“You failed, B. Your team failed to protect Selena, and instead of doing your job, you allowed someone to drug her. Or was this some sick game to prove something?” He took a step toward B. “Your trust in that feathered lovesick fool blinded you. If he is responsible, I will have the pleasure of slitting his throat in front of you. I will personally have his feathers made into a fan or perhaps a dress piece for Selena.”
Her eyes hardened. “Qran had nothing to do with it. He would never betray Prince Zirene. You know this.”
Kaede chuckled. “I also know the Quaww are waiting for Selena to slip up so they can claim she is too unstable to be in public. They want her—so much, they almost started a war.”
“Qran left the Quaww a long time ago, you know this.” She looked down at Selena’s form. “We are responsible for this. Let us find who is to blame and bring them to justice.”
Kaede glanced at all five of his sisters and pursed his lips in disappointment.
“I want a full report. Don’t fail Selena—or me—again. I won’t protect you from the Prince.” He turned to Kaica. “Take a sample of her blood and try to figure out an antidote. Hopefully, the others will catch who is responsible, and we can make them talk.”
Kaica nodded and took out a hidden syringe from her belt pouch. Kaede watched Selena’s reaction to Kaica taking a sample—once again, she seemed unfazed.
“Kaede… I need… I need,” she begged as she tried to rub her legs together.
Kaica backed away and secured the sample, watching Selena worriedly. “I will go to my lab on our ship and report any findings.”
Kaede nodded as he struggled to keep Selena from falling out of his arms.
“I am going to take her to my bedroom since it is the closest safe point and page her clanmates.” He gazed at B. “I will report to the Prince as well.”
B nodded. “I know… We will correct this and face our punishment.”
“I would say happy hunting, but this isn’t a joyful moment.” He stepped away from them. “Don’t fail me again, and if I find out you guys did this as a joke, be prepared for my wrath.” Kaede turned and left toward their shared apartment.
“Kaede… Kaede… I have a secret,” Selena murmured.
“And what is that?” he replied, trying to keep her coherent.
“I wonder… would you dance like… your cock?”
Kaede almost tripped. He shook his head, lost for words as he tried to will his body to not respond to her. Now wasn’t the time to have urges.
“You know? Would you fuck me? Hard? Gentle?” she asked as she looked up at him, her eyes filled with a clouded lust. “Would you fuck me now? Please? I need you.”
Relief flooded him when their apartment door opened as he stepped to it.
He cursed. Why weren’t her nestmates responding to his messages? He brought up their drone’s feeds. They were sleeping, nestled together in Selena’s nestbed.
Kaede walked into his bedroom and placed Selena onto his bed. As he tried to pull away, she wouldn’t let go of his hair.
“Selena. Can I have my hair back?”
“Kaede. Why am I so hot?”
He scanned her body with his visor. Her temperature was well above normal.
