Tears started to fall at his confession. Xylo replaced his vine with a hand and thumbed my tears away as his eyes dimmed in sorrow.
“I am sorry I never asked you or—”
“Selena, Selena, Selena, don’t cry.I am happy with who and what you are. Nothing will change that. If I sire none of your offspring, I will not feel any less for you. Just being your nestmate is enough for me. You have given me something I never thought I would have… I need nothing else from you.”
I twisted the rest of my body—forgetting about trying not to wake the others—and snuggled up against him, his arms and vines welcoming me.
“Xylo,” I sobbed into his chest, breathing in his sweet herbal scent.
His arms enclosed around me as his vines wrapped around any body part they could reach.
“Selena, I have you,” he whispered into my hair. “You are mine, and nothing you can do will make me let go.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Selena
Our first night sleeping as a mismatched clan went well. The cubs didn’t escape—even though they were the ones who woke up the rest of the room, hungry and needing to relieve themselves.
The princes made it their responsibility to take them to the master bathroom and supervise them before heading to the Royal Commons for breakfast. We finished our meal, and the adults were sitting contently, watching the cubs chase each other around the room.
I snuggled against Xylo’s side as he studied readings off his med-tablet with the princes next to us going over plans on their wristbands. I didn’t bother to try reading what was on their tech. My interest was in the cubs.
Zirene hadn’t shown his face since I slapped him. It was a bittersweet victory I wished hadn’t happened. I wanted him to realize what he did, change his habits, apologize, and grovel at my feet so we could work things out.
My discussion with Xylo this morning made me realize even though I had the right to be angry at him for what hedid to me, he was trying to aid me—in his own messed up way.
I needed him to realize what he did wrong and fix it before I could allow him back into my and our cubs' lives.
My mind kept wandering toward Odelm, wondering when he would wake up. He didn’t need this much rest when I accepted his bonding spores. Was it my fault it was taking him such a long time to recover?
“Odelm will be all right Selena, I will make sure of it,” Xylo said, his eyes never leaving his med-tablet.
“Promise?” I asked, glancing in the direction Odelm’s bond thread traveled.
“We will make sure of it,” V’dim replied.
I closed my eyes and nodded, taking in a deep breath. Odelm would be okay. Nothing was wrong.
A ping sounded, followed by the sounds of the Royal Common’s main door opening.
I turned in time to see Kaede stroll in, dressed in his new uniform—including a new black cape fluttering in his wake. My gaze landed on the five figures dressed in similar uniforms with their capes’ hoods up, covering their faces as they followed closely behind him.
A gasp escaped my lips as a flurry of shrills sounded, piercing my ears.
Xylo dropped what he was working on and pushed me behind him as the princes flanked either side of me.
“I am here, Selena. I will protect you,” Odelm swore as a pair of familiar arms wrapped around me from behind.
“Odelm,” I breathed.
“They are so cute, Kaede!”
“How dare you hide these precious ones from us!”
“B, look how gorgeous Meti is.”
My clan had their appendages unwound and up in a defensive position, ready to strike if needed. I watched the groupin confusion, wondering who they were and why Kaede had led them in here.
