Chapter 2
2
Kaede
K aede lurked in the shadows, leaning against the pillar supporting the pavilion, arms crossed as he watched Selena float in their private pool.
No matter how hard he tried, it was difficult for him to wrap his mind around this opulent villa of his—that he shared ownership of it with Selena and his clanbrothers. Somehow, it being theirs was something he was still getting used to. He’d never fathomed being accepted as one of her mates, let alone being blessed enough to sire a daughter during his rescue mission.
He knew what was hers was theirs by default. He and all his clanbrothers were a part of Selena.
But that didn’t mean he didn’t know his place—nor hers, for that matter. She was the Aldawi Beacon, Nova to Sovereign Zirene Darcaw.
And he was her personal royal guard—destined to never leave her side. Not that he would ever want to, but the future was unpredictable.
Dangerous foes never failed to strike. It was up to him to make sure they’d never reach Selena or their clan, especially the Aldawi heirs.
He’d spent the majority of his life searching for her and now that he had her, he would never let her go.
Until the Stars claimed him.
His star—silver-haired and radiant—floated in the pool. The lavender water cocooned her like an exotic flower in full bloom, and the morning light cast an ethereal glow on her dark skin.
The intimate bond they now shared—the mental connection she’d forged between them—offered Kaede new depths of insight into her mind, and their relationship had strengthened and deepened as a result. Through this new connection, he could feel her fears, hear her doubts and her hopes, making him all the more powerful.
And making his duty to protect her all that easier.
Selena was a formidable female. Her strength was often hidden beneath her compassionate exterior—something that kept getting her in trouble. Kaede had sworn to himself that he would help shape her into the magnificent Beacon—the Aldawi matriarchal leader—that he knew she could become. All she needed was a little guidance and continued support from their clan to transform her into a force to be reckoned with.
Kaede uncrossed his arms and smirked, his gaze never leaving Selena’s form floating peacefully.
The Aldawi believed that a Beacon could become stronger than their Sovereign counterpart. It was a belief that Kaede shared. And he eagerly anticipated the day when Selena would make his clanbrother Z kneel before her.
Not out of spite or jealousy, but out of honor and respect. And not because Z still held authority over Kaede, but because he believed that if Selena could bring the most powerful Aldawi male to submission, it would silence the whispers of pure Aldawi superiority that lingered in the shadows of the Empire.
Determination burned within Kaede, a fierce resolve to protect what was his, no matter the cost.
He and his sisters had already failed Selena once by letting the late Aldawi Sovereign and his Trr’kiki mercenaries attempt to harm her and her cubs. It was a security breach that could not be allowed to recur. He refused to fail her again.
Now that Z was the new Sovereign, Kaede and his sisters had free rein of their territory. Nothing would get past them within the safety of Aldawi space.
The unborn daughter Selena now carried within her—a testament to their love—was a gift and a responsibility he viewed with reverence.
As he watched his mate, Kaede knew that their future would be difficult. No matter how much he wished he could disregard the warning that the Cosmic Soul, Celyze, had received from the Stars themselves, he refused to become complacent by relaxing now.
Not when he knew someone close to them would betray them and try to kill them.
Kaede’s gaze moved to the blonde, emerald-tattooed pretty boy sitting on the grass carpeting the ground by the tree line. Ryzen lounged against the trunk of a tree, his sinuous form radiating a quiet confidence that was as alluring as it was infuriating. His nine daggers, each encrusted with jewels, floated elegantly around him like they were dancing with the gentle oceanic winds.
Ryzen’s ability to control his weapons with a mere thought made Kaede uneasy, especially in Selena’s presence. Oeta may have deemed him safe, but anyone who had played a part in Selena’s kidnapping—no matter how minor—was on his watch list. The usually silent male was the reason his brother had harassed and captured Kaede’s star.
Then again, he was unconscious the whole time.
It didn’t matter. Kaede knew very little about the Verya male, his past, or his species—all which irritated him to no end.
He felt the same about Zyxel, who hovered nearby his commander.
The crimson-scaled serpent was coiled in a pile, watching Selena with a predatory grace that set Kaede on edge. The serpentine male had the same genetic material that had been spliced into Kaede’s own genome. He’d grown from resenting that part of himself to tolerating it over the years.
Kaede continued to blame Zyxel for Selena’s current pregnancy. If the Ezzaska medic had warned him about his alpha genes, he could have put more precautions in place to prevent him from impregnating her.
Only his faith in the Cosmic Order, as well as his joy at siring a daughter with his mate, kept him from acting on his rage at the serpent male.
For no matter how many times Zyxel stated that Selena was his fated one, and part of her— their —constellation, Selena hadn’t accepted him as a mate. Until she did—if she ever did claim him—Kaede refused to pay him the same respect he gave the rest of his clanbrothers.
Especially since the serpent doctor didn’t get the hint when he wasn’t needed—or wanted, for that matter.
He didn’t like the fact that Selena had allowed Ryzen and Zyxel into their clan’s private wing. Neither male was mated to her, they definitely weren’t his clanbrothers, and yet, they had easy access to the very female he had sworn his life to protect.
