Chapter 16
16
Selena
S omeone brushed my hair back, soothing me awake from my slumber.
Multiple sets of limbs loosened and slowly untangled from me as a deep rumble echoed from the warm body beneath me.
“If you don’t wake up, I’m going to call my brother without you,” Zirene chuckled. “And you won’t be able to hold it against me if you miss out.”
“You know that’s not fair,” I grumbled as I snapped my eyes open and frowned at the darkness that surrounded us. “What time is it?”
“It’s either far too late, or far too early,” Xylo replied as he sat up beside me. “It’s that unique time where in a few more hours, you’d witness the early morning sun cresting the open ocean waters.”
“Oh Stars!” I yawned and then stretched, smiling at my sore but satisfied after-sex muscles. “Why wake me now when you could’ve joined us? We could call him in the morning?”
“Because that isn’t what I promised you.” Zirene cupped my cheek and traced his thumb across it, guiding my gaze to his. “And I try to fulfill all my promises, for I never want to crush your faith in me.”
“But sleep—”
“Is for the weak,” Kaede quipped as he ran his hands up and down my sides, making me squirm on top of him “You need to get up and dressed if you’re going to conduct official business.”
“You do, too.”
I offered Zirene my hand. He gently pulled me off of Kaede, helping me stand. Leaning into my Shadow, I peered up at his amethyst eyes, glowing like planets in the twilight sky. “Thank you.”
“While you need a full-fledged outfit…”
Completely nude, Kaede teleported to the nearby couch, where his living suit disk lay waiting. Still smirking, he picked it up, his eyes never leaving mine. He placed the disk in the middle of his chest and activated it.
“…I don’t,” he finished, flashing a grin. Kaede’s voice was cocky, dripping with confidence, making my blood race. “I have my uniform.”
I watched with a heated gaze, licking my lips, as the sleek black material wrapped firmly around his body, accentuating every line and muscle, before flaring into a sleek cape.
The living suit covered all but his face. I loved seeing him visorless, being able to meet the eyes he’d often hidden from all. I knew his visor was important for him, both to do his job and to protect his sensitive eyes from UV light, so moments like this were precious. He would need to wear one during the day and when we visited Liskta.
A flirtatious tone crept into my voice, a tantalizing idea sparking in my mind. “Imagine if I had a living suit,” I whispered, my words dripping with desire and mischief. “It would make secret rendezvous so much easier.”
A sly smile crossed my lips as I pictured the possibilities, sneaking off with a mate or two for some alone time—even though, through my mental threads, I would never be alone.
And I loved that feeling, after being alone all my life.
Kaede’s eyebrows shot up, and his lips curled into a seductive smile. He purred, “That can be arranged.”
“But not now.” Zirene huffed and shook his head, his tail bouncing. “I would like to get some sleep myself sometime.”
Rolling my eyes, I turned my attention to Xylo and Odelm, who were still lounging on the couch where I’d left them. “Would you two like to come inside and get me dressed?”
“It would be an honor,” Xylo murmured as he stood and moved beside me, his gaze scanning mine. “Are sure you’re awake enough for this meeting?”
“It’s Royak,” I stressed, lifting a brow at my Shadow. “Should I be worried?”
“My brother is my greatest ally—” He frowned and then gazed at all of us. “ Was my greatest ally until now. I feel as if I can put my trust in our clan, knowing that none of you will betray me…” His gaze shifted to mine. “Or my Nova—the Seedbearer of the Empire’s legacy.”
“She’s your cubs’ mother,” Kaede corrected with a growl as he placed a hand on the middle of my back. “Don’t use that title on her— ever .”
“She birthed my cubs, and I repaid her with this moon,” Zirene growled, curling his paws into fists, claws out.
“Kaede,” I hissed, shaking my head at my assassin. “What’s going on with you?”
“Don’t ‘Kaede’ me,” he snapped, and then shot a heated glare at Zirene. “You’re the Sovereign. Don’t call her a Seedbearer, not when she’s about to be coronated as your equal. We both know how degrading that title is—”
“That title was given to protect her from those cowardly ishing fraxes in the Assembly. We both know it no longer pertains to her, and when I address the Empire at the Harvest Festival, I will make it known that she’s my Beacon.”
Kaede stepped forward, his gaze hardened, daring him to disagree. “You’d better.”
