Chapter 8
8
Selena
E ven though I didn’t like his answer, I understood his reasoning.
My Shadow was afraid of our future, and what waited for us beyond our horizons. My only concern was that he might be hiding something from me, even though we’d promised each other we wouldn’t keep secrets…
I trusted him—along with the rest of my family and friends I had gathered over time. Most of Zirene’s siblings, my Favored’s fathers, Kaede’s sisters and their spouses, Tori and her clan, Oeta and Mwe—they all had proven themselves and cared for my clan.
I didn’t need to bind his mind to mine, but I wanted to. I craved it.
As silly as it sounded, I felt as if he was keeping me at arms’ length, sheltering me from himself, when all I wanted was to take his burdens and make them my own.
He was the male who’d been in my life—in my dreams—since I woke up from that test tube, and that made me yearn for closeness with him even more.
Or perhaps I just wanted what I couldn’t have.
But what I did have would be enough. It had to be.
My clan was currently on high alert, as we continued to heed Celyze’s warning.
I kept wondering not only whom it would be, but what they would do.
“You mustn’t stress yourself over such matters,” Xylo soothed as he offered me his hand. “If there’s one thing you should worry about, it’s naming your unborn daughter.”
“That’s something I will have to discuss with Kaede.” I accepted his hand, and he pulled me close, wrapping his arm around me as he led me down the transport’s ramp. “We haven’t had much time, what with preparations for today and everything else going on.”
“Discuss what? ” Kaede’s mental voice pierced my thoughts like a psydagger—swift and sharp. His worried tone startled me. “Is there someone I need to kill?”
Xylo lifted his eyebrow as he eyed me, perhaps curious as to what had startled me. I shook my head and leaned into his strong body, wrapping my own arm around him as I adjusted his hand from my side to my belly.
“Why does everything revolve around killing with you? Haven’t we had enough excitement in our lives?” I peered into the sky, watching two familiar figures flapping their majestic colorful stained-glass-like wings as they lazily flew in our direction. “Xylo was telling me that I shouldn’t worry about our future and focus on naming our daughter.”
“We both know why I’ve always got murder on my mind—it’s my base instinct. Your safety is my responsibility.”
A sudden shift of air and the faint snap of wind catching a cape sounded beside me. My newest mate’s mental thread shortened as a familiar arm wrapped around me, caging me between two strong bodies.
“But I agree with Xylo. You should worry about what to name our daughter and how you’re going to expand your villa to accept all the new people you keep collecting.”
“You really think I need more than ten private bedrooms in my mate wing?” I taunted, knowing full well that he opposed the expanding size of my clan and teased me for it. “I thought having six mates was plenty for me, but if you insist, I’ll follow the Stars and fill our clan’s constellation with many more. Zyxel—”
“Shouldn’t have as much access to you as he does,” Kaede hissed as he gripped my chin and turned my head to face him. His visor collapsed into his helmet, melting into his living suit as his neon-green slitted eyes bored into mine. “I’ve hunted for you for eight years, making you my ultimate obsession. By the Fates’ will, I’ve sired a daughter with you. That male has done nothing to earn time with you. He needs to know his place, which isn’t by your side.”
“But he said—”
“He hasn’t apologized for what he’s done! He held back critical information from me yet he warned others about my genetics,” Kaede spat, leaning closer. “I refuse to give him grace when he hasn’t earned it. Our Oetsae and Oeta may have deemed your ambassadors are safe, but when the Stars give us a warning about betrayal and death, I refuse to allow such a male to boldly hover nearby.”
“I hear your complaints, Kaede, and I’ll address them with Zyxel when the moment is right.” I sighed and leaned against Xylo, hoping that the males in the villa could settle things between them without my help. “But even you don’t have control over what the Fates have determined for us.”
“But we can delay it,” Kaede growled, his breath tickling my skin as his mouth hovered over mine. “Resist the Stars’ path.”
“And how well did that work out for you?”
Kaede hissed, cupping my cheeks with both hands as he slammed his lips onto mine. He bit my bottom lip, nipping it with his fangs, seeking entrance. His tongue lashed mine, demanding submission as I gripped the back of his head, holding him close.
“You’re mine, as I am yours,” Kaede declared. The tone of his mental voice was as branding as our kiss. “No one compares to me. Ever.”
As soon as I opened my eyes, he was gone. His body disappeared from my embrace, leaving nothing but the lingering feeling of his claiming kiss. I licked my raw lips. The metallic taste of my blood coated them, a reminder of the brief moment of passion between us.
“He came, he saw, he conquered—and then he left,” Xylo muttered. “Out of all my clanbrothers, he’s the one I can never fully grasp. Kaede’s both predictable and untamed, especially since he’s become your mate and took full responsibility for impregnating you.”
