Chapter 26
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Selena
“Is that you, son?” another male asked behind us, the exact moment the music died down.
The performance was over.
I turned around to see two blurry figures on the edge of my vision, walking toward us. It was too bright from the stage to see exactly who they were, but the word “son” stood out and made it obvious they were Odelm’s fathers—or at least close enough to him to consider him their son.
I faced Odelm, who stiffened under my gaze, mouth ajar, trying to figure out what to do.
An Ulax and Wudox male pair walked around our booth and stopped in front Odelm with confused expressions as they surveyed our group.
They were plain in coloring compared to my nestmates. The Ulax male was a medium gray with green stripes and eyes while the Wudox male was a dark brown with orange and green speckles, his eyes a warm gold.
When their gazes landed on me, they paused slightly before continuing on to the princes. As the realization of who they were hit them, they jerked into a salute. “Sires…”
Z’fir raised his hand, cutting them off. “No need for formalities. Technically, we were banished and stripped of our titles, but as you know, Circul enjoys remaining cut off from the CEG, so few outsiders know this.”
“But Sire… why are you here? Of all places?” the Ulax male asked, confused.
“We are enjoying ourselves,” V’dim replied. “It’s been a while since we have been off our ship.”
“What are you doing here, fathers?” Odelm’s voice seemed… off.
They turned their attention to him and smiled.
“We just sold our recent run and wanted to celebrate before we start making purchases,” the Wudox male responded.
“We heard rumors there was a small Circuli colony ship docked. While we were making deliveries, we came across a few of your crew members along the way and asked if you were still with them. When they confirmed, we tried reaching out to you but weren’t able to make it through,” the Ulax male explained.
“We went to where the Destiny is docked and asked a few guards. They said they couldn’t reach you either, but you were staying with the Aldawi.”
“One even said you were mated!”
“Is it true, son? Are you bonded to a nestqueen?” the Ulax male asked, looking between Odelm, Xylo, and me.
“Yes,” Odelm confirmed proudly as one of his tentacles snaked around Xylo and wrapped itself around my wrist. “I am honored to be chosen and accepted in a clan. This is my nestqueen, Selena, and my nestbrother, Xylo.”
They turned toward me with confused expressions. “But son, why here? And why is she wearing garments?”
“Why is she hiding?”
“That is none of your concern,” Xylo growled.
“She doesn’t feel… right,” Odelm’s Ulax father said.
“That is because I am not Circuli,” I announced. “I didn’t know it was a requirement to be naked all the time. I would have thought Odelm’s manners came from his fathers, but it seems he learned them on his own.”
I pulled back my hood, no longer caring who knew I was a female—and a trans-human at that. My nestmates, now four of them, should be able to protect me in this empty establishment. If they couldn’t, perhaps I should entertain adding Kaede to my clan; he was a one-man army by himself.
The males staggered back and tried to recollect themselves from my outburst, but I wouldn’t allow it.
“Both Xylo and Odelm are mine,” I explained. “The princes are as well—just not permanently yet. And no, I don’t have any Favored, but that doesn’t mean I don’t take what is mine.”
A wide smirk filled my face as I watched them try to piece together what just happened.
“Fathers,” Odelm warned. “Selena treats me well. I am accepted for who I am. Please show courtesy for who she is.”
“A human?” Odelm’s Wudox father asked, studying me. “They still exist?”
“It wasn’t a rumor after all.”
“Yes, I exist.” I inhaled a few breaths to help calm myself.
“Now, I am assuming you want to catch up with your son, especially since it has been years since you have last seen him in person. How about you join us for our late afternoon meal, and we get to know each other a little better? It seems like you missed the show earlier, but that doesn’t mean we can’t have a good time. ”
“Thank you, Selena,” Odelm said.
Odelm’s fathers hesitated and glanced at each other. “We would love to.”
The table shifted toward the princes, leaving enough space for Odelm’s fathers to sit next to him.
The Quaww waitress from earlier showed up with a cart filled with our order. She scrambled to pass everything and asked what Odelm’s fathers wanted. When they replied they would have what we had, she hurried away.
“I am sorry, Selena,” Odelm said. “My fathers… they are usually more polite than this.”
“It’s not your fault. I’m not going to hold their actions against you. I understand it is a lot to take in… I just wish people would stop asking the same questions.”
