Chapter 17 #2
“You had Xylo before I joined you… I was—and still am—honored you picked me as a nestmate, even with my past and profession. Even though you said you wouldn’t have any Favored, I still referred to Xylo for guidance, for he was the one who had direct access to all of your thoughts and wielded mental capabilities stronger than most on the Destiny.
” He paused and locked his saddened gaze on mine.
“But when you took the princes in and offered to try to give them the chance to sire offspring… I felt my world shatter.” He pulled away and stepped back, bumping into the wall bench.
“I keep telling myself you don’t want to declare anyone as your Favored, yet my instincts keep telling me Circuli culture always gives the Favored the first attempts to fertilize their nestqueen.
I am no fool. Both princes may be exiled, but they are the leaders on the Destiny and strong mentally.
Why wouldn’t you want them to sire your offspring?
And Xylo was your first, has a more respectable profession, and is mentally stronger than me, which would leave me last to have a chance if you ever get to me.
” He dropped onto the bench and leaned over, placing his head in his hands as the water continued to beat on him.
“I shouldn’t have these feelings. I should be grateful you are my nestqueen… but deep down, I am not happy. When I saw you court bond with my princes, I asked myself, ‘How can I compare to them? Is this what I get for keeping secrets from my nestqueen?’”
Tears fell down my cheeks. My anger ended up causing self-doubts in my sensitive nestmate.
Odelm already experienced living as a severed male due to the selfishness of the female before me.
I was his second chance of having a happy ending—a happy life.
And now he believed he ruined it somehow, along with the possibility of siring any new offspring.
I didn’t know it meant so much to him. I hadn’t thought of future offspring much while I was pregnant, nor did I realize my nestmates wanted to be sires. It never crossed my mind.
I closed the gap between us, gripping him as I fell to my knees. Grabbing his hands, I pulled them away from his face and leaned my forehead to his, allowing his hair to cover us both. Staring deeply into his pale green eyes, I sent all my love to him through our bond.
“Odelm…” I breathed. “Feel that? That is my love for you. I love you.” He closed his eyes and nodded.
“I didn’t intend to hurt you in any way.
My focus was getting through my pregnancy while learning everything I could…
including about both Xylo and you. I took in the princes to protect them while giving everyone on the Destiny a place to call home.
It was a political deal… everything was. ”
“Will you ever try to—”
“Get to know them? Love them? I don’t know.
It is too soon to say,” I murmured. “Odelm. I respect them… Stars, I like them and enjoy the time they have spent with us.” I gently grabbed his cheeks and gave him a light kiss as the warm water continued to flow over us.
“I offered them a chance to share me as their nestqueen and to sire offspring. I am not playing favorites. You know how I feel about your culture’s Favored tradition.
If it means so much to you, I don’t see why both you and Xylo can’t try to sire our future offspring whenever I am ready. It is only fair.”
He opened his eyes and stared at me in awe. “Selena…”
A rush of emotions bubbled in, coursing through my body.
As if by instinct, I smashed my mouth on his, pressing my body against his.
He moaned as he leaned back, allowing me to climb onto his lap.
His cool hands lightly traveled along my legs, leaving a tickling sensation behind.
He cupped my ass, pressing me harder into him if that was possible.
I broke the kiss, taking in a deep breath.
I slid my hand from his cheek to his hair and gripped it hard, feeling its gel-like strands squish between my fingers as I exposed my mark on his neck. A hiss broke from his lips as his hands tightened on my ass.
Placing my lips behind his ear-fin, I started kissing along his jaw, working my way down to my mark at the junction of his neck. Odelm shivered when my lips met their destination.
“Odelm. You are mine. This mark here proves it.” I scraped my teeth along his neck. “I will make sure you remember that.”
Something slightly tangy filled the top of my mouth right before I closed my eyes and bit him hard. Blood flooded my mouth as a purr awakened from within. I sucked his blood, enjoying his unique flavor. Somehow, I felt more connected to him, as if I needed to do this.
After more draws, Odelm’s body started to shiver.
The trembling slowly transformed into shaking.
Releasing his neck, I let go of his hair and gripped his arms, trying to get a good hold on him.
“Odelm?”
His chest was heaving quickly as his body shook. Light blue blood flowed from the fresh mark on his neck, overlapping my old one, the shower’s water washing it quickly away. His fingers adjusted themselves as I watched his tentacles slowly unwind themselves from his torso.
“Selena…” Odelm said, confused… and pained?
He stood up, releasing his hold on me. I fell backward onto the tiled floor and gazed up at him in confusion.
Odelm’s body no longer shook, but his tentacles were spread out and alive, weaving around in random directions. The purple speckles of his body glowed along with my white mark on his neck.
My eyes traveled to his. I gasped. They were radiating light green.
“Selena… Run…”
I shook my head in confusion. “What is wrong?”
He closed his eyes with a pained expression as a hiss escaped his lips.
A tremble traveled down his body. I followed it and gasped.
At the juncture of his legs were three appendages dancing wildly among each other. Two were the same shape, both long and thin. The third was shorter and had a large suction cup ending. They were dark purple with bright glowing white tips that glistened.
“I thought…”
His eyes jerked open, their intense hunger silencing me. I swallowed and licked my lips, attempting to get rid of my sudden nervousness.
His tentacles scooped me up from the floor, securing my limbs in their grasp.
Flipping us around, he pinned my body against the wall. The cool hardness of the tile counteracted the heat from the steam surrounding us as the shower continued to pour hot water.
“What did you do to me?” he panted, his voice still rumbling deeply.
“I don’t know,” I breathed as my eyes traced his lean body and zoomed to his very much alive manhood. A great need washed over me, clouding my thoughts.
I needed him—wanted him—inside me, filling my depths to their limits.
He was mine. Why did he deny me?
“I would never deny you,” he swore, pulling my lower half closer.
His three appendages went wild against my slit, heightening my arousal. I met his gaze, which was focused on me as if on a mission.
“You are my nestqueen. I will fulfill all your wishes and prove I am worthy of siring your next offspring.”