Kaede had earned his position by her side, and it irked him that they were freely given the same opportunities as him, living in one of the rooms reserved for mates.
A soft growl rumbled in his chest, the sound echoing the tension that knotted his muscles. His narrowed eyes flicked between Selena and the two outsiders, a silent warning that they better keep their distance.
“What is she doing?” Z’s deep voice broke Kaede’s focus. The dark-furred Aldawi Sovereign stepped next to him, his ears swiveling as his tail bounced in mild annoyance.
Kaede returned his gaze to the pool, where Selena’s serene form remained afloat, his lips drawing into a slight grin. “She’s relaxing.”
Zirene huffed, his amethyst eyes darkening slightly as he studied her. “I can see that,” he retorted, a note of sarcasm evident in his tone. “But what is she doing ?”
Xylo, Selena’s Primary, tilted his head in their direction and walked toward them from the grass, where he had been sunbathing with his nestbrother, Z’fir.
The Wudox male held his head high, as if he weren’t missing all of his vines and petal wings. The Head Scholar exuded a new, well-earned confidence. The Circuli male had still risked his life to defend their nestqueen. He deserved Kaede’s honor and respect.
“She’s communicating with someone outside our clan and the Destima network,” Xylo announced as he reached them, his voice echoing the quiet gravity of his words. “Someone powerful.”
REI materialized beside them, cloaked in teal, and lifted her head to stare at the purple marbled sphere hanging in the morning sky. “Selena is talking to Master Mwe,” she announced.
Z glanced at Kaede and then at Kaede’s Oetsae, his brow furrowed with suspicion. “Why would the Assembly’s Head Chairman want to reach out to her now when he will be arriving at midday?”
“It was just friendly small talk. A mutual greeting of sorts,” REI explained, her tone neutral. “To update her on his location and apologize for the delay.”
Kaede narrowed his eyes, his protective instincts flaring once more. He didn’t like that someone as influential and powerful as Master Mwe had taken a particular interest in Selena. Politics was a dangerous game, and he didn’t want his star caught in the crossfire.
Kaede couldn’t sense any irritation from Selena; her mind seemed muted, as if she had covered their connection with a sheer cloth. Only hints of emotions filtered in through the veil, like the sun’s rays filtering through a forest canopy.
He turned to Xylo, who had a better understanding of their mental connections due to his own psychic strength and intimate connection with Selena. “What do you feel?”
Xylo glanced at his nestqueen and smiled softly. “Nothing is amiss,” he said reassuringly. “She’s doing what queens do when they speak to someone over a long distance.”
Z huffed, his dark eyes flicking toward Selena with concern. “I wish Mwe would leave my Beacon alone,” he said, a hint of frustration in his voice. “She has little time to herself, even with the extra time we were given due to his late arrival. Everyone needs to let her relax in peace while she still can.”
Kaede turned to Z and nodded, his lips pinched. “Are you ready to play host to the male who will determine our future?”
Z grumbled, shaking his head. “No. While I don’t mind taking in more refugees, I don’t want to spark a galactic war with the species who don’t agree with our actions. Especially not while I’m in the middle of taking over my own empire and moving capitals.”
Kaede could see the wariness in his leader, his savior, his boss, and now, his clanbrother. Z was still recovering from the long separation from his Beacon, and he’d just had to slay his own sire for planning to kill her and their cubs.
Kaede met Z’s gaze, not to challenge him, but as a male who wanted the same thing for their shared mate. “You have the Fab Five at your disposal, even though I’m grounded at the Beacon’s side,” he assured him. “We’ll make sure nothing happens to her and her children.”
Z gripped Kaede’s shoulder, giving it a squeeze. His royal amethyst eyes bore into his. “Our next steps are the most important ones.”
“I know,” Kaede held Z’s gaze. “The next month will be the most crucial for our future.”
“Indeed,” Z growled, his tail swaying with agitation. “Once we’ve spoken with Master Mwe, we’ll put on a show at the Harvest Festival by officially announcing our reign over the Empire and our plans. Then we will drop our cubs off on Destima, where they will be safe. Then Selena and I will present ourselves before the Assembly.”
“You have nothing to worry about.” Kaede’s gaze returned to his star. He felt a great need to always have her in his sights—hovering nearby in case something went amiss. He refused to call it instinct, but rather his duty, not only to Z and the Aldawi Empire, but also to the female who breathed life into him. “I will be watching her every moment. She’ll be safe, no matter what.”
“I’m tired of political games,” Z admitted. His voice held a thread of exhaustion as he brushed his mane back. “I just want to run my empire without needing to deal with the posturing of other nations. Especially now that I have Selena and our clan. I want to reshape the Aldawi Empire and fix all the damage my ancestors have done. I want to create a safe and established empire for our cubs to grow and take over in time.”