“He’s a male always on a mission.” I gingerly touched my lip and glanced at my fingertips, seeing a tiny smear of blood. “With us traveling, even within the safety of our sector—Stars, we’re even staying in the same sol system—he’s on edge due my pregnancy. Celyze’s warning hasn’t exactly helped him relax.”
“He doesn’t want to fail you again,” Zirene explained as he stepped beside us, his amethyst eyes dropping to my lips. He frowned. “While I’m not against his overprotective nature, his displays of affection—”
“Jealousy,” Xylo corrected, his voice unable to hide his amusement, as he gave my hip a gentle squeeze. “It appears my new clanbrother doesn’t like sharing with outsiders.”
Groaning, I rolled my eyes, unable to handle my assassin and his territorial behavior. I knew that he would transition well with the clan, but he couldn’t prevent me from getting to know my ambassadors better and exploring my burgeoning relationship with Zyxel.
I wasn’t actively trying to expand my clan. Kaede thought I took in any broken soul with a hard past, as if I would blindly accept anyone based on a hunch.
In reality, I was quite content with the mates I had. But I couldn’t dismiss the odd pull I felt to the Ezzaska medic.
“Kaede will have to learn to play nice.”
Sighing, I pulled away from my Primary and walked over to the railing of the cliffside overlooking the housing district below.
The crowd around the docks had dispersed, the citizens going about their day. After spending years isolated with their own kind, it was nice to see the Circuli mingling with the Aldawi, demihumans, and a few members of other species dotted throughout the crowd.
In order for Destima to flourish, its citizens had to welcome each other’s differences and be tolerant. I understood that not everyone could get along perfectly, but they were still required to respect each other.
I had originally wanted to open Destima up as an exclusive resort, for VIP guests who’d been vetted and invited to enjoy what my moon could offer.
But now, Destima was becoming a safe haven that allowed my citizens to have a purpose in life—for the veteran Circuli warriors and the other professionals to be able to live free from the burden of politics and conflict.
Even if the population was ready for the next stage in my moon’s development, it would be reckless of me to open the skyway now for VIP newcomers.
Instead, we would continue our preparations for taking in the asteroid base refugees. While the infrastructure could readily accommodate three thousand new citizens, it would still be a significant cultural shift.
It would take time, patience, and understanding for all involved.
Gripping the railing, I leaned forward to see a high-speed tram zoom along its track along the atoll’s inner shore, grinning at how much progress had been made while I was away and recovering with my clan.
As soon as the tram disappeared from view, I peered over my shoulder at Zirene, who was grinning slyly. “I know that look,” he purred and wrapped his tail around my waist, an amused twinkle in his amethyst gaze. “What’s going on in your gorgeous head?”
Biting my tongue, I resisted the urge to give him a snarky reply about how he could know what I was thinking if he would let me in. It wasn’t a battle I wanted to fight. I knew I was being sensitive about his rejection, and it wasn’t my place to take it out on him.
Not now.
I’d made my offer; it would be up to him to accept it. I wasn’t going to force his paw regarding his bodily—or in this case, mental—autonomy. I wouldn’t bring up the matter with him again unless he prompted me to.
“I want to open up the main island to the academy. I don’t want my moon to be segregated any longer.” I gestured in the direction of the smaller, slightly curved island with the mountain ridge that housed the Aldawi Military Academy and the gem mines where the Oetsae lived. “The Aldawi Empire has always been accepting of the minor species that live within their borders. They’ve allowed the Circuli to rule their own sol system in exchange for aid in defending our borders. Why should I keep those who are dedicating their lives to our empire from a little entertainment in their down time?”
He followed my gaze as his ears swiveled. “Are you sure?”
Turning around, I grabbed the railing from behind, staring at my Circuli princes. “What do you guys think? Is your old crew ready to open the moon to our Aldawi soldiers?”
“I don’t see why not.” V’dim, forehead wrinkled, looked to his bondbrother for guidance. “Have you sensed anything amiss?”
“Truthfully?” Z’fir shook his head slightly, lips pressed as he scanned my face. “Ever since you took over, I haven’t sensed much activity from our mental thread network. Only during intense moments, such as Mwe’s arrival. To answer your question, though, our people had to be open-minded to embark on our trip in the first place. We didn’t know when, where, or even if we were going to find a location to colonize. As a result of our mating to you, our people were able to settle here—the best place we could have imagined.”
“You’re their queen.” Z’fir took my hand and gave it a squeeze. “Where you lead, they will follow. It is in our nature. If you believe that our people are ready to intermingle with the Aldawi soldiers, then they are.”
“It’ll give them something to do,” Xylo added as he joined me on the opposite side, grasping the railing and gazing wistfully at the atoll below. “A sense of belonging, instead of just existing.”
