“Return to me.”
Suddenly, I was sandwiched between both Circuli princes, their appendages wrapping us together as each male pressed against me, holding me close.
“We will come back to you, Selena.”
“You are our nestqueen. There is no place we would rather be.”
“When we reunite, I shall claim you both and ease any torment you may be facing. I will be waiting.”
They gave me one last squeeze before slowly untangling themselves from me. I watched them as they said their goodbyes to the rest of the group traveling on theGlorious,then enteredDestiny’s docking tunnel.
Before the doors shut, they both glanced back at me, but I refused to cry.
These males may have been bound to me for political reasons, but that didn’t mean I didn’t care for them. They were friends and allies on theDestinyand deserved everything I could do to help them.
Xylo and Odelm held me in silence as we watched theDestinyslowly disappear while the others boarded theGlorious.
I felt like a tiny part of me was leaving with them.
The halls of theGloriouswere as sleek as it appeared outside. All the edges had a line of different colored lights that brightened with each step we took. Another set of doors opened, revealing the ship’s bridge.
A real bridge.
Three Aldawi males, dressed in dark gray, sat at their stations, facing the open glass wall, focused on their takeoff routine. One desk behind them remained empty with its projected screens displayed. A large throne sat across from it against the wall, facing the whole room.
Royak and Zirene were speaking with a tan Aldawi male, standing next to the display table in the center of the room. He appeared much older than the other males, graying along his edges and dressed in a silver kilt suit similar to both princes. The three looked up from their charts as Xylo and Odelm led me closer.
“What is a female doing on my bridge?” the older male hissed as his amber eyes hardened.
Halting in our tracks, Xylo and Odelm unwrapped their appendages in a defensive stance in front of me.
Zirene and Royak growled in reply, their stances aggressive as they turned toward the older male.
“That female is my Seedbearer and mate, Captain. Selenais welcome anywhere on this ship. If you have a problem with that, you can get your nearly retiredfraxoff my ship,” Zirene snarled.
The captain’s body trembled, his face wincing in pain as he gripped the table.
“But she—”
“I warned all of you about who I was picking up before we left and gave you the option to transfer. None of you did.” Zirene snarled, eyeing the others in the room. “This isn’t up for debate. Accept it and respect her or leave.”
The three workers saluted and nodded as the captain straightened, his tail flipping aggressively. The older male turned toward Royak, avoiding Zirene’s stare.
“Surely, you agree with me, Sire. Prince Zirene is out of line.”
Royak chuckled. “No, you are. I agree with him.”
Frustration settled at the realization he didn’t have an ally in the room.
“I believe you both are making a grave mistake.”
“No, you are,” Royak replied.
“Agent Kaede, please escort this unwanted captain off my ship. He isn’t to be allowed in my fleet or Prince Royak’s. Transfer his status to the available restricted military roster, and perhaps, our brother will take him.”
Kaede shimmered into existence behind the captain with one of his pistols drawn.
“Lead on,” he barked.
