An Ulax and Wudox male pair walked around our booth and stopped in front Odelm with confused expressions as they surveyed our group.
They were plain in coloring compared to my nestmates. The Ulax male was a medium gray with green stripes and eyes while the Wudox male was a dark brown with orange and green speckles, his eyes a warm gold.
When their gazes landed on me, they paused slightly before continuing on to the princes. As the realization of who they were hit them, they jerked into a salute. “Sires…”
Z’fir raised his hand, cutting them off. “No need for formalities. Technically, we were banished and stripped of our titles, but as you know,Circulenjoys remaining cut off from the CEG, so few outsiders know this.”
“But Sire… why are you here? Of all places?” the Ulax male asked, confused.
“We are enjoying ourselves,” V’dim replied. “It’s been a while since we have been off our ship.”
“What are you doing here, fathers?” Odelm’s voice seemed… off.
They turned their attention to him and smiled.
“We just sold our recent run and wanted to celebrate before we start making purchases,” the Wudox male responded.
“We heard rumors there was a small Circuli colony ship docked. While we were making deliveries, we came across a few of your crew members along the way and asked if you were still with them. When they confirmed, we tried reaching out to you but weren’t able to make it through,” the Ulax male explained.
“We went to where theDestinyis docked and asked a few guards. They said they couldn’t reach you either, but you were staying with the Aldawi.”
“One even said you were mated!”
“Is it true, son? Are you bonded to a nestqueen?” the Ulax male asked, looking between Odelm, Xylo, and me.
“Yes,” Odelm confirmed proudly as one of his tentacles snaked around Xylo and wrapped itself around my wrist. “I am honored to be chosen and accepted in a clan. This is my nestqueen, Selena, and my nestbrother, Xylo.”
They turned toward me with confused expressions. “But son, why here? And why is she wearing garments?”
“Why is she hiding?”
“That is none of your concern,” Xylo growled.
“She doesn’t feel… right,” Odelm’s Ulax father said.
“That is because I am not Circuli,” I announced. “I didn’t know it was a requirement to be naked all the time. I would have thought Odelm’s manners came from his fathers, but it seems he learned them on his own.”
I pulled back my hood, no longer caring who knew I was a female—and a trans-human at that. My nestmates, now four of them, should be able to protect me in this empty establishment. If they couldn’t, perhaps I should entertain adding Kaede to my clan; he was a one-man army by himself.
The males staggered back and tried to recollect themselves from my outburst, but I wouldn’t allow it.
“Both Xylo and Odelm are mine,” I explained. “The princes are as well—just not permanently yet. And no, I don’t have any Favored, but that doesn’t mean I don’t take what is mine.”
A wide smirk filled my face as I watched them try to piece together what just happened.
“Fathers,” Odelm warned. “Selena treats me well. I am accepted for who I am. Please show courtesy for who she is.”
“A human?” Odelm’s Wudox father asked, studying me. “They still exist?”
“It wasn’t a rumor after all.”
“Yes, I exist.” I inhaled a few breaths to help calm myself. “Now, I am assuming you want to catch up with your son, especially since it has been years since you have last seen him in person. How about you join us for our late afternoon meal, and we get to know each other a little better? It seems like you missed the show earlier, but that doesn’t mean we can’t have a good time.”
“Thank you, Selena,” Odelm said.
Odelm’s fathers hesitated and glanced at each other. “We would love to.”
The table shifted toward the princes, leaving enough space for Odelm’s fathers to sit next to him.