“How long would it take to prepare the main island to welcome the academy’s members?” As I scanned my clan members, I noticed how they all looked to Zirene for an answer. Following their gazes, I, too, peered at my Shadow for his expertise. “It would be a test for both our infrastructure and our people, to see how they adjust to new visitors before the refugees arrive. Do you believe the young soldiers will respect the local population?”
“They will have to, or they’ll deal with me,” Zirene growled, his tail swishing agitatedly. “I refuse to allow prejudice to persist in our empire. It’s what drove the Yarrkins to nearly eliminate Earth and all of its inhabitants, along with members of other species they’d absorbed.
“I meant it when I stated I wasn’t going to let my predecessors’ devastation to our species continue. I’m going to secure our empire for our children—regardless of who sired them—as well as those we absorbed as citizens and their future generations.
“I’ve always believed that using the strengths of those who live within our borders instead of purging—” he snarled, swiping the air with his claws extended, “—those who aren’t Aldawi. The galaxy’s future depends on tolerance, or we would become what Ryzen and his brother ran from. Allowing a singular government to rule the whole galaxy, exploiting anybody who held any value, and killing them if they resist or are deemed worthless.
“What happened to humans is a prime example. The CEG deemed them unworthy of aid and didn’t get involved until it was too late. By that time, the Yarrkins had already caused permanent damage to our galaxy. Earth was gone, and all the humans had been killed, experimented on, or bred.
“And at the end of the war, the CEG left us to clean up the few remaining Yarrkins vessels because it was no longer their problem when the vessels were in Aldawi space.”
“And yet, your father didn’t resign from the CEG,” Xylo muttered, frowning. “Do you happen to know why that is?”
“Because we may be one of the most powerful territories, we still suffered under the war. If we’d broken away, we would’ve put a larger target on our backs than we already have.” Zirene stepped closer and cupped my cheek, directing my face to meet his, our gazes locked. “But now that the CEG knows about all the technology we recovered from the debris of the Yarrkins vessels, they claim they have rights to it.”
“Is that why you hold a grudge against the Assembly?” I leaned into his touch, knowing the angry glint in his gaze was not directed at me. “And why you want nothing to do with them?”
“Yes,” he snarled. “And it’s why your relationship with the Chamber Master is problematic for me.”
The gentle rustling of wings filled the air, a soft breeze brushing against my hair and causing the short strands to tickle my ears.
Zirene’s gaze shifted to something behind me, and his ears flattened against his head. He instinctively took a step back, dropping his hand from me.
Closing my eyes, I stilled my heart as the Nyaviel’s presence washed over me.
Now I knew how much of a grudge Zirene held against the male whom I’d invited to my moon. For my sake, my Shadow would have to put his resentment toward the Assembly aside.
Turning, I walked away from the railing, joining the rest of my clan in greeting Mwe and his daughter with a friendly smile.
The pair descended gracefully, their stained-glass wings shimmering in the sunlight like fragments of a brilliant mosaic, reminding me of the inside of Odelm’s music hall. As they landed softly on the grass, their delicate wings cast prismatic patterns across the tall grass.
“Thank you, Beacon Selena.” Mwe bowed gracefully, extending his wings in a loose arch. Grinning, he stood once more, elegantly folding his wings neatly behind him. “Being confined to a space station made me forget how much I enjoy flying. The wind beneath my wings feels right—it’s instinctively a part of me. I regretfully no longer have the endurance to fly great distances because it has been so long since I was able to use them properly.”
“I’m glad you got a chance to fly.” Grabbing Odelm’s hand, I gave it a quick squeeze as I turned partway toward the path that led to the villa. “Dinner won’t be for a while. We could show you the room we’ve had set up for you in my guest wing. Or I can give you a quick tour on our way to meet my ambassadors.”
Mwe glanced at Oeta and cocked his head toward the villa, the fringes of his mohawk swaying to one side. “What do you think we should do?”
“As beautiful as the villa is, a room is still a room,” Oeta replied with a shrug. “We both know you just spent days on your transport vessel and don’t want to be cooped up again. Plus, don’t you want to meet the male whose psychic powers rival our own?”
“We both know I don’t need to see him in person to have a conversation with him.” He lifted an eyebrow and smirked. “Any of them, for that matter. But you’re correct, I am curious to meet these ambassadors in person.”
“Then follow me.”
I led the party to the villa, inviting Odelm to walk by my side. My clan followed closely behind, even though they all knew the way and could probably navigate the grounds with their eyes closed.
Zirene may be the Aldawi Sovereign with ownership of this sol system, but on Destima, I was the one in charge. My clan respected my place as ruler, even though they all helped me in some way or another.
As we reached the elegant porch that led to my front door—a pair of elegant stained glass doors in the design of a waterfall surrounded by thick foliage—I spun around and faced the male who’d held my future in his hands. I gave him a welcoming grin.
“Welcome to my villa! Where my clan calls home and titles are left at the door.”