“Stop it,” I hissed, placing my hands on both of their chests as I pressed myself between them, shooting them both glares. “Don’t fight over something that means nothing to me. Titles are just a formality. Out in the real world, they’re worthless. Somehow, in the little time that I’ve had freedom, I’ve acquired many titles. Counting our clan and close circle of friends, there’s a lot of titles between us. This is why I refuse to use them within my villa. So please, stop fighting. Zirene has already stated that I’m his Beacon. Whether he publicly declares it or not, I know who I am in my heart, and don’t need any recognition from others to determine my worth.”
Zirene’s gaze softened and he placed his paw over my hand on his chest, squeezing it gently.
“You know I’m not hiding you on purpose,” he soothed, his voice losing all its bite. “I just got you back about a month ago, after I was starting to believe you may never return to me. I didn’t want to make the Empire-wide declaration until I had you by my side—safe and healthy. Now that you are, I have no problem making it known that you’re my Beacon, but—” His amethyst gaze hardened once more as he glared at the male behind me. “For security reasons, I’m not going to publicize that Selena’s my Nova. She already has a target on her back as the mother of the Empire’s future leaders.”
He held up one paw, halting my protest before I could voice it. “I know that you don’t want to pressure our cubs into ruling one day, but those are the cards the Fates have dealt them. I didn’t want to be Sovereign, and yet, I am. One of our cubs will be my heir—and yes, I’m not ruling out Meti taking over as the next Beacon when she comes of age. But it’s something they must prepare for one day.”
“But not today,” I snapped, dropping my hand from Kaede’s chest, putting my full attention on the very male who made me a mother—first. “I refuse to steal our cubs’ youth and rip away their dreams before they’ve even had a chance to live them. You know the three of them want to be assassins and work alongside their aunts in the Fab Five. Are you really going to stop them? Are you planning on stepping down as Sovereign as soon as our cubs are of age?”
“No,” Zirene huffed. “They can have their childhood—I won’t take that away like my sire did for me. But you must face the fact that one of our cubs will have to take over. They are first in line, even if Royak—or Stars forbid, Iyzana—have cubs of their own.”
“I won’t prevent one of our cubs from becoming Sovereign, but I don’t want them groomed to become one.”
I scanned my clan in the gazebo, their faces reflecting my concern. I could feel the weight of their worries through our mental threads and appreciated how they were trying to understand the burden of responsibility that seemed to press down on me about our children’s future.
“Truthfully,” I murmured with a frown as I tried to keep my voice steady, even though I was filled with emotions—heightened by my pregnancy hormones and maternal passion. “I didn’t have a childhood either, nor did Kaede and his sisters. I refuse to rob my children of theirs for the ‘good of the Empire.’ We are all young, and healthy. When our Empire has been made safe for many years and the gender proportions are rebalanced, perhaps then we can retire. But not until our children have had time to grow up and explore what they want to do with their lives. Is that too much to ask?”
Zirene shook his head, his expression softening. “No, it’s not. But they must know the truth. They are royals, heirs to the throne. I won’t pressure them or groom them, but I don’t want to shelter or spoil them either.”
I nodded slowly. The weight of his statement settled heavily on my shoulders, but I knew he was right. “I know,” I said, my voice low and serious. “And I agree with you.”
As I gazed around, the tranquil beauty of our surroundings engulfed me. The sun’s first rays crested the horizon, casting a golden hue over the lavender ocean. The soft glow of the night lamps mingled with the fading bioluminescent light from the exotic plants and towering trees, creating an ethereal atmosphere. A warm breeze carried the fragrant scent of exotic flowers and the gentle sound of waves crashing against the shore.
In that moment, it dawned on me that Zirene had stayed up all night, playing host to Mwe and my ambassadors, for me. The quiet calm from my princes’ threads in our master bedroom told me they were sleeping, knowing not to wait for me.
“I’m glad we’ve come to an agreement, especially before we depart tomorrow morning.” I turned to my Favored, knowing they had to be tired from our night as well. “Would you like to come inside and help me dress? Then you can join your nestbrothers and get some more sleep. Hopefully, the three of us won’t be long.”
“We would love to.” Odelm wrapped an arm around my waist and nodded to Kaede and Zirene. “I promise we won’t distract her, so you can fulfill your promise.”
“She might try to distract us,” Xylo teased, placing his hand on my mid-back as he pressed a kiss on my forehead. “But we’ll stay on task, so the clan can soon rest as one.”
“You make it sound like I’m the mischievous one.” Rolling my eyes, I shook my head at the two, knowing full well they were the ones who’d seduced me to get me to relax. “Kaede, Zirene,” I said, turning to face them. “I’ll meet you in your office when I’m dressed.”