Chapter 18
18
Xylo
A s he lay on the cushioned chaise lounge, he gazed up at the expansive dome above him. It was a masterpiece of glass and metal, offering a clear view of the sky painted in vibrant hues of orange, purple, and silver. Lunkai, the future Aldawi Capital, loomed large above them, ever-present. He could feel the warmth of the sunbeams streaming through the skylights onto his skin, making him relax further into the plush cushions.
His infirmary was empty, with the cubs off-world and his crew using the mountain base for their research. It was bittersweet, but he knew it would be used in the future once Selena returns with the cubs.
The air was filled with a delicate floral scent emanating from the exotic blooms that decorated the patches of grass where the Wudox could absorb nutrients while in the sanctuary.
Everyone was finishing up their afternoon meal and joining his nestbrothers around the lounge area. Everyone but his nestqueen, her Shadow, and their royal guard.
For some reason, Kaede hadn’t returned with Selena and Zirene after their early morning meeting with Royak. He knew the lethal assassin tended to stick to himself, constantly tinkering with his gadgets and weapons. The male could never sit still. Xylo wondered if it was because his mind was constantly overflowing with thoughts and ideas or because he was afraid if he stopped and relaxed, he might fail Selena once again.
“Can you believe they’re all leaving tomorrow morning?” Odelm said out loud, breaking the tranquil silence around them.
“They can’t wait any longer to present themselves officially. The citizens of the Empire are eager to meet their new leaders,” Xylo reasoned. “Zirene can’t afford to give the impression that Selena is weak, especially since she’s a demi-human Beacon. Our nestqueen has a lot to prove in the eyes of the Aldawi citizens if she’s going to rule alongside him.”
“Yeah, I know, but this month seems to have gone by too fast. Perhaps it’s because we’re still recovering.” Odelm sighed and leaned back in his lounge chair. “I know it needs to be done. I just wish that we could be beside her when she’s presented.”
“We must appreciate the moments that we do have with her.” Xylo peered at his bondbrother and frowned. “I know I won’t stand in the way of her travels.”
“I won’t, either,” Odelm said firmly. “But at the very least, we should have a chance to spend a little more time with her before she leaves.”
Tori leaned forward in her chair, her brow furrowed with concern. “Have you considered asking Selena for some alone time? From my interactions with her, she always struck me as a kind and caring person.”
A soft pop sounded beside Xylo. He peered over his shoulder to find the missing assassin, grinning as he plopped down on a nearby chair and kicked his feet up on the armrest.
“Have no worries,” Kaede announced. “The two of you will be able to spend time with her alone tonight.”
“Oh, who determined that? This is the first I’ve heard of it,” Odelm said, clearly not convinced by the assassin’s declaration.
“We convinced Kaede that it’s an excellent idea to give the three of you some alone time before we leave,” Z’fir interjected.
“Z’fir and I are thankful that you two are willing to stay behind to hold the mental web,” V’dim added, glancing at Z’fir who was sitting beside him. “We know the rest of the clan will be able to spend time with Selena while we are on Liskta.”
“Is that true?” Xylo asked Kaede.
“I spoke with them yesterday while you were helping Selena relax,” Kaede confirmed. “We’re all in agreement that you two should spend the night with Selena before we depart tomorrow morning.”
Touched, Xylo bowed his head in honor. “Thank you, Clanbrother, for arranging this. It means a lot to me.” He glanced at Odelm, unable to believe the assassin had such…forethought and cared about them enough to arrange a private moment.
“We appreciate the kindness the clan has shown us,” Odelm added.
“It’s not just kindness. We all understand the importance of these moments—and this trip.” Kaede’s expression softened uncharacteristically. “And we know how much it would mean to you both. Selena deserves this, and so do you.”
A warm wave of gratitude washed over Xylo, leaving him feeling content and at peace. The excitement of the evening ahead buzzed through his body, tingling across every nerve as he thought about the time they would soon spend together. He wanted to savor tonight before the weight of leadership pulled Selena away from him and his bondbrother.
