“It is not my right to question her personal choices or her private life. Neither is it yours,” Odelm snapped as he started swimming toward shore.
I was amazed at his strength and shocked he’d come to my rescue. When I was able to gather my breath to speak, I whispered, “Thank you, Odelm.”
He shrugged and didn’t reply.
When he was able to stand, Odelm picked me up and cradled me to his chest, carrying me to shore. As we approached, I saw Kaede, holding my clothes and shoes.
“What happened to being in charge of protecting Selena from harm?” Odelm growled. “If I had not come for a swim when Selena failed to meet me at the café for lessons, she would have been alone with those males.”
Jerking his chin toward the sky, Kaede replied, “Look up. I had my drones ready if they were aggressive, but she seemed to be able to manage, and I knew you were on your way and could assist, so no harm done. I’m not going to interfere with the strange Circuli mating rituals.” He laughed. “At least they were smart enough not to follow you.”
Odelm set me down, and I snatched my clothes from Kaede.
“Thanks, I guess? But you know you don’t have to shoot everyone who comes to talk to me. That’s sort of extreme and frightening.”
“No. But those males snuck up on you while you were peacefully relaxing. If Odelm hadn’t been there to assist, I would’ve done so myself.”
Rolling my eyes, I shook out my clothes.
Kaede clearly didn’t understand how extreme his reaction was. Certainly, those Ulax males had startled me, but theyhadn’t been aggressive. Somewhat rude perhaps and arrogantly curious about my personal life but not something worth being shot by a drone over.
Kaede’s thoughts and mood swings confused me. Almost as much as Odelm’s—but I was getting used to treading around Odelm’s triggers. One moment, Kaede was caring and considerate, the next he was argumentative, spewing rude or violent remarks—or both.
Frustrated, I tugged my clothes over my soaking wet body and shoved my wet feet into my sandals. The sandy grit made me grimace.
I tossed over my shoulder as I marched off, “I’m going back to the suite to clean up and change. I’ll meet you at the café for dinner.”
I didn’t bother looking to see if they followed.
CHAPTER TWENTY
Xylo
All Xylo’s research throughout his many years of study had not prepared him for how he would feel being fully bonded to his nestqueen. Selena was a blessing he had never expected, and their coupling had been an indescribable pleasure. She was more sensitive to his essence than Circuli females were reported to be. Her taste was sweet and addictive—he could not stop thinking of tasting her again. Waking up with her in his arms had brought an instant smile to his face.
They might not be in love—romantic love was not common among Circuli—but he felt he could easily come to love Selena. Regardless, he would give her the support she needed, ensure the best care possible, and he would never fault her if they remained simply friends. He would still co-father her offspring.
The gift of Selena as his nestqueen was enough.
Xylo had already benefited from their bonding. He had noticed early in the day, he did not need to maintain his mental shields around others—not unless they were more powerful than he.
He had not believed she would accept himso soon—if at all—but he now understood her need for stability, her guilt for accidentally creating a court bond with him. And the instincts that had made her trust him, to feel he was safe... she was amazing. She was willing to accept whatever the Fates had planned for them, hoping for her chance at love, her chance to travel the stars as she had always dreamed.
Ever since he had woken this morning, he had been picking up thoughts and emotions from Selena. He could not block them—only dim them.
Not that he wanted to.
He loved learning how she thought, hearing her unvoiced thoughts, coming to understand her better.
Selena was a strong female. Others who had been through what she had would have crumbled, would have reacted in fear and lashed out—not Selena. She focused on the future. On surviving. Learning.Adapting.
Her drive made him proud to be hers. She was a fighter, and he respected her for it.
He smiled as he felt Selena sneak out while his coworkers were distracted, hounding him with questions. Kaede would keep an eye on her, and now that they were more intimately connected, he would know if she needed him.
“Is it contagious?”
“Should we put him under quarantine until we figure out what it is?”
