Chapter 61
61
Selena
T he villa’s grand doors opened with a smooth grace, the soft creak as they slid open barely audible beneath the guards’ synchronized greetings. I nodded and thanked them as we entered, wishing them a well evening.
Eshe, my newly appointed captain of the royal guard, was already waiting in the main lobby—as if she had known I was about to appear. Dressed in a sleek black hooded robe edged with shimmering purple beadwork, she exuded lethal elegance, fit her new position.
“Beacon,” she said, falling into step beside me. “Your cubs are currently in the backyard, playing with mine under your clanmates’ watch. Kaede is still at the arena with one of your ambassadors, and the rest of your guests, including Tori, are flying. Your human friend is using a new device that Kaede has recently crafted for her.”
I followed my bond threads to confirm her report. My mental threads shimmered and pulsed, tethered to my mates like strings of light across the cosmos. My Favoreds’ was faint, but still visible, leading back to Destima. My princes’ bondthreads pointed in the direction of the villa’s backyard, while Kaede’s indeed led to the arena.
She wondered who he was currently taking his anger and frustration out on.
Z’fir’s warm presence thrummed in confirmation, aligning with Eshe’s words. “ She’s right, ” Z’fir pathed, his tone affectionate. “ The three of us are enjoying the cubs—yours, ours, and Eshe’s. Her mate is with us as well.”
“Mate?”
“Yes, another female Aldawi named Visara,” Z’fir confirmed. “A chef with burnt orange fur covered with creme and brown spots.”
“Is she planning on coming with us to Destima?”
“That’s the plan,” Z’fir pathed, amused. “Our cubs are best friends with hers, and they are similar in age. It will be nice for them to have playmates when we return.”
“ Thank you,” I replied softly, my mental voice carrying a note of gratitude. “ And... how is Kaede? He still has the bond muted.”
A beat of hesitation passed before V’dim chimed in. “ He’s angry, more at himself than anyone else. Zyxel didn’t frustrate him nearly as much as his own perceived imperfections. He’ll calm down in time, Selena. He just needs to accept that even he has… weaknesses.”
“ Thank you both.” A soft sigh escaped me, carrying the weight of concern. “ I’m going to focus on the present. I love you two. Tomorrow night, then?”
“Of course,” V’dim pathed. “We love you too.”
“Enjoy yourself,” Z’fir soothed. “And give both you and Zyxel a chance.”
The warmth of their shared mental hug washed over me, filling me with a renewed sense of ease.
My Circuli princes had become more… aware of me on this trip. I wondered if it was them trying to make up for my missing Favored, or that they’d settled into a comfort routine.
Eshe’s steady voice broke through my thoughts. “My team is electric, Beacon. They’ll be ready to depart with you in three days.”
I glanced at her and offered a genuine smile. “Thank you for the update, Eshe. You’ve been exceptional. I can’t wait for you to see Destima.”
“I’ve heard tales of its beauty,” Eshe muttered, wistfully. “And futuristic infrastructure.”
“It’s the most beautiful thing I’ve witnessed in my life,” I confirmed, nodding with a gentle smile.
We arrived at the door to my suite, etched with swirling silver designs that marked my station. “Thank you for escorting us,” I told her, reaching for the hand scanner. “I can take it from here.”
Eshe hesitated, glancing between the two of us. “Beacon, are you certain? I can remain stationed outside.”
Her amber eyes searched mine, and I responded by placing a gentle hand over her paw. “We’ve been safe in Masmi’s villa this entire time, Eshe. Nothing has changed.”
Reluctantly, she inclined her head in a deep bow. “As you wish. But I’m just a call away if you need anything.”
“Take the night to relax,” I said warmly. “You’ve more than earned it.”
Eshe nodded and retreated, leaving Zyxel and me to the quiet embrace of the suite. I sucked in a steadying breath, the weight of the day’s events pressing against my shoulders, and then I opened the door.
“This is my Beacon’s suite,” I said, stepping into the waiting room. “Masmi had the whole wing redesigned for my clan.”
Zyxel entered behind me, his presence filling the room with a quiet strength as he glanced around in awe. “There should be a tent and nestbed for us outside,” he muttered. “Equipped with everything we need to enjoy the night.”
I tilted my head. “You want to go outside?”
‘That was the plan.” His lips curved into a faint smile. “I was told that it was private and designed with you in mind.”
The tent came into view as Zyxel led me through the open patio doors. It was nothing short of breathtaking—a masterpiece of elegance and comfort. The soft glow of lanterns spilled through the sheer white fabric that draped gracefully around the tent’s massive structure.
Inside, the floor was a sea of plush blankets and oversized pillows, inviting and luxurious. The golden light from the candles within the lanterns gave everything a warm, ethereal hue. Beyond the tent, the infinity pool shimmered in the evening light, its edge blending seamlessly with the white sands and the darkening sea beyond.