Before his sun—his beautiful golden light—was taken from his sky, hidden away behind the clouds of her responsibilities until she graced him with her presence once more.
“That’s not all the news for you,” Kaede announced, grinning wildly.
It irked Xylo that he couldn’t see the male’s eyes. He knew that underneath the visor, they had to be gleaming with delight, given the toothy grin plastered on his face.
“There’s more?” Odelm asked, looking between Xylo and Kaede.
Kaede lifted a gloved hand, and instantly, two drone spheres uncloaked themselves and landed gently on his palm.
“You see, I’ve repurposed a few of my old-generation drones and installed better tracking devices and equipment that will allow you to control their movements from Destima,” Kaede explained proudly.
“And why would we want to do that?” Odelm asked, his brow furrowing. “What use are your old drones to us?”
“We can track Selena,” Xylo murmured, piecing it together. “You repurposed these so we could watch her from afar, didn’t you?”
The assassin pointed at Xylo. “You see, Clanbrother, you’re starting to understand me a little bit more. Yes, I repurposed these, knowing that you would not want to miss out on what our clan is doing. I wanted you to experience at least a little slice of the Harvest Festival, even though you may not be there in person. So this is my gift to you, to both of you.”
He waved a hand over the center lounge table, and instantly, two brand-new vidtablets appeared, as if they had been gently dropped off by invisible drones. Xylo leaned forward, his hand held out, almost scared to touch the device.
“What is this?” Xylo asked, glancing up at the assassin in wonder. “Are these…”
“Yes, they are connected to each of the drones,” Kaede explained with glee—like a cub presented with a new toy. “One for each of you.”
“How are we supposed to follow her through the Harvest Festival with our drones if we’re not even going to be there?” Odelm furrowed his brow, the lines deepening on his tired face. “I don’t know anything about Liskta. All I know is it’s an arid desert that would be dangerous to Xylo’s and my health.”
“And that’s where my gift to Selena comes in,” Kaede said, snapping his fingers. Another drone appeared, gently placing a disc similar to the one in the middle of Kaede’s chest into his palm. “You see here, this is my answer to Selena’s comment this morning. She was complaining that she didn’t have a living suit like mine—so I made her one.”
Xylo stared at the disc in Kaede’s hand, his curiosity piqued. “What does it do?”
Kaede’s grin widened. “This suit is also a personal locator and communication device. It syncs with the drones, allowing real-time tracking and communication. Selena can wear it discreetly, and you’ll be able to see and hear everything she does.”
Odelm’s eyes widened in amazement. “That’s…incredible.”
Kaede nodded, his expression serious. “I know how much you both worry about her, especially when you can’t be by her side. This way, you can ensure her safety and stay connected, even from afar.”
Touched by Kaede’s thoughtfulness, Xylo bowed his head in gratitude. “Thank you, Clanbrother. This means a lot to us.”
Odelm picked up one of the vidtablets carefully, as if he was afraid he would break it. “How can we repay you?”
Kaede’s turned his serious gaze to the musician. “Love her, Odelm. Stop doubting yourself and Selena’s love for you. Do that, and consider our debt settled.”
Odelm halted his fidgeting with the vidtablet, startled by his comment. He glanced at Xylo and then the princes, and finally at Kaede. “I promise I will.” Odelm clenched his jaw and squared his shoulders. “I won’t be the weak link in the clan.”
Kaede nodded, pleased with the musician’s answer. He then spun Selena’s disk between his fingers. “Back to Selena’s living suit. While it doesn’t have the same capabilities as my own, I gave hers the ability to change the colors and styles on command, depending on what political meeting or event she is attending. I will work on connecting it to a dreamdome so she can customize its designs, but that will have to wait until we return from the space station.
“With the Stars’ warning hanging over us, I mainly made the living suit to help her blend in and disappear in an emergency, but also”—Kaede leaned in conspiratorially and whispered—”so we can have a secret rendezvous whenever we please. This will allow us to sneak around with her for some alone time while giving her the protection she needs in public.”
