“But you should know, Master Scholar Xylo, since your bonding last night, we have sensed an echo in you. It is part of why we came to speak with you. We cannot get any directreadings from her—only that she exists. There is a faint ripple from Selena, through your connection, as though we were trying to reach her from far away. You should add that to your notes and make it known to her and any future mates. If she accepts any,” Prince V’dim added.
Xylo was shocked.
If the princes were able to sense her through him, they might eventually be able to include her in their broadcasts to the crew. Or read her. Hopefully, an emergency would never necessitate forcing the connection, but he would have to warn Selena so she would not be shocked if she ever received anything from them.
A sudden wave of emotions flooded him.
Surprise. Shock. Panic. Anger.
The princes turned to him, searching his face—as if they, too, felt her strong emotions.
Xylo followed the thread to Selena, his face instinctively turning in her direction. Just as he was about to rise to go to her, his wristband chimed. Glancing down, he did not recognize the caller. He flipped open the screen on his wristband, answering, and froze when multiple video feeds of the pond in the terrarium appeared.
Three Ulax males surrounded Selena, who was struggling to stay afloat. None of the males offered to assist her, and the strong emotions she broadcast told him she was both angry and scared.
One of the screens panned away from Selena toward the shore. Kaede stood on the black sand and nodded at the camera. Then the camera turned to Kaede’s right, focusing farther along the shore. Odelm ran through the shallow water toward Selena. Xylo watched as he dove into the water, then the camera panned back to its original focus.
Xylo heard movement behind him. Glancing over hisshoulder, he saw the others had gathered around, their eyes on his wristband.
Returning his gaze to the screen, he watched Odelm say something angrily to the three Ulax males, then tow Selena back to shore. Both Kaede and Odelm talked to Selena, who was yanking her clothes over her wet body but seemed otherwise unharmed.
Xylo sighed in relief.
The screens blackened, and a message popped up:
“SELENA IS FINE. I GOT IT COVERED. NO PROBLEMS. SELENA IS HUNGRY. GOING TO SUITE TO CHANGE. MEET AT HER FAVORITE CAFE. -K”
Stunned, Xylo paused a moment before closing the screen.
He shut his eyes and focused on his thread to Selena. She was calm if a bit irritated. The irritation at the grit in her sandals was uppermost in her mind, followed closely by thoughts of what she wanted to order for dinner and curiosity about what Odelm would play later.
Opening his eyes, he turned to his princes.
“If there is nothing else you require, I am going to join my nestqueen for dinner. You are welcome to join me.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Selena
As we arrived at my favorite café, I saw Xylo approaching from the opposite direction with his coworkers and the princes. Apparently, we were to have company for dinner. I stepped closer to wrap my arms around him as he reached my side, pressing my cheek against his soft fuzzy chest.
Xylo nodded at Kaede before looking down at me, searching my eyes with concern. “You okay, Selena?”
I nodded, wondering if our deeper bond had alerted him I was feeling unsettled.
“Kaede told me you were hungry and were planning on dinner at the café. I am finished my work for the day and thought we would join you.”
Ah! Clearly his conversation with Kaede had been about more than dinner, but I didn’t mind.
“I am glad you’re here,” I whispered against his chest, giving him a small smile.
Xylo returned my smile.
Pulling away, I glanced around at the group, then glanced into the insanely packed café. I hadn’t seen it this packed before—it was a littledaunting.
“Do you think we can find a table? Is there one large enough for so many of us?”
“There are a few booths large enough to accommodate nine,” Prince V’dim reassured me.