Kaede nodded. “I will proudly stand in your shadow—in Selena’s shadow—to make sure no one tries to ruin the bright future you want to mold.” His gaze drifted back to Selena, a soft smile tugging at his lips. “I want a safe future for our daughter to be born into as well. Not only do the cubs need an empire to run, but my daughter needs to be able to live without fear that she might be kidnapped and experimented on like her parents were.”
Xylo gripped both of Kaede’s shoulders, his voice steady. “You have our support too, Kaede. You’re not alone in protecting this clan.”
Kaede scanned the males assembled in the backyard. All eyes were on him, save for Selena, who was still floating peacefully in the pool.
Kaede didn’t fail to notice how Ryzen was no longer meditating, his intense emerald gaze now on him, nor how Zyxel was watching them and nodding.
Kaede turned to Xylo. “I’ve never doubted you or our clanbrothers. It’s what the Stars told the Cosmic Soul that bothers me.”
Z chuckled, a dark glint in his eyes. “I’ll take it up with the Stars, Kaede. I’ll tell them to leave Selena and our clan alone.” The determination in his voice left no room for doubt; he would fight for their future, for their clan, no matter the cost.
The sudden sound of Selena sucking in a deep breath grabbed Kaede’s attention. She gasped, her body jerking in the water. Her feet and face dipped beneath the surface.
In an instant, Kaede teleported beside her, disturbing the once calm water. He wrapped his arms around Selena’s body and kept them afloat.
Her arms wrapped around his neck as her blue-green gaze searched his. Kaede’s long dark hair spread out across the water’s surface.
“Are you okay?” Kaede asked. Her emotions suddenly opened to him, as if she’d ripped away the veil between them, revealing herself to him once more.
“I’m all right,” she reassured him. “Mwe wanted to make sure I was well enough to receive him and start political dealings. He knows his visit puts an end to our relaxing vacation.”
“Why did you come to so suddenly?” he asked, scanning her body for any sign of injury. “You were floating peacefully before.”
“I felt like I was falling.” She frowned as if trying to remember what had happened to her. “It was an out-of-body experience. I was floating in space, tied to my body by my golden mental thread, and then I was falling backward at an exponential rate until my consciousness slammed into my body. The next thing I knew, I was struggling to stay afloat and breathe.”
As he swam to the pool’s edge with her in his arms, he looked at her with concern. “I can’t say I’ve ever had anything similar happen when I spoke to Oeta over long distances, but I was always in the safety of my command chair and not floating in the middle of a pool. Perhaps you should avoid long-distance communication until you're in a safe environment, with me by your side."
“It’s not like I was trying to speak with Mwe. He was the one who contacted me.” Selena huffed and then frowned. “And I doubt you or anyone else in our clan will leave me alone, especially since I’m now pregnant. But I promise that if I ever want to actively reach out to someone at a long distance away, I will do so while safely on land.”
“That’s all I can ask for.”
His Ulax clanbrothers, Odelm and V’dim, were already climbing out of the water. Odelm reached down to help Selena from Kaede’s arms, with V’dim ready to assist if needed.
“Thank you, Kaede.” Selena pressed a quick kiss on his lips. “I apologize for causing you any concern.”
“You’re going to turn my hair gray before our daughter is born,” he teased as he lifted Selena and handed her to Odelm.
“You’re so dramatic.” Selena rolled her eyes. “As if I’m responsible for everything that has happened to me.”
“You aren’t preventing it.”
She shook her head and sighed, making Kaede smirk. She was worth all the trouble the Fates had bestowed upon them.
Once Selena was safe in Odelm’s arms, V’dim offered Kaede a hand. He nodded his thanks and accepted it, allowing the Ulax prince to help him from the pool.
Kaede was capable of teleporting out himself, but he wasn’t going to deny his clanbrother’s assistance. It would strengthen their sense of camaraderie.
Something he knew was important for their clan to build.
Selena rested her head against Odelm’s chest as he carried her to the others. Kaede didn’t miss the way the musician walked with a newfound pride, as if this small act of service had bolstered his confidence, despite the recent loss of his tentacles and consequent inability to play his musical instruments.
Kaede twisted his hair, wringing out the excess water as he surveyed the others. He didn’t need to be the center of Selena’s attention; being her mate and having her gift him with a mental connection was enough. He was secure in their relationship and knew his place within her constellation.
It was more than he had ever dreamed possible.
But he knew, that his Circuli clanbrothers may require more—especially Odelm. It was part of their biological instincts to fight for their nestqueen’s favor, and to always make sure she was pampered and protected.
Their submissive and caring nature made it easier to be around Z and Kaede without clashing with their more dominant and aggressive personalities.
Not that Kaede—or Z for that matter—would purposely cause conflict with his clanbrothers.
Z ran a paw through Selena’s short hair, which barely reached past her ears, and cupped her face while she nestled against Odelm’s chest.
“We should get ready,” he advised her. “We need to put on a show, not just for our own sake, but for Mwe and his crew. We’re about to welcome someone who wields more power than any of us, a guest of great honor and respect, into our empire for the first time.”
Selena closed her eyes, pressing her face against Z’s paw. “I’m ready to play my part.”