He often pondered that question. What Selena had with him and what she had with both Odelm and Xylo was unheard of outside of their three species. She spent the last nine years getting to know him. They connected easily right away, despite their drastic differences. Over time, they had become close, and it didn’t matter he wasn’t with her physically… other than knowing she was still in the hands of the Yaarkins. It pleased him that their conversation allowed them both to reconnect. He wasn’t jealous of Odelm and Xylo, for he also had his own special connection with her. She was his Nova. Their souls unconsciously connected to intermingle with each other when their vessels were in a deep sleep. That was something no one else could have with her, and no matter where he was in the universe, his soul would know when hers called out to him.
Zirene was comfortable enough with his connection toSelena not to feel any hostility or jealously around Odelm and Xylo. They were both respectable males, and by their species’ instincts, they would always put both Selena’s and their cubs’ needs above their own. They had taken care of and loved Selena while she was on theDestiny. Zirene knew they would continue to do so when he was away managing his star system and protecting the Aldawi Empire. That was the main reason why he was fine with Selena having consorts. It wasn’t Aldawi nature to have any relationship—even when a royal claimed a mate, they never lived with them. He was breaking tradition by wanting to reside with her when he was able to and allowing her to have other males.
He hoped they could get everything they needed to do at CEG HQ over with soon. Zirene wanted to take Selena and their clan to the place he had been building over the last nine years. There were more people moving in than he originally thought, but he had made sure there would be plenty of space. Zirene wanted to see how she reacted to everything and be able to spend time with her before he had to leave for his next mission.
Selena and their clan with their cubs. That was something he needed to process.
Aldawi typically only kept familial ties with members of the same gender because that was how their society was split. Now, he had both a mate who was his Nova and a daughter. Having them live among males would be something others in the Aldawi Empire would question. He hoped having Selena and the rest of their clan reside on the property he had prepared would suffice for now. Sooner or later, she would want to explore the stars.
Zirene focused on his tablet, using his implant to write out the documents as he moved his fingers along the 3D projection. The minimap on the lower right stated his brother Royak was almost here. He was bringing both theAldawi doctor, Vikvez Veycan, and their half-brother, Pavryn Ayvar.
Aldawi recently adopted an implant similar to Agent Kaede’s full-body implant’s AI system, which allowed the user to sign in and connect to the Aldawi Empire’s new technology as long as their permissions allowed. Only certain high-ranking members of the Aldawi Empire had implants designed like his, giving them special customizations and permissions in their respective fields.
They were something no one in the CEG could duplicate.
These implants allowed the Aldawi to fully upgrade all of their fighter ships to be pilotless, smaller, and more lethal. The pilots could log-in their personal dreamdome and have full control of one of their assigned ships on the carriers. The fighter’s new technology allowed them to see everything around the ship in real-time and react to it. If their ship was shot down or used in a destructive way, it would spare the pilot’s life. This gave the Aldawi the upper hand with no downtime, training new pilots to replace the ones who died.
A scientist could use their implant to assist in research and performing surgeries. Doctors could look up symptoms in real-time to give more accurate aid to patients. This allowed Aldawi doctors to be able to refer to all information on all the registered species in the CEG.
They also added a communicator to the implant, allowing them to understand and communicate in any language, written or verbal. If a language was not registered in the CEG, the implant would observe, record, and self-teach itself that unregistered language so it could be uploaded into the system and then shared with others later on.
This new technology would allow the Aldawi to communicate with any other species that tried to invade the Euph Galaxy once again. The Aldawi would be victorious in any future wars—if they were to happen.
News about Selena was spreading through the space station like a deadly virus. The politicians and scientists became excited once they learned about Selena’s capabilities and the existence of their cubs. He had a sinking feeling someone would decide to test his own capabilities and try to take her away to study. The problem was, he didn’t know if he should prepare for an organization or a leader from one of the CEG species to give him trouble. No matter what, it was his right to defend what was his, and he wasn’t afraid to slaughter anyone involved.
He glanced up from his tablet at his clan. They were all lying together on the large circular resting chair, the cubs sleeping on a smaller version a short distance away, curled up in a pile.
An odd feeling passed through him as he realized he could do moments like this. How effortless it was to work on things while in the presence of Selena and their cubs.
“Selena,” Zirene purred.
Her gaze jerked from their cubs to his, locking her eyes with his own.
“Yes, Zirene?”
He studied the males beside her, noticing their attention was on him. Returning his focus to her, he gave her a gentle smile, trying not to frighten her with the news.
“It seems like Royak is bringing the Aldawi doctor I told you about, along with our half-brother.” He said, turning his attention to Xylo. “I don’t have an update on where your princes or crew are, but I ordered a breakfast buffet to be delivered here, so we don’t have to venture outside these Royal Aldawi Commons.”
Xylo nodded before stilling for a moment, then glanced at the double entry doors. “It seems the princes gathered my team and are trying to get past the royal guards you have stationed—”
Zirene raised his hand to halt Xylo, knowing what he was getting to.
“I will make sure they have full rights to enter the Royal Aldawi Commons, leaving the apartments restricted to them unless someone invites them. It is my mistake for not already including them under the list of guests allowed in here.”
Relief flooded Xylo’s facial features as he shot Zirene a smile. “Thank you.”
Lowering his hand, he returned the smile before putting his focus on his tablet. Zirene sent out a notice that both the Circuli princes and the rest of Xylo’s medical team had permission to come and go as they pleased.
Worrying about Selena’s health and keeping watch on her made him slip up on this matter. That was something he needed to keep track of and prevent himself from doing in the future. Making simple mistakes could mean life or death, and cost him everything he had built up.
His advisers felt Selena was a mistake and a waste of resources. A few even voiced how she was unnatural and an abomination. Zirene made sure he quickly silenced those opinions. They were dangerous, poison to everything he’d built up. Selena didn’t need to hear them either. It would only add to her self-doubts and stunt her growth in her newly found freedom.
Zirene had disagreed with the CEG when they stopped hunting down all the remaining Yaarkins in their galaxy. They didn’t believe him when he stated that more existed, and his father didn’t want to use any of the Empire’s funds. Zirene had used his own funds and labeled the missions as test runs for their new technology. Royak kept their father’s attention away by distracting him with his urgency to find Royak a Seedbearer to produce heirs.
Knowing Selena was still being experimented on, aboard a Yaarkin ship, drove him to continue his hunt and rid thegalaxy of the plague that they were. The CEG may have believed they were gone and had given up—but he proved them wrong.
Denying the Stars’ and the Fates’ plans was pretty much suicidal. He knew of folks who did and fared poorly because of it. Welcoming them allowed you to finish on top. He was connected to Selena for a reason unknown—it didn’t matter. He wasn’t going to mess things up even worse than what they were, because she was his gift to have—even if he needed to share.
