“Did we have sex?”
“No,” he snapped. “And it’s insulting you believe I would take advantage of you.” He shrugged in anger. “I am your guard. I must protect you. Not fuck you whenever you beg me to!”
I shook my head in disbelief. “I wasn’t trying to—”
“But you did!”
Lightning flashed, and a loud crack of thunder followed, far too close for comfort. Kaede’s attention jerked to the clouds above.
“Selena, take my hand. It’s time to go,” he demanded urgently.
I hesitated, looked down at his gloved hand, and then grabbed it.
The world tilted as my ears popped, and a wave of nausea passed through me.
We appeared on the balcony overlooking the sanctuary.
Kaede swiftly placed my hands on the railing and leaned next to me as the rainwater dripped off, splattering onto the floor. I kept slowly blinking to clear the slight dizziness caused by the teleportation.
“I did my duty, but before I leave you to your nestmates, I want you to know something,” he said. “Some species have a belief… a theory… the stars are lost souls, waiting to be reborn. They believe the constellations are the stars’ loved ones, connected together in the afterlife.” Kaede paused and glanced over, gripping the railing tightly. “Poetic, isn’t it?” he chuckled. “Makes sense, though. How else would people have a sudden connection with another? Or multiple others?” He looked up at the sky, staring at stars peeking through the dark clouds, and sighed.
“What I am trying to figure out is whether you are a star waiting to complete your own constellation, or a black hole—a supernova—pulling your loved ones into all the danger and trouble that seems to always surround you. Why does everything seem to revolve around you? And what are you going to do to stop yourself from hurting those who follow you?”
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
Selena
It had been four days.
Four days since Zirene left without a trace, not even visiting me in the dreamscape.
Four days since Kaede comforted my dark thoughts, only to leave me confused.
I leaned on my bedroom’s porch railing and stared at my creation below. Soon, theDestinywould arrive, and its crew would touch the ground of their new home for the first time. Hopefully, they would have a better time than I did.
Arms wrapped around me. “You should be excited, Selena. Don’t let Kaede ruin today with his harsh words.”
“Xylo… will everything be okay?”
“When you officially claim more nestbrothers?” Xylo asked. His vines slowly wrapped around my legs, creeping up my nightgown.
I shivered as I leaned back into his arms. “Will you be okay?”
“Yes.” He pressed his nose to my hair, breathing in its scent. “You make me happy… even before you owned all of this.”
“What about Odelm?”
“What about me?”
I jerked in Xylo’s arms as Odelm stepped next to us. I was so absorbed in Xylo’s touches, I hadn’t kept track of my connection with Odelm.
“She is afraid you will be upset about her taking in the princes,” Xylo replied.
“Is this true?” Odelm asked, brushing my hair back.
I turned in Xylo’s arms and faced Odelm, searching his face.
“It’s too late now… but yes, I am.”
