here. I didn’t think babysitting was part of my job description.”
Rolling my eyes, I lifted my chin and stared Kaede down.
“I am twenty-five years old. I am fully capable of taking care of basic functions and knowing my own needs. Plus, I have Xylo—a Master Scholar who knows even more than perhaps I do—to make sure everything’s all right.”
Kaede grunted and looked away. When his eyes lighted onthe side of Xylo’s neck, Kaede exclaimed, “What in Fate’s name happened to your neck?”
Xylo had a white mark on the side of his neck.
Stepping closer to get a better view, I stared.
Grabbing Xylo’s chin, I turned his head to the side, using my other hand to trace the mark. When I’d bitten him in my frenzy last night, I had left a mark. It was slightly raised, its ridges white above the charcoal skin. It nestled between two of his blue and green splotches, almost like a constellation nestled in his space-patterned scales.
A beautiful mark on his gorgeous body.
“I did this?” I asked, releasing him.
“You think I am gorgeous?” he countered, shocked.
Standing on my toes, I placed a quick kiss on his soft lips.
“I have mentioned this to you before,” I said before glancing at Kaede, my eyes landing on his visor and drape. “Unlike Kaede, who’s decided no one gets to see anything about him other than his hair and ears.”
My stomach decided to make itself known with a vengeance and growled loudly.
“How about a late lunch? Perhaps at the cafe? I want to see if Odelm is playing.”
The three of us had lunch in the cafe. Sadly, there’d been no sign of Odelm or anyone else I knew. Then Xylo had insisted on a trip to the infirmary. The four healers had inspected me, discussing how to get a more accurate image of the offspring growing inside me. They had explained Circuli had no need of imaging technology since their pregnancies lasted only three days. The sexual organs didn’t develop until after they were born. Gender was known from their birth color—females were born a pure white while the males were pitch black.
As they huddled in the corner and Kaede paced, I pondered my pregnancy. They kept referring to offspring, but I wasn’t sure that felt right to me. I wasn’t sure what term to use for whatever was growing inside of me. Children is what I had read about in my Earth studies—but they were not entirely human. Cubs, as the feline Aldawi used? I would need to give it some thought.
Xylo’s voice broke into my thoughts.
“Kaede. Can you come over here?”