“Introductions.” Xylo wrapped a vine around my shoulders. “This is Selena Darcaw—”
“You are mated to someone who bears the royal Aldawi name?” Odelm’s Wudox father asked, grabbing his arm.
“Yes, father.” He jerked his arm away. “It was a recent event.”
“And you are okay with it?” Odelm’s Ulax father questioned, studying him.
Odelm growled. “Does it matter?”
“No. It doesn’t,” I mumbled. “It doesn’t matter anymore. It can’t be changed.”
A heavy calm fell on me, traveling to the other members.
“That is enough,” V’dim barked. “Selena has been through enough. I am sure you heard rumors about her trial yesterday. If not, look it up in your spare time. It will open your eyes.” He sighed.
“Look, we are here because we wanted to treat our nestqueen without worrying about judgments or responsibilities. Selena saved Z’fir and me from our mothers' wishes and agreed to establish a politically-arranged bonding to give the Destiny’s crew a new home.
She is both intelligent and kind and cares very much about your son.
I would think you would be proud your son joined a clan with a nestqueen who loves and cares for him. ”
“You are right,” Odelm’s Wudox father said, glancing at me. “I am sorry, nestqueen Selena. It seems my partner Odevlyn and I have gotten ahead of ourselves.” He bowed his head. “I am Elmynx, Captain of my merchant ship, Abyssal Fire.”
“Our ship, Elm,” Odevlyn corrected.
“Right. Our ship.” He nodded apologetically at Odevlyn before turning toward the princes. “We heard rumors you were granted a place to settle. A moon. In the middle of the Aldawi territory. I assume the rumors are true, and this was granted to you by your new court bond?”
“What is it to you?” I asked as I leaned back, crossing my arms as I studied them.
Odevlyn met my gaze. “We always told Odelm that once the Destiny settles, we would return to be with him.” He sighed. “We may not look like it, but we are getting old. We can’t keep traveling the stars full-time anymore.”
“We hoped to help the settlement by doing supply runs until they are well established. Then we wanted to open a shop of our own, selling off-planet items at a fair price. Someone has to.”
“Xylo. Could you please contact Vagren and tell him to meet us here?”
“Selena… What are you doing?” Xylo asked, concerned.
“You should know. Can’t you read me?” I teased.
Xylo was trying to be polite and give me privacy by not focusing on reading my thoughts all the time, and I appreciated it.
It still bothered me I couldn’t read their thoughts or feelings like they would do naturally with me all the time.
That was the main disadvantage I felt of not being a Circuli nestqueen—being able to read what my nestmates were thinking about or calming them naturally at times of need would make communicating easier.
I still felt there was an invisible wall between us.
They could read and sense things from each other, yet I needed to discover and confirm them.
“He’s on his way,” Xylo announced. “Do I need to be worried?”
I smirked as I picked up one of the colorful drink samples off its tray and took a sip. I hummed in approval of the slightly tart, fruity drink.
“Keep up.”
At that moment, the waitress returned with the extra orders, but this time, she wasn’t alone. Trailing her was the same crimson-colored male from outside, equipped with a tablet. He surveyed our group with a pleasant smile as the waitress unloaded the extra samples.
“Sires…” he stuttered when his eyes landed on mine. “And lady. I am Erluh, owner of all this.” He raised his arms, gesturing to the room. “How has your time been so far here at Zero G-Spot? Is there anything I can help you with?”
“I believe we are fine. Our food and drinks are amazing. We are just catching up with each other,” Z’fir said, gesturing to the table.
Erluh leaned over to his waitress and whispered something in her ear. She nodded and left, taking the empty cart with her. Erluh watched her leave before turning to us. He opened his mouth to say something and cleared his throat.
“I was wondering why your group was at an establishment like this.” His eyes widened as he raised his hands, waving them as his tails moved wildly behind him.
“Not to offend anyone, but I wondered why a group of males would take a female here instead of all the other places available. I mean, usually, males don’t come in here as a group… much less with a female.”
“Why is that?” I asked, curious. Perhaps he would be the one who would give me insight into this place. I saw nothing wrong with it.
He glanced at the others, his pleading them to help. When none came, he closed his eyes and deeply sighed, his tails wilting from their perky default position.