“Where their constant connections are limited to the net they have with their crewmen, ours touch every intelligent being within our range. We can shield them or accept them—with my job, I often forget to shield myself from others when I am not working.”
“It is true,” Xylo said. “It’s harder to shield ourselves for long periods of time… which is why the princes have been able to control themselves fairly well around you as they fight their natural biological urges to coax you into completing the bond.” He faced me, brushing my hair back as he stared deeply into my eyes. “Selena, your soul is beautiful, and your mind is amazing. Not only does it protect you, it protects those who are tied with you.”
“But I am just—”
“A blessing from the Stars,” Odelm murmured as he pressed against my back.
“Change won’t happen overnight. Do not let that captain or any other dimwit tell you differently. They are stuck in the past—which is the reason the Yaarkins were capable of doing as much damage as they did,” Mwe explained.
“I wasn’t strong enough—”
“You will be. If not, you will at least be able to prevent them from harming you.”
Closing my eyes, I leaned into his hand, letting out a deep sigh.
“Let’s do this,” I smirked at Mwe. “Before Zirene comes back and has Kaede lead you off the ship too.”
As Oeta led us past the cubs’ room, I paused and peered in from their doorway, watching as they slept curled up together. Knowing they were safe and sound, I carefully closed their door and turned to Mwe, Oeta, Xylo, and Odelm, watching me with smiles on their faces.
“What?”
“Your cubs are being taken care of, Selena. You have nothing to worry about,” Oeta whispered.
“I just wanted…”
“They are fine. You can spend more time with them once we settle onDestima,” Xylo breathed.
“This way, Selena.”
I followed Oeta into the room next door. It was small and housed a black bed large enough for six, leaned up against the far wall. A chest and a couch were the only other furniture pieces.
“So, how do we do this?”
“We have little time left, so I will need you to lie on your bed. Your nestmates can join you with the lack of space in here,” Mwe directed.
The three of us hurriedly followed his directions. They both faced me, wrapping their appendages around me, giving me their comfort and support.
“Okay, Selena. Close your eyes and calm your thoughts,” Mwe directed. Once I did, he continued, “You are a shielder, which means until someone touches your mental shields with their mental thread, you will most likely not be able to reach out to them. This is because your walls naturally remember those unique signatures of the mental threads you allowed inside your shield. Your walls will only accept those familiarto you. At least, that is how the few other shielder species’ minds work,” he hummed. “Have you ever been able to see mental threads? Before or after you joined with any of your nestmates?”
“No, not outside of that one attack in the Dreamdome. I have only been able to see and follow my nestmates—and that is instinctual at best.”
“Then I was correct in my assumption,” he mumbled.
A familiar presence pressed against my mental shields—a black mental thread that glowed the same magenta as Mwe’s glow. I welcomed it, bringing it inside my golden shields.
“Good job, Selena,” Mwe’s deep mental voice rumbled. “Now push me out and try to find me. Once you do, pull my thread.”
Taking in a deep breath, I did what I did to my nestmates and tried to close my shields, blocking all entrances. I felt my connections with Xylo and Odelm close, muting them. Their threads were still intact, but a thin veil prevented them from constantly being assaulted by me. Both males’ appendages gripped me tighter once they were sealed as if they were instinctually trying to keep as close as possible.
The problem was, Mwe’s blackened magenta thread remained.
“That was a good attempt, Selena. But instead of removing a foreign mental thread, such as mine, you strengthened your shields—which is good because that means you can defend yourself against any attacks.”
“So, what do I do?”
“Since you are capable of strengthening your walls, try using them to slice my connection with you. This should not affect your nestmates connections since their bond threads are a part of you.”
“Even the princes?”
