Chapter 32 #2
The lack of knowledge they had given me about their family was annoying. I knew Aldawi normally averaged three to five cubs, but rare occurrences of fewer or up to seven were possible. It didn’t occur to me that there were more siblings somewhere in the CEG.
“There were five of us born—Royak, me, Izyana, Vagren, and Masmi. The Fates did a disservice by making Vagren and Pavyrn the only half-blood,” Zirene hissed. “They both should have been full-blood, for Izyana is a worthless coward.”
“If what Prince Zirene said is true, then you should have nothing to worry about,” Mwe sighed, surveying the occupants in the room. “That is, if the Quaww decide to leave Selena and her cubs alone.”
“What are you implying?” Zirene growled. “Are you saying Selena won’t be safe in the Aldawi territory? On her moon?”
“It is not my place to say, but Selena is the center of many conversations on the space station.” His eyes locked onto mine.
“It would be safer for you if you stayed with those whose job it is to protect you. The Quaww are highly interested in you, but they are smart enough not to try something that would easily be traced back to them. After their display in the Assembly, it would be foolish to do so.”
“Why are you telling me this?”
“Because I would not like to see the CEG divide and fall as a result of war over who can keep a woman in their territory.” He sighed and walked to their glass wall, flexing his wings as he stared into the darkness of space. “The Quaww are up to something. I want to make sure you don’t become…”
“Fodder.”
“Let the Quaww try something,” Royak taunted. “The Aldawi will be prepared.”
“And when they do, we would be the victors,” Zirene purred.
Silence fell in the room.
I grabbed my nestmate’s bond threads. They had delayed telling me what happened to me, and I needed to know why I woke up in Kaede’s bed without clothes.
“What happened to me last night?”
“You went out with Kaede’s sisters while we watched the cubs,” Z’fir answered, his vine twitching in my hands.
“You all know that is not what I’m asking about. Stop hiding it from me.”
“Selena, now may not be the best time to ask this,” Xylo whispered as one of his vines wrapped around my torso.
“Selena,” Mwe called gently, grabbing my attention.
“Your nestmates are hesitant to respond to you because they don’t know what happened to you last night.
They knew you would be returning late, so they all retired for the night, knowing you should be safe with your company.
” He walked over and stopped in front of me.
“In your celebratory state, someone drugged you while the women with you had their guard down, believing their reputation would prevent anyone from trying something.” He bent down to his knees, his wings shifting behind him as a sad expression crossed his face.
“While drugged, you attempted to convince the Quaww male you call ‘Q’ to… mate with you. Kaede realized his error in judgment in taking the night off and noticed you weren’t acting normal.
When he gathered you, he analyzed your blood, confirming you were drugged and needed aid. ”
“I refused to take you the space station’s infirmary, even though that was the nearest location for you to receive the assistance needed.
I didn’t know the medical team there and wasn’t going to trust their aid to be completely for your benefit or if they were qualified to assist you,” Kaede barked from his new position leaning against the far wall, with arms crossed.
“The nearest safe location was the apartments my sisters and I share. I rejected porting with you in such a state to your bedroom. Your nestmates didn’t answer their pages, and you were becoming more—”
“Needy,” Mwe injected, squeezing my hands and refusing to let me pull them away as his magenta eyes studied me.
“Selena, you tried to seduce Kaede into mating with you. Even after you bit him, he refused and locked himself in his bathroom until you were asleep, and he was settled. You removed your clothing before… passing out.”
Everyone watched me as I processed everything they said.
I was somehow drugged and tried to mate with Q on the dance floor for the whole club to see. Why didn’t anyone stop me? Didn’t Q have a thing with B?
Kaede stopped me, and in response, I bit him as I tried to seduce him—and take his will away from him.
Just like my old masters…
Was I now an attempted rapist?
Odelm scooped me off the couch, placing me on his lap. His tentacles wrapped tightly around me as he held me, pulling me close to his chest.
“No, Selena! You aren’t,” Xylo shouted.
“It wasn’t your fault,” Odelm murmured.
“She isn’t what?” Kaede asked.
Odelm placed his hand on my head, placing it against his chest as I watched Kaede walk to my couch and pause in front of it. His head moved as he scanned me in silence.
Was he angry at me? Would he ask to be reassigned?
Was he upset I was wearing his clothes after everything I did?
Did he now hate me?
I closed my eyes, unable to look at him; I felt too ashamed at how I acted.
Tears fell, and I growled in anger.
Why couldn’t anything go right? Was this my payment for the Fates and the Stars saving me that one destined night? Would I have to continue to fight with everyone?
“She isn’t what?” Kaede repeated, annoyance filled his voice.
“Like my old masters,” I said, opening my eyes as I pulled my head from Odelm’s chest. “I didn’t mean to do what I did.
” I glanced at his sisters standing behind him for a moment before meeting his gaze.
“But you were right. You are the best guard I will probably ever have. I am sorry…” I sighed. “I hope you will forgive me—”
“There isn’t anything to forgive,” Kaede scoffed.
In an instant, he was gone.
“We will return to our apartments, Prince Zirene. And continue… supervising from there if that is okay with you, Sire,” B asked.
“Permission granted,” Zirene said, nodding to them.
They saluted and left, not looking at or saying anything to me. Were they upset at themselves for failing? Or at me, for trying to seduce both Q and Kaede?
“Are things always this exciting around here?” Mwe murmured.
“I could use less excitement. You don’t have another trial or something I need to attend—unprepared—do you?” I asked.
“No, but I do want to know something.”
“What else is there to know?” I asked, drying my eyes.
Mwe looked down at all of my nestmates' appendages wrapped around my limbs. Instead of feeling restricted, it was comforting as I leaned back against Odelm’s chest.
“I sensed the presence who spoke to you.” He winced. “Could you tell me what it said? I know its signature, so if they reach out again while you are on the space station, I should be able to intervene.”
“I will be able to as well,” Oeta voiced. “That is, if I am approved to work with your team.”
“Her credentials are outstanding. The best in the batch we received,” Xylo said.
“And the others?”
“There are a few that stood out from the others.”
“Any Quaww?” Z’fir asked.
“One. A stubborn and arrogant male but intelligent with the credentials to back him up.”
“Contact whoever you believe is worthy and won’t cause any problems. I trust your judgment.”
“If you are still interested, Lady Oeta, we would love to hire you to be a part of Selena’s team,” Xylo announced.
“Excellent,” she smiled as her fuchsia glow brightened. “I will prepare my things once we are done here.” Her wings fluttered. “I believe my father asked about the presence, which I am also interested in. We have never felt such a strong thread before.”
I sighed and looked down at my hands as I gently grabbed the princes' appendages, tracing their unique skin with my thumb.
I told them everything—what happened from the moment the presence took over to when Zirene saved me, not leaving out at any detail. They needed to know what he had said because I feared he would come for me again… or worse, invade while looking for his lost brother.
I could feel both Odelm and V’dim trying to calm me and sent them my appreciation.
“And then?” Royak asked.
“I don’t know how to explain it other than I felt like I was choking.” I looked up at Zirene, meeting his amethyst eyes. “Can you die while you are dreamscaping?”
Zirene glanced at his brother.
“Until today, I would have said no, but you have a lot of unknowns to consider,” Royak replied.
“Dreamscapes should have no factor in reality, but what I saw and felt today went against those rules.” Zirene sighed as he met my gaze once more. “Selena, I don’t know how to explain this, but you almost died.”