“Needy,” Mwe injected, squeezing my hands and refusing to let me pull them away as his magenta eyes studied me. “Selena, you tried to seduce Kaede into mating with you. Even after you bit him, he refused and locked himself in his bathroom until you were asleep, and he was settled. You removed your clothing before… passing out.”
Everyone watched me as I processed everything they said.
I was somehow drugged and tried to mate with Q on the dance floor for the whole club to see. Why didn’t anyone stop me? Didn’t Q have a thing with B?
Kaede stopped me, and in response, I bit him as I tried to seduce him—and take his will away from him.
Just like my old masters…
Was I now an attempted rapist?
Odelm scooped me off the couch, placing me on his lap. His tentacles wrapped tightly around me as he held me, pulling me close to his chest.
“No, Selena! You aren’t,” Xylo shouted.
“It wasn’t your fault,” Odelm murmured.
“She isn’t what?” Kaede asked.
Odelm placed his hand on my head, placing it against hischest as I watched Kaede walk to my couch and pause in front of it. His head moved as he scanned me in silence.
Was he angry at me? Would he ask to be reassigned?
Was he upset I was wearing his clothes after everything I did?
Did he now hate me?
I closed my eyes, unable to look at him; I felt too ashamed at how I acted.
Tears fell, and I growled in anger.
Why couldn’t anything go right? Was this my payment for the Fates and the Stars saving me that one destined night? Would I have to continue to fight with everyone?
“She isn’t what?” Kaede repeated, annoyance filled his voice.
“Like my old masters,” I said, opening my eyes as I pulled my head from Odelm’s chest. “I didn’t mean to do what I did.” I glanced at his sisters standing behind him for a moment before meeting his gaze. “But you were right. You are the best guard I will probably ever have. I am sorry…” I sighed. “I hope you will forgive me—”
“There isn’t anything to forgive,” Kaede scoffed.
In an instant, he was gone.
“We will return to our apartments, Prince Zirene. And continue… supervising from there if that is okay with you, Sire,” B asked.
“Permission granted,” Zirene said, nodding to them.
They saluted and left, not looking at or saying anything to me. Were they upset at themselves for failing? Or at me, for trying to seduce both Q and Kaede?
“Are things always this exciting around here?” Mwe murmured.
“I could use less excitement. You don’t have another trial or something I need to attend—unprepared—do you?” I asked.
“No, but I do want to know something.”
“What else is there to know?” I asked, drying my eyes.
Mwe looked down at all of my nestmates' appendages wrapped around my limbs. Instead of feeling restricted, it was comforting as I leaned back against Odelm’s chest.
“I sensed the presence who spoke to you.” He winced. “Could you tell me what it said? I know its signature, so if they reach out again while you are on the space station, I should be able to intervene.”