Kaede sat up, his voice returning to a normal volume. “On this disk is a small tracking signature that connects to the drones within my personal network and the Fab 5 system. You see, I’m not taking Selena’s safety for granted. I’m going to make sure that she’s well protected. So if anyone dares to try and kidnap her ever again, I will always know where she is.”
“But you’re connected to her mentally, too,” Xylo pointed out as he traced his mental thread to Selena. “You should be able to follow your thread to track her like we do.”
“I should be able to, yes, but I don’t know the limitations of our mental thread,” Kaede replied with a sigh. “Mental threads and telepathic conversations aren’t normal for humans. We’re Shielders. Our psychic abilities lie in shielding our minds from alien species like yours.”
Xylo leaned in, his brow furrowed with concern as he listened to Kaede’s worries.
“It shouldn’t be a problem, though,” Xylo reassured him. “Your mental threads are strong and should be able to overcome any distance.” He boldly reached out and gently squeezed his hand, offering comfort and support.
“My connection with Selena is through our Oetsaes. Their telepathic range might be different from yours.” Kaede pursed his lips as he glanced down at their joined hands. “We couldn’t communicate across the great distance between the asteroid base and my vessel the last time she was taken. If, Stars forbid, she’s kidnapped once again, I can’t be sure that I’ll reach her, even though we’re connected now.” Kaede pulled his hand away and sighed, leaning back in his chair as he continued to twirl Selena’s disk between his fingers. “That is something I don’t want to test out, not without a backup plan.”
“You really have thought of everything, haven’t you?” Xylo said, impressed. “You’re correct. We don’t know the limitations of Selena’s range—even within our own sol system—and how it will affect Odelm and me and the whole mental web while she’s away, even if it’s just for a few days. And then she will be gone soon after, for a longer time and greater distance, while she’s at the CEG Space Station. Who knows what strain it will put upon us?” Xylo glanced at the Chamber Master, who sat across the lounge. “I would like to speak with Mwe about that.”
Kaede nodded thoughtfully. “It’s a good idea. Mwe’s expertise in telepathic connections could help us prepare for the potential fallout.”
“You called?” Mwe stood and walked over, nursing a mixed drink, with Oeta directly behind him.
“Where is Selena?” Tori asked, her eyes scanning the room. “I haven’t seen her since she left yesterday.”
“She’s resting.” Kaede grinned. “She had a very long night, and between that and the pregnancy, we’re letting her sleep in with the Sovereign.”
“She’ll be up soon enough,” Xylo added. “The two of them had to speak with Prince Royak and invite him to the Harvest Festival. It seems the conversation went on until the morning hours after the sun had crested the ocean waters.”
“Selena stayed up all night?” Zyxel laughed from his coiled position behind the princes’ couch. “I thought you guys were supposed to help her rest.”
“We helped her rest,” Kaede replied with a sly smirk. “She’s just too stubborn to remain in bed and decided to get up again.”
Odelm addressed the Chamber Master. “We were wondering about Selena’s telepathic range and how we should prepare for when she travels to the Harvest Festival and then to the CEG Space Station. What if our threads can’t bridge the distance?”
Mwe took a thoughtful sip of his drink, his eyes narrowing as he considered the question. “That’s a valid concern,” he said finally. “The mental thread that connects you all is strong, but it does have its limitations. Distance can weaken the connection, and if she travels too far, it might sever entirely.”
“It didn’t sever when she was outside the galaxy,” Odelm pointed out. “I assumed it got weaker, but we still had the threads when we woke up, so she must have a strong enough range to span that distance.”
“She has our bonding spores, so it’s impossible for our mental threads to sever,” Xylo explained, eyeing the Nyaviel male. The Head Chairman came from a powerful species, one with stronger mental capabilities than the Circuli queens—but the Circuli bonding spores could connect their mates physically as well as mentally. “Her body has been altered by each of her nestmates. The bond won’t sever unless one of us dies.”
