“You shouldn’t have to do this,” he said, the words scraping. “Not like this. Not hunted. Not pregnant.”
“There’s something else you haven’t told me, isn’t there?” His Nova tilted her head. “What is it?”
“I require your princes to lead the Sol system’s defense,” he said immediately. Zirene didn’t soften it. Didn’t circle the truth. “They’ll command the Aldawi female fleet. The system is our origin—our capital. I want it held by those most loyal.”
Her expression stilled, listening.
“Kaede stays with you,” he continued. “Never far from your side. Zyxel too. And if it comes to it, Ryzen.” His gaze sharpened. “The same goes for your Royal Guard. You will not travel alone. Ever.”
Selena opened her mouth, but he cut in gently, firmly. “Don’t fight Kaede on this.”
She sighed and rolled her eyes. “I won’t.”
Then, quieter. Personal. “And now that Zyxel is yours… I trust he won’t betray you.” A pause. A beat heavy with meaning. “Promise me this.”
“I won’t be alone.” Her gaze flickered toward Zyxel’s coiled form, toward the window in Destima’s direction. “I have our clan. Kaede will shadow my every step. My Favored will be atmy side. And”—a slight smile curved her lips, the first he’d seen since the crisis began—“and now I have a very protective serpent who seems determined to prove himself.”
Despite everything, Zirene felt his mouth twitch. “He’d better. Or I’ll have words with him when I return.”
“I’m sure he’s counting on it.”
His shadow curled around them both, possessive and gentle at once. He wanted to argue. Wanted to demand she stay on Destima, wrapped in every safeguard he could command. But Selena had never been something to lock away.
She was the Beacon.
His Nova.
The brightest light in his dark sky.
“And you contact me the moment anything feels wrong,” he added, voice turning hard with need. “Dreamscape, comms, anything. I don’t care if I’m mid-battle. You call, and I come.”
Even as he said it, the hollowness flashed—dreamscape required sleep, intention, time. Not the constant awareness a true bond would give.
If something happened to her while he was awake—
“Zirene.” Selena’s fingers pressed firmer against his jaw, forcing his focus back to her. “Stop.”
He swallowed. “Stop what?”
“Blaming yourself for a decision you’re not ready to change.” Her eyes held his, seeing too much. Always. “I know why you haven’t tied yourself to my web. I understand,” she continued, voice gentle without pity, “and when you’re ready—if you’re ever ready—I’ll be waiting. But right now, we work with what we have.”
His throat tightened. She knew. Of course she knew. Selena had always seen past his defenses.
“I should be braver.”
“You’re the bravest male I know.” She rose on her toes, pressing a kiss to his jaw. “Being afraid doesn’t make you a coward. It makes you honest.”
“Promise me,” he said, rough. “Promise me you’ll contact me if anything goes wrong.”
Her eyes softened, those ocean depths that saw every shadow in him and loved him anyway. “I promise.”
He kissed her then—not gentle, not soft. Fierce. Desperate. A claiming that poured every ounce of his fear and love and devotion into the press of his mouth against hers. His paws tangled in her silver hair, tilting her head back, memorizing the taste of her. The feel of her pressed against him.
When he finally pulled back, they were both breathing harder. Her fingers gripped his shoulders like she might never let go. Her spots flared violet and pink beneath his touch.
“Don’t do anything reckless while I’m gone.” His voice came out rough, scraped raw by emotion he rarely showed.
Her smile was sad, knowing, achingly beautiful. “You know I can’t promise that.”