A small table sat to one side, adorned with a spread of finger foods—exotic fruits, delicately spiced meats, and freshly crafted sweets arranged with precision. Beside it, a cooler glistened with condensation, filled with a variety of drinks for us to enjoy.
The attention to detail was overwhelming, a clear labor of love from my clanmates.
My chest tightened with a pang of guilt. This was meant for all of us—for shared laughter, quiet moments of connection, and late-night conversations under the stars.
Instead, I was here with Zyxel, someone I was trying to figure out if he had a place in my world and still a mystery in so many ways.
“This is… incredible,” Zyxel said, his voice filled with awe as he slithered forward. His tail shifted smoothly over the blankets, his sling bag tucked securely against his chest. He reached out, his fingers brushing a pillow before moving to the edge of a lantern. “Fit for royalty,” he added, his tone reverent, “just like you.”
My stomach betrayed me with a loud growl, breaking the spell of the moment. Heat rushed to my face, and I quickly covered my midsection with both hands, frowning at the betrayal. Of course, after a day like today, my body would demand attention now.
Zyxel chuckled softly, his voice low and warm. “We should get something in you before your body decides to make any more demands.”
I nodded, feeling a small smile tug at the corners of my lips despite myself. He gestured toward the inviting nest of pillows and blankets, urging me to sit. The cushions sank just slightly under my weight, cradling me in softness.
Zyxel approached the table, his movements deliberate as he carefully selected an assortment of food. His hands moved with surprising grace for someone so imposing, arranging the food on a plate as if it were a gift. Then, grabbing a chilled bottle of bubbly juice, he returned to me, offering both with a small, almost shy, smile.
“Here,” he said, his voice gentle, as he settled the plate and drink before me. “Enjoy.”
Zyxel reached for his own plate and drink, his movements smooth as he slithered beside me. His coils curled into a neat pile on the plush blankets, his body settling gracefully as he sat upright beside me.
We ate in a calm silence, the sounds of the waves and faint whispers of the night filling the air around us.
After a moment, he broke the quiet, gesturing to the glimmering infinity pool beside us. “We should take a dip sometime,” he suggested, his tone light. “We didn’t really get a chance to enjoy the salt spa.”
I gave him a pointed look, swallowing the last bite of a delicate meat-filled pastry. “Not my fault I fell asleep during your massage.”
He chuckled, shaking his head. “Not your fault,” he agreed. “But if you fell asleep that fast, it means the heat’s taking more of a toll on your body than you’re letting on.”
A growl rumbled low in my throat as I set my empty plate down. “I’m not weak. Just... stressed.”
“I didn’t call you weak… For you are anything but. It’s just that you’re pregnant and aren’t accustomed to the planet’s weather.” His expression softened, a kindness in his eyes that made my chest tighten. “Is there anything I can do to help relieve that stress?”
I sighed and leaned back against the mound of pillows, staring up at the twin moons glowing above. “It’s part of my job as Beacon,” I said, my voice softer now. “Wanting to rule beside Zirene, to give him some relief from the position that was thrusted upon him. There’s always something to handle, something to balance.”
“How does it feel... to be so intimately connected to your clanmates?”
“It’s comforting,” I admitted, a wistful smile tugging at my lips. “To know that no matter where I go, there are people who love me, who accept me for who I am. It’s something I always wanted but was too afraid to dream about.” I paused, exhaling slowly. “Once, I couldn’t have imagined a place like this... even with Zirene meeting me in my dreams. I thought padded walls and metallic floors were all I’d ever know.”
Zyxel reached over and gently took my empty plate and bottle, placing them in a discreet cleansing container by the table. When he turned back to me, his voice was quieter, more hesitant. “Do you think... there’s room in your life for me?”
The question made my breath hitch. I bit the inside of my lip as I tried to imagine what that would look like. Him, in my life. Him, beside me and the others.
“I don’t know,” I said honestly. “Only that there’s something between us.”
“Is it enough to keep exploring?”
I frowned, my thoughts tangled as I stared at the gentle ripples of the pool. “I don’t know,” I said again, my voice barely above a whisper. “How would you fit in? How would we make this work?”
Zyxel’s hands found mine, his touch firm but pleading. His amber, slitted eyes held an intensity that left me breathless. “ Who do I have to be to be chosen? What do I have to be to become yours?”
My eyebrows pinched together as I searched his face. “What do you mean?” I asked as I tried to piece together what he was saying. “ Who? What? ”
Without a word, he reached for his sling bag and pulled out a sleek chrome sphere. He tossed it to the ground between us, and it expanded with a soft hum into an invisible half-dome. The air inside seemed to shift, a subtle tension settling in as the world outside was muted.
“I know what you are.”