“Then you have nothing to worry about.” Mwe glanced up at the glass dome ceiling, lifting his drink. Xylo followed his gaze. “I can’t say the same regarding the mental web that spans the entire moon. Selena is remarkable to be able to hold it. I don’t know much about interspecies relations, especially since humans”—he paused, looking at Tori—“and demihumans”—he peered toward Kaede—“are endangered species. And Circuli tend to keep to their own sol system.”
Z’fir’s jaw dropped, his eyes widening. “You can see it too? The golden web?”
Mwe’s magenta eyes scanned his face. “Yes, I could see it before I entered the atmosphere. Any strong telepath or empath should be able to.”
“Same for me,” Oeta added.
Kaede turned to Ryzen. “Can you see it too?”
Ryzen’s emerald runes flared as he scanned the dome ceiling. “I can see it as clear as the planet in the sky. I thought everyone could.”
Kaede frowned. “I only gained the ability recently when Selena fully accepted me.”
“Zirene has always seemed confused whenever we mention seeing it.” Odelm rubbed the back of his neck, glancing at his bondbrother. “He says he doesn’t see anything, no matter how hard he squints.”
“That’s because Aldawi aren’t telepathic,” Kaede stated. “Even though they have their shadowstepping.”
Tori leaned forward, her hands clasped in front of her. She turned to Celyze, Auro, and Luwyn, who were huddled together on the large couch they were all sharing. “Do you see anything?” she asked eagerly, leaning in closer to her Cosmic Soul as she pointed to the sky.
Auro and Luwyn peered up toward the sky, squinting against the blinding rays of the sun. They both frowned and shook their heads.
“I can’t see anything, just the planet up there,” Auro muttered, buzzing his wings as he glanced at their Cosmic Soul. “I’m a null, so it makes sense that I can’t.”
Luwyn nodded. “I can’t either, unfortunately.”
Celyze peered directly at Xylo. The silver speckles on his sapphire skin shimmered as his icy blue eyes faintly glowed. “I can’t see it like the others, but as soon as I stepped out of Kaede’s vessel, I sensed the network and wondered what exactly we signed up for.”
“That’s what I kept saying,” Kaede said cockily, playing with his psydagger. “Selena just couldn’t leave you guys behind.”
“Selena made the right call,” Mwe corrected, his magenta aura flaring. “There are innocent humans on that base who need rescue and refuge in this galaxy.”
“At the expense of the Aldawi,” Kaede snapped angrily, pointing his psydagger at the Chamber Master. “We are once again correcting the CEG’s error.”
“Kaede,” Xylo snapped, not wanting the assassin to start yet another argument—or worse, get his mind wiped due to his cosmic flare attitude. “You need to hold your tongue before you say something that can’t be taken back. We may not use titles here, but don’t forget whom you’re speaking to.”
“I am only stating the truth,” Kaede retorted, jerking his head up in a challenge. “Even he can’t deny it.”
Xylo shot his newest clanbrother a glare and then turned his attention to Mwe. “Is there a way to extend the range?” Xylo asked, his concern evident. “We need to make sure we can always reach her—at least within Aldawi territory.”
“There are a few methods to maintain and amplify your connection. One option is to create a series of relay points along her route. Another is to strengthen her mental defenses and abilities, allowing her to maintain the link even when far away.”
“How would we go about strengthening her mental abilities?” V’dim asked, intrigued.
“Training,” Mwe replied simply. “Selena already has a strong mind, but with focused training, she can enhance her mental resilience. It will require dedication and time, but it’s possible.”
“Easier said than done,” Z’fir muttered, glancing at Kaede. “Do you happen to know how to help with her training?”
Kaede’s shoulders slumped, he licked his fangs, and then let out a heavy sigh. “Unfortunately, neither I nor my sisters were gifted with the abilities Selena possesses.”
