Chapter 19
19
Selena
W armth surrounded me in every direction, with strong furry arms wrapped around me, holding me close. My Shadow purred as he slept beside me, snuggling me against his comforting chest.
My lips curled up in a smile at the thought of what I’d achieved last night. Mwe had granted my wish, and now I could rest a little easier knowing that I could save those in need.
The only bittersweet part was that tomorrow morning, I’d be leaving my Favored behind.
I was thankful that my nestmates had made the decision for me. My Favored were understanding of the delicate situation we were in, but it still left a small ache in my chest that I would never be able to explore the galaxy with all my mates beside me.
It was a small price to pay to give those in need a place to live.
I thanked the Stars and Fates for leading me into the arms of the male in the bed with me. The male who had given me hope when my life only knew darkness.
Just as Xylo and Odelm had taught me how to love so I could love others, Zirene had empowered me to help others. That had become my purpose—providing a safe haven for those born into situations like mine, a place where they could live and succeed. It was my tribute to the Fates and Stars for the life I now had.
I could tell I was alone with my Shadow, as my clanmates’ threads all led outside the villa. Even Kaede was gone. His thread led to the mountain not-so-secret base where the research team created secret inventions to protect us all—and keep the Aldawi the strongest species in the galaxy.
I could tell it was later than I had wanted to sleep. Maybe it was the stress finally melting away that let me sleep so deeply, or perhaps the pleasure my Favored and Kaede had given me last night. Coupled with my excitement to speak with Royak this morning. Whatever the reason, I didn’t have much time left before we had to leave.
A soft pop sounded, followed by Kaede’s mental thread shortening abruptly behind me, signaling that my lethal assassin had come to wake us up.
“Are you guys planning to sleep all day and make me keep doing your job? Selena needs to get up and spend time with her Favored before they fall asleep from boredom.”
Groaning, I stretched, feeling the satisfying cracks in my back as I pressed against Zirene. My Shadow grumbled into my hair, pulling me closer.
“You’re fully capable of handling that yourself,” Zirene rumbled. “Can’t you just let us sleep?”
“Well, you’re lucky you got some sleep, Z,” Kaede snapped. “I haven’t shut my eyes since you woke Selena up earlier this morning. I’ve been playing host and making last-minute preparations for the trip.”
I spun around in Zirene’s hold to face Kaede. “What preparations?”
“I made a few surprises to make our trip easier for you and the rest of the clan,” Kaede explained with a sly grin.
“Oh, yeah? Well, why didn’t you just sleep instead?” I yawned. “I don’t understand why you felt the need to stay up all night long. You could’ve joined us, you know.”
“Selena, don’t you know Kaede by now?” Zirene chuckled, slowly letting me go. “Once he sets his mind on something, he doesn’t stop. He gets so focused on creating that he can’t sleep; he just thinks about his project instead of getting the rest he needs.”
“Well, you better not overwork yourself on my behalf,” I told Kaede as I slowly stood up from the bed and walked over to him.
I cocked my head, studying my assassin. Unfortunately, his visor was in place, hiding his gorgeous eyes, but I knew he had to have dark circles under them.
“You need some rest,” I said, placing a hand on his shoulder. “I need you at full strength, not walking around all tired and grumpy and attempting to stab anyone who looks in my direction too long.”
“You mean Zyxel?” Kaede chuckled darkly. “That male is not going to win the Mating Games.”
“He will if you’re tired,” I retorted with sass. “You will make mistakes, which is one of the reasons why you should make sure you get your beauty sleep.”
“I don’t know, it sounds like you’re quite worried about losing.” Zirene chuckled, joining us. He wrapped an arm around my waist and pulled me close against him. “Especially since the grand prize will be a night out with Selena.”
“If there’s anyone I’m worried about, it’s Ryzen.” Kaede frowned. “Who knows what he’ll do with his spirit weapons. But it doesn’t matter because you have enough mates already.”
“I’m not in the mood to discuss how many mates I have,” I growled at my assassin, earning a sly smirk from him. “You know this.”
“You might not want to discuss this, but I still want to voice my opinion on the matter,” Kaede said firmly. “And you know that I am still upset with Zyxel.”
“I understand how you feel,” I said, meeting his gaze. “But you need to understand and respect my decision on whom I accept into the clan. I do appreciate your concerns about Zyxel. You two will have to squash the disagreements between you before I even think about accepting him as a mate, if I ever do. But you’re the one who told me about Fates and the Stars’ will and how we’re all part of the same constellation. If I feel that Zyxel is in our constellation, then you know full well I can’t resist the pull toward him forever. I can only try to run for so long before I get caught in its snare.”
Zirene laughed heartily. “We both know how long you tried to resist that, Kaede.”
“Why are you here, Kaede?” I sighed, too tired for his antics. “I have a feeling you’re here for a reason.”
“The reason is simple,” Kaede replied. “I just came in here to report to you what’s happened while you two have been sleeping.”
I glanced at Zirene and then at Kaede. “Should I be alarmed?”
Kaede shook his head. “No, nothing’s amiss, Selena. There’s nothing to be alarmed about. I’m just letting you know that I asked Mwe’s permission for Tori’s clan to explore the land before they officially come with us to the Harvest Festival.”
“And what did Mwe say?” Zirene asked, his tail whipping against the back of my legs.
“He gave his permission. Liskta’s deserts have very harsh winds and sandstorms can spring up at any moment. It will be dangerous for them to fly there, which is why I figured they could spend the day enjoying the gentle winds here in Destima while we rest and prepare.
“Plus, your Favored have something they’ve been preparing for you,” Kaede said, gazing out the window to our private backyard.
“Oh?” I asked, glancing at my two males, before following his gaze.
“Yes, think of it as a going-away date,” Kaede said.
Zirene chuckled, placing a paw in the middle of my back and pushing me toward the door that led outside. “They’re waiting for you.”
The thought of a special date, a moment of peace amidst the chaos, filled me with warmth. I turned to Kaede, reaching out to gently touch his arm. “Thank you, Kaede. For everything.”
Kaede’s stern expression softened, and he nodded. “Always, my Star. I’ll always be here for you.”
With that, I allowed Zirene to guide me outside. The sight that greeted me took my breath away. The garden was a blooming paradise, vibrant flowers of all colors creating a fragrant path leading to a beautifully set table under a canopy of twinkling night lamps. Xylo and Odelm stood beside it, their faces lighting up as they saw us approach.
“Surprise,” Xylo said, his smile wide and genuine. “We wanted to give you a special send-off.”
“We know how much stress you’ve been carrying,” Odelm added, stepping forward to take my hand. “And we wanted to make sure you felt our love and support.”
Emotion swelled in my chest, and I blinked back tears. “You guys…this is perfect. I don’t know what to say.”
“Say you’ll enjoy it,” Zirene murmured, kissing my temple. “Say you’ll let them pamper you tonight.”
I nodded, a tear slipping down my cheek. “I will. Thank you. All of you.”