And if we never produced offspring of our own, I was perfectly willing to take in any of Selena's children and help raise them. Whenever Kaede found Selena, I was sure those two wouldn't be able to keep their hands off each other. I suspected they would quickly fill the rooms of the children's wing. Z may need to think about expanding the villa once his Nova was safely returned.
If Selena and Kaede returned as mates, then they would become my siblings. By extension, so would Selena's entire clan.
Just like that, I would have a family. I didn’t need a large flock when Selena was unintentionally building one for me.
Best of all, Z would be my brother.
Once the danger passed and my loved ones were home safely, I couldn't wait to walk up to Z, grip his shoulder as Prince Royak did, and call him 'brother' in front of his subjects.
The Aldawi Sovereign would be my brother. Who would've thought an Aldawi and a Quaww could get along?
I chuckled to myself.
"What are you thinking about?" B asked while resting her hands on my shoulders, sitting above the base of my tail.
"Once we are done teaching the galaxy to stop picking fights with Z and his empire…. I will be loosely related to him through my bond with you."
"Wow," she muttered as she continued to rub in the healing lotion, she found for me. "I never realized that."
"It all started with Selena. She was the reason Z searched for Yaarkins ships. Instead of finding her, he found you, your siblings, and your fellow demi-humans. Through Kaede's unusual stalker abilities—and addiction, we both know how obsessed he is with Selena—he was able to hunt her down. But Selena had other plans. She escaped the Yaarkins’ exploding ship and landed on the Destiny, where she collected her Circuli mates."
"And now she is missing once more," B sighed. "When will the Quaww stop warmongering? The galaxy has just won a war, and now the Quaww and their supporters are about to force Z into another. All because they hope Selena and us demi-humans are the solution to all their fertility issues. Aren’t there enough beings in the universe? Why are certain species willing to risk everything for the chance to fill the galaxy with their spawn?”
“They wish to become the largest and most powerful species in the galaxy until no civilization can resist their rule.” I turned my head to the side and glanced at my new mate. “The Aldawi have almost reached that goal with Z’s technological advancements and access to the demi-humans. Their biggest rival, the Quaww, cannot allow the Aldawi Empire to grow unchecked. While we know Z is a fair leader compared to most, some species fear the power he now wields.”
“So, a civil war within the CEG is inevitable?”
“Unfortunately. I hate to admit it, but we will most likely face war soon,” I sighed, closing my eyes as she worked a tight knot between one of the wing junctures along my spine. “Z’s best bet moving forward is to collect indisputable evidence that the Quaww are attacking his border unprovoked. He also needs to file an official complaint to the Assembly about the wealthy Quaww merchant who hired my crew to kidnap Selena. The Assembly will force Quaww politicians to contact their four governing Windlords and find the criminal responsible. If they refuse or cannot provide evidence that they performed a search for the merchant, then Z should present his evidence against the Quaww and state that any more acts against his empire would constitute a declaration of war. The Aldawi would gain the upper hand by proving they don’t want a civil war but will protect their territory by any means necessary if the Quaww make another hostile move. Z simply needs to demonstrate that they’ve been the aggressors all along.”
“Few would want to join the Quaww’s side after finding out they were the ones who instigated the war. All parties interested in defending the CEG would join the Aldawi, adding to Z’s allies.”
“Exactly.” I winced when she pressed a little too hard on a sore spot.
“Sorry!”
I shook my head. “There is nothing to be sorry for. I appreciate you taking the time to do this.”
“I’ll do this every day if I have to to help you return to your former glory.”
And I believed her.
B was as loyal as she was fierce, and I was ecstatic to finally be able to call her mine.
Her wristband chirped, signaling that Z was checking in like he’d said he would.
B hurriedly swung her leg over my wings and dropped onto the bed, leaning her back against my side.
“B here.”
Glancing around her arm, I caught sight of her screen.
Z’s dark amethyst gaze met mine. “I see you’re in the same position I left you in.” He turned his attention to B. “Please tell me that I have nothing to worry about, and you haven’t decided to start nesting now that you’ve captured your lovesick fool.”
“You haven’t gotten rid of me yet, Sire.”
“I hope not,” he quipped. “Kaica just turned in her official resignation from active duty.”
“And will you allow it?”
“What else am I supposed to do? We both know she never wanted to be an assassin and only joined your missions as a healer. Now that you mostly conduct solo missions, keeping her active would only distress her. Besides, I need her more than ever on Destima to help Xylo’s research team, and the villa’s healing staff stabilize my nestbrothers as they heal until my Nova returns.”
“Kaica did petition to resign before you sent us to hunt for Selena’s stalker. Now that our objectives have changed, it makes sense to allow her to settle since she will be close by if needed.”
“Exactly,” he purred, the echo in darkening his voice. “I granted her request with the stipulation that I would call on her if I