Mwe looked solemn as his gaze drifted off toward the master bedroom. “I don’t know much about humans, and that’s my fault for not studying them when they still inhabited Earth. But from what I’ve observed, both humans and demihumans possess strong shielding abilities. Demihuman powers are determined by their specific genetic modifications, but they also have a natural knack for shielding—the strongest in the galaxy.”
Mwe glanced at Kaede, studying him intently. “That being said, Selena is quite unique in her capabilities. I haven’t personally tested her, but I’ve noticed a significant increase in her strength since our last meeting. It could be due to the Oetsae inside her, or perhaps something happened on that asteroid base that honed her mind and sharpened her projecting abilities.”
“She was able to reach out to me to tell me where she was with the help of her Oetsae and the Cosmic Soul,” Kaede explained, his voice low and serious. “She had to extend her reach to find me.”
Celyze’s eyebrows rose in curiosity as he leaned forward, fixing his intense gaze on Kaede. “So how far were you from her when she reached out to you?”
“I was about three days’ flight away from the asteroid base when she first contacted me. At first, I thought it was a figment of my imagination, a dream borne of my need to find her. But when Euouae confirmed it was really her, I put all of my vessel’s power into reaching her as fast as possible.”
Xylo nodded thoughtfully. “It seems Selena’s abilities are indeed unique to her, and her bond with us and the Oetsae makes her stronger.”
“Well, she may never have the range of a Nyaviel,” Mwe noted. “But I do believe that with practice, she’ll be able to extend her range. She might not be able to hold the mental network outside the sol system or across the whole Aldawi Empire, but I think she’ll be able to visit Lunkai without much trouble. Since Destima is its moon, the distance should be manageable.”
“How would we train her?” V’dim asked, scanning his clanbrothers before landing on Xylo. “Especially since no one in our clan has the telepathic ability to help her.”
“I can do it,” Ryzen offered. His eyes lit up, and a small smile appeared on his face. “It’s something my species does well. That is, if I have your permission.”
“And if Selena wants you to be her teacher,” Kaede clipped out, crossing his arms. “I would rather have Oeta do it.”
“I would rather not,” Oeta replied sternly. “It’s not something I’m comfortable with, especially since it appears Selena herself doesn’t have full control over her mind, with how often she locks herself away from reality during stressful times. But…” She glanced at Mwe. “If my father approves, and your clan is comfortable, I don’t see why Ryzen can’t.”
“Because he isn’t a part of her clan,” Kaede growled. “He shouldn’t have—”
“Kaede,” Xylo barked, wishing the male would go to his private room to get some much needed sleep. “I am the clan’s Primary. I know you’re being protective, but if Selena agrees, I don’t see why we should get in the way.”
“I agree,” V’dim added, nodding toward Xylo. “It’s for the benefit of the clan and will help give her the freedom she wants without requiring any of her Circuli mates to stay here to hold the mental web.”
“It would be nice to travel as a clan, even if it’s just within this sol system or the Aldawi Empire,” Odelm said, peering at Xylo, supporting his bondbrother. “In the end, it’s up to Selena to decide what she wants to do.”
“Well, I’ve said all I came to say.” Kaede rose from his seat, pushing himself up with both hands on the armrests. “But before I go, I know Selena would want me to ask this.” He turned to Mwe. “Now that you have granted Selena’s wish, does that mean we’re allowed to bring her ambassadors with us, officially, to the Harvest Festival to mingle with the rest of the Aldawi Empire?”
“It’s interesting that you’re the one who’s asking me these questions.” Mwe grinned, bringing his drink to his lips. “You aren’t the one in charge here.”
“No, I’m not, but I know her heart as well as mine and how gentle her soul is.” Kaede made a sweeping motion with his arm. “I know this is a question she’s been pondering and hasn’t had a chance to ask you.”
Mwe scanning all of Selena’s ambassadors before turning his attention to Xylo. “Rest easy. If this is what Selena wants, then her ambassadors have my permission to roam free, especially since they will soon become citizens of the CEG once Selena registers them at the space station.”
Tori screeched with joy, hugging her mates. “Hear it, guys? You can finally fly! You can finally stretch your wings like you’ve been dreaming of.”
