This news stunned Xylo. The Aldawi princes were taunting anyone remaining on the station to act and to do it quickly, for no one knew when Selena would be in neutral space again once she landed onDestima. It was both brilliant and dangerous. Who knew what extent they would go to to get their hands on her? Or worse—make sure she did something that would imprison her? Then all they would need to do was knock her unconscious for safety measures and do whatever they pleased with her.
Was the risk worth it?
Xylo hoped so. Selena had been controlled all her life and should be free from fear. It was already bad enough there was an invisible threat they didn’t know and could do nothing about. Yet if they didn’t try this trap, Selena would have tocontinue to look over her shoulder and wonder if others would be after her and the cubs.
He wasn’t a fool. She would always be desired. It would be up to them to protect her and make sure she wasn’t bogged down by constant fear. Her abilities made her important, someone who would be recorded in history as the first of her kind. Combined with being tied to the Second Prince of the Aldawi Empire, she would never be free.
“I will do everything in my power to protect her,” Mwe said, his deep mental voice rumbled in Xylo’s mind. “My daughter’s—and species—future are in her hands. She wields great power that, if abused, could bring the galaxy—the universe—to its knees. Will you aid her in helping those in need? Or allow her to fall into the hands of those who have nefarious plans?”
“Shouldn’t you be asking Zirene this? Between Prince Royak and him, they have more power than I… Stars, than any of Selena’s Circuli nestmates have combined.”
“You are the first one who she accepted as her own, and you are in charge of her research team. You hold more power than you believe,” Mwe chuckled.
“Selena doesn’t have Favored,” Xylo snapped.
“No, she doesn’t, but there is a clear divide. Everyone looks to you for answers about Selena. Odelm may be highly tuned in to her emotions—so much, I fear he may get lost in them. He can sense when there is a disturbance. But just because you don’t have a title, doesn’t mean you don’t matter.”
“I am not worried about my position in the clan,” Xylo scoffed. “Selena is my nestqueen, and that is all I need. I am satisfied being hers even with the difference in our species. As her clan continues to grow, I will have nothing to worry about, knowing she will be taken care of when I am not around.”
The whooshing sound of the Royal Apartment Common’s doors opening caught the room’s attention. Oeta carried Meti cradled in both arms, the cub's silver fur popping against herdark green robe. Pavryn and Vikvez followed closely behind her, carrying the twins over their shoulders.
The cubs had grown considerably in the last week. They went from being easily held in one hand to the size of his forearm, which to Xylo’s amazement followed the Aldawi growth charts. He hoped they would continue the trend without any difficulty.
Xylo didn’t voice his fears about the cubs’ behaviors. They were at a disadvantage compared to other Aldawi cubs by not having a mother of the same species. Typically, the new mother would only grant a select few females access to her dwelling. No one outside of her home would see the cubs the first month, and any visits would be short, due to their extreme protectiveness. After that, the mother would introduce her cubs to the community, and they would raise them together as a unit until they were six months old, when they started their training and learned to be independent of their mother.
Selena didn’t have that. Zirene had a mentor already teaching them about their instincts and a doctor to keep watch on their growth. He hoped she wouldn’t feel inadequate—and that other female Aldawi wouldn’t look down on her for not raising her cubs on her own, needing males to aid her.
Her thoughts hadn’t reflected those emotions—yet—but she had been pressured and stressed by everything that had been thrown her way. Selena hadn’t had a chance to relax—to not be on the defense or needed for something—and it was starting to wear on her. He was excited to soon be at their new home and be planetside for once, to be able to plant his feet in the rich soil.
His new mission would be making sure Selena relaxed once they settled into their villa. She could let Vagren take care of everything—it was his job and expertise.
Once the princes landed theDestiny, they could help ease her mind off things. After all, their need to complete their court bond and make it permanent would be riding them as their bodies would be at their prime.
Xylo’s only hope was that Selena would have enough time to relax before she entered her next heat-cycle.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
Selena
Lounging on the circle couch in the Royal Aldawi Commons, I watched Pavryn play with the cubs, glancing periodically at the ships passing the glass wall.
Everything about me felt drained—my body, heart, mind, and soul felt as if all the pressures and stress that piled on top of each other, each day on the space station, finally became too much. I couldn’t handle another incident or have another problem manifest itself with no warning.
Xylo left right after breakfast with both princes to help prepare for theDestiny’s embarkment, scheduled for after dinner. It would be about a five-day journey toDestima.
Five days away from both princes.
They said the journey would have more strain on them if they were permanently bonded with me, but the thought of them trying to resist smothering me with their advances was both sweet… and concerning.
I knew they were grateful I invited them into my clan—that wasn’t the issue—straining themselves by controlling their appendages instead of focusing on shielding themselvesfrom their crew’s net was. No wonder they were tired by the time we got to our nestbed every night.
I wasn’t much better.
Zirene’s news about the foreign presence almost killing me created an awkward silence in the room—combined with the calming feelings both Odelm and V’dim were sending me, which made my eyelids heavy.
One moment, I was watching Zirene pace along the glass wall, and the next, I woke up entangled with my nestmates without the cubs nearby.
Xylo reassured me Zirene had insisted on watching over them so I could get a full night’s sleep. I knew he was trying to get into my good graces—whether I accepted him into my clan was to be determined.
