The captain saluted. “You know where I will be once you realize your mistake.”
“The only mistake I made was allowing you on my ship with your history. Change is happening; don’t get lost in the past. If you can’t handle that, then retire.”
The room watched as Kaede escorted the male, unfazed by what had happened.
Was Kaede so feared by the CEG that the captain didn’t try to resist? Or had the captain’s stale beliefs finally caught up with him?
Xylo and Odelm kept their defensive stance until the pair went through the doors. I reached out and gripped one of their appendages, connecting to them through our golden threads.
“It’s okay, loves. He is gone and won’t be able to hurt me.”
“Loves?” they both responded at the same time, their voices confused.
“Yes, loves.” I pulled the males closer to me, forcing them to relax beside me as they wrapped their appendages around my wrists and the rest returned to their defensive position. “I wanted to test a nickname, a title for you both to see how it sounded. I love you both, yet calling you my nestmates while it’s the same title both princes share… feels unfair to you.”
“I thought you didn’t want to have Favored… or to play favorites. Naming us loves will do that,” Xylo explained.
“I thought it would be my way to say I love you—to both of you—but with fewer words…”
“No… stop, Selena. I like it. If that is what you want to call me, go ahead.” He pulled me closer to him as if he was trying to protect me from Xylo.
“You are right.” Xylo leaned closer to me, filling the newly open space between us. “I am sorry. Forgive me.”
“Do we need to find a nickname for you?”Odelm asked, searching my gaze as he brushed my hair away from my face.
The offer was sweet—but was it necessary? No, not really. I was theirs as they were mine, and that was what mattered.
“I am sorry you had to witness that, Selena. I had hoped he would have learned to keep his opinions to himself until he retired, but it seems that was not the case.” Zirene turned and addressed the trio of workers staring at us. “If I were you,I would learn from his mistakes, or you will be looking for work elsewhere with him soon enough.”
The three nodded and scrambled back to their stations.
His apology brought me to the present as both Aldawi princes studied me. Was he worried because of my silent exchange?
“And with that, I will take my leave,” Royak announced. “I will make my rounds, then board theHopefor my own star system.” He stuck out his paw to Zirene, and he grabbed it. They smiled and shook their enclosed paws and pulled each other into a hug. “I will miss you, brother. It has been fun. Let me know when you want to do something like this again.”
Zirene chuckled as he pulled away and patted Royak on his shoulder.
“I hate to disappoint you, but I don’t want to go through this ever again.”
“Agreed. Let’s skip the Assembly part.”
By the time Zirene led us to our cabin, the cubs were already in bed. Mwe and Oeta were sitting on a couch in our lounge, waiting for me while everyone else was in their own assigned private cabins.
“Shouldn’t you be somewhere else, Chamber Master?” Zirene hissed.
“Don’t worry, Prince Zirene. I will be on my way after I teach Selena as I promised her.” He stood and stretched his wings. “Then, I will go back to defending CEG and the space station from injustice.”
“Zirene, please,” I begged. “Just let him teach me, then we can be on our way.”
He glanced between Mwe and me, tail flipping wildly behind him.
“Fine,” he hissed. “I will be on the bridge.” He eyed Mwe. “Let me know when you are off my ship.” He turned and left my cabin in a hurry, as if he couldn’t stand being in the same room as Mwe.
“It is because we did not see eye to eye on how to handle the Yaarkins when they first arrived in our galaxy. We have come to terms, but he feels threatened around other males similar in power—other than his littermate, Royak.”
“I hate when you do that,” I mumbled.
“We cannot help it,” Oeta said. “I am sure the Circuli princes can explain it better if you ask them.”