Luwyn took Tori’s hands in his. “Do you want to join us in flight?” he asked, excitement evident in the buzzing of his wings. His Swynemi brethren also stood up, ready to run outside and takeoff.
Auro glanced between Selena’s clan and Mwe, his voice filled with wistful wonder. “While we’re grateful for what Selena’s done for us, you don’t understand how hard it’s been not to be able to fly. Our wings have felt the ocean winds tempting us, taunting us, and we had to resist our instincts to take off. Now that we have the permission to fly… to roam freely… no words can explain how happy it makes us.”
“I believe I can understand that,” Mwe replied, adjusting his own wings. “Being stuck on a space station for so long, I could barely remember the last time I flew. Flying to the villa yesterday strained my wings, but it felt amazing. It reminded me of what it was like to live off the station and take long vacations during peaceful times.”
“You are always welcome to stay with us,” Xylo offered, gesturing to the villa. “I know both of your daughters would enjoy your company.”
Mwe waved his hand toward Xylo in a gesture of gratitude. “I appreciate the opportunity and will make the most of it,” he replied with a warm smile.
“But we’re not really in times of peace, are we?” Kaede deadpanned, staring at the glass dome and swiping his hand in a broad gesture. “With the Quaww at our borders, and the squabbles happening across the galaxy? And now that you know what lurks beyond our galaxy’s borders, a vacation won’t be an option.”
“I’m here, aren’t I?” Mwe interjected, lifting an eyebrow. “I can relax even while doing business.”
“We both know that your vacation here was a thin disguise for a political visit,” Kaede pointed out as he turned to face Mwe, turning his psydagger off and on.
“My father has done what he came for, and now he deserves time to relax,” Oeta interjected. She stood and offered her hand to Mwe, shooting her father a warm smile. “I don’t know about you, but the cloudless skies look inviting to me. Do you want to take a flight with me?”
“May we join you?” Auro asked, looking at his clan. “The six of us could explore the island together.”
“The more the merrier,” Oeta replied, grinning at the clan. “I can show you the living and entertainment sectors to give you guys a feeling of what Selena has planned and what still needs to be done.” She peered at Xylo. “You don’t think she’ll mind, do you?”
Xylo glanced at the rest of his clan, receiving a nod from each, before returning his gaze to the healer. “No, she would appreciate what you’re doing.” He sighed and ran a hand through his hair, as he tried to wrap his mind around everything that had been happening—and what needed to be done. “Time isn’t something she has much of, especially with everything she’s trying to accomplish. That’s why, as her clan, we’ve stepped in to help. If taking care of small tasks like giving island tours can lighten her burden, then we’re all in favor.”
Odelm nodded to his bondbrother. “She’s incredibly strong, and her light shines brighter than anyone I’ve ever met. But if she gives too much of herself, it’ll dim her light. After yesterday, she’ll need time to rest before the Harvest Festival. While it’s a time of celebration, it’s also when she’ll be judged as a female of a different species taking over as leader of the Aldawi Empire. We need to make sure she knows her worth and be her foundation, her strength, and her support.”
“Selena is a giver. She loves to give,” Kaede said, scanning everyone in the sanctuary. “That’s her flaw. She’s so kind and caring that she doesn’t know how to receive or ask for help. Her dream is to make our lives better, and our dream should be to support her in doing so.”
Xylo felt a deep sense of purpose wash over him. Kaede’s words resonated with the core of what their clan stood for. They were more than just clanbrothers; they were a family bound by love and loyalty. Each member played a crucial role in supporting Selena and ensuring her vision came to life.
Xylo stood tall, his chin jutted out in determination. His hand rested on his bondbrother’s shoulder, offering him strength for the coming days.
“We all have our parts to play,” Xylo said, his voice steady as he addressed the room as the clan’s Favored—his nestqueen’s Primary. “Selena has given us so much. Now it’s our turn to give back. To make sure she knows she’s not alone in her journey.”