Cradling her chin between his thumb and forefinger, he forced her eyes to meet his so she could see his sincerity.
“No doubts, Selena... your kindness astonishes me. Thank you for honoring me with this blessing. I will not fail you nor make you regret your gift to me.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Selena
“You aren’t angry with me? For what I did?” I murmured, feeling my eyes welling up.
“Angry? Absolutely not. I will be honest and say I am surprised. I never expected you even to consider me.”
He slid his hand from my chin, cupping my cheeks with both hands. Using his thumbs to wipe the tears from my eyes, he looked at me like he could see my soul and whispered in his light tenor voice, “I never considered I would have a second chance, nor did I want to have to deal with another nestqueen, fearing they would only reject me again.
“When you complimented me, I thought you were just like all the other females. I was pretty to look at but not good enough to have. When you came to talk to me and offered to be my friend, I was skeptical and thought it was some sort of trick. But as I got to know you over the last few days, I realized how wrong I was. I started thinking how wonderful it would be to have you as my nestqueen. My instincts to protect you kept nagging me. It frustrated me because you were not mine.
“I convinced myself it was all because I was a severed male, my body punishing me for never giving my bonding spores away. I refused to let myself even consider it might be because of you. Selena, please believe me when I say, you have honored me beyond measure. If you decide to make this bond permanent, my mind will be at peace—even if we remain no more than friends, and I never become one of your Favored.”
I closed my eyes and leaned forward, resting my forehead on his chest again. He wrapped his arms back around me with a sigh.
“Odelm, I want this to work out. If I’m going to accept your bonding spores and make our bond permanent, I need you to accept what Xylo calls the rules of my clan. Open communication is important to me. We all need to know what is going on—with me, with my pregnancy, with Aldawi and CEG, everything. And you and Xylo need to respect one another. I won’t have constant strife or judgment in my family.
“As much as performing music is a part of you and too important to you to give up, so it is with Xylo and his research. Not to mention how critical his studies will be for my health and the wellbeing of my children. I am not going to prevent either of you from heeding your callings, just because I am now your nestqueen. Can you promise me at least this much?”
Odelm’s arms tightened around me. “Even though I may not fully approve of you being alone while pregnant and new to this ship, I understand you have other priorities for your nestmates, and I can respect that.”
I groaned. “And we need to speak to Xylo as soon as possible.”
Silence fell between us as he held me to his chest, and I listened to his heartbeats. I took a deep breath and his salty, musty scent flooded me. It reminded me of the aroma in thedensest part of the terrarium forest after they had sprayed the trees in the morning.
Thoughts about our time together—the swimming lesson, his rescue from the three unmated males, even his earlier interruption when I was studying—slid through my mind.
I still couldn’t believe what I’d just done.
Again.
I had to get a handle on my impulsiveness. I certainly didn’t regret it, but I should have asked. And I should have spoken with Xylo first. If I didn’t start thinking before I acted, I would end up court bonding myself to all the unbonded males on the ship.
I snorted.
I’d need to thank the princes the next time I saw them. They had clearly been proactive in protecting me from myself. Their announcements to the crew were probably the only thing that had prevented more awkward situations.
The sound of the suite door opening pulled me from my thoughts. I turned my head as Xylo and Kaede walked in.
Kaede looked at me though I could not see his expression behind the visor and drape.
“Don’t let us interrupt,” Kaede said, sarcasm dripping from every word.
Odelm released me and pulled away.
I looked nervously at Xylo.
A mental caress brushed my shields. Xylo nodded at me and smiled as he turned toward Odelm. He crossed the room, leaving Kaede by the door. Xylo stopped in front of Odelm and held out his hand.
Odelm looked down at Xylo’s hand, then returned his smile, clasping his hand in a firm grip. He wrapped one of his tentacles around their joined hands. Xylo slid one of his vines free, and it wrapped around the knot of hands and tentacle.
“Welcome to the clan, nestbrother,” Xylo congratulated, his smile widening.
Odelm nodded. “Thank you. Though I am not sure it has had time to sink in. I never thought I would have a second chance, nor did I consider Selena would be willing.”
