He sighed, then closed his armband and sat on the couch.
“Sit down. This will be a long discussion but necessary.”
I followed his directions and collapsed on the nearby loveseat.
Kaede added as he looked up at Xylo, “Might as well get us drinks while you’re up then come join us.”
“Are you up for this?” Xylo’s mental voice was concerned.
“I need to know. Even if it’s bad, it would be better to know and plan. I read an old Earth saying when I was with the Yaarkins—‘forewarned is forearmed’—and I finally understand what they meant. Hopefully, knowing, I will spend less time stressed and worried.”
“Okay. The lower your stress, the easier the rest of your pregnancy will be.”
“You can stop with the mindspeak. It’s rude,” Kaede chastised from his spot on the couch. “Especially since it’s my hide on the line.”
“Whether or not you find it rude, telepathy and empathy are important parts of both the Wudox and the Ulax. There are species out there who only communicate that way.” Xylo looked sternly at Kaede as he handed him a light purple beverage. “Truthfully, Kaede? I do not trust you. I cannot get a read on you with your visor and head-to-toe shroud. You show up here unannounced, flaunting your drones and claiming you are in charge of Selena’s protection. What are we to think? Am I to simply trust your word?”
Xylo handed me a cup with steam rolling off the rim. I held it carefully in both hands, sighing with bliss as I absorbed the warmth. I sniffed and a sweet herbal scent filled my nose, drifting from the light green beverage.
“Are you cold?” Xylo asked, concern coloring his tone.
Pulling the cup away from my face, I glanced at Kaede before looking into Xylo’s concerned teal gaze. The room was slightly chilly, but I hadn’t intended to complain about it. I leaned back and tucked my legs up onto the loveseat, trying to conserve some heat.
I finally admitted, “It’s a little bit chilly in here.”
“There’s a blanket stored in the chest next to the nestbed. It’s dark green and should be near the top, Xylo. If you grab it for Selena, I’ll raise the temperature in the suite.”
Xylo eyed Kaede before tracing my body with his eyes. “Do you want me to get it for you, Selena?”
My cheeks heated, causing me to look down in embarrassment at the cup in both of my hands. Being the center of attention was something I wasn't accustomed to though it seemed to be happening more frequently. The care that Xylo—and to a degree, Kaede—expressed made my heart flutter. For years, the only person who’d cared had been my dreamscape male. Having actual flesh-and-bone people care about me was something I’d never thought to experience.
“I can get it myself,” I suggested.
“No, I insist. You need your rest. Let me get it for you.”
“If it isn’t any trouble, I’d love it.”
“It would not be a problem at all. I will be right back.”
I watched Xylo until he disappeared through the door, then took a sip of my drink. It had cooled down just enough to not burn myself.
“You must trust me, Selena. We may not always agree with one another, but I need you to trust me,” Kaede pleaded.
Glancing over, I noticed his focus was on me, his black-gloved hands gripping his knees.
“As the Head of Security? Or as someone who wants to become friends?”
“Both. Your health and safety are my main concerns.”
“I don’t know how you can ask me to trust you when I just met you. Scratch that. I still haven’t met you. You don’t trust even me with your identity. At this point, you could be anyone. I’m not that foolish, Kaede. I’ll accept your service, but it’s too early to talk about trust,” I stated with a pointed look.
Silence fell between us for a few moments, waiting for the other to say something. I took another sip of my warm tea as I waited for Xylo to return.
“I will prove myself to you—”
“‘Actions speak louder than words.’ That’s one of my favorite quotes from Earth’s history. Prove to me I should trust you, and I will. Right now? You’re the person who was hired to protect me by the one person who hurt me, whether or not he meant to. If you know his plans, then you have to know our history—”
The sound of the bedroom door sliding closed silenced me. I did not want any more inadvertent slips. I’d already be in trouble for accidentally mentioning the dreamscape visit.
Xylo had a smile on his face and carried a large green blanket.
Returning my gaze to Kaede, I continued, “I want the best for my children. Right now, I have a bad feeling about what’s going to happen when we arrive at CEG HQ. I will never allow myself to become an experiment ever again—I’d die before I allow that to happen to my children. Not after experiencing those horrors myself. Not after this sample of how it feels to be free. I can’t go back to that. Please understand my point of view, Kaede.”
I set my cup down as a Xylo spread the blanket over me, tucking it in carefully. He handed me back my drink, then turned with his in hand to sit in the chair next to me. The blanket had the same soft felt texture as Xylo’s chest. It felt heavy on my legs, already enclosing me in warmth.
“Thank you.”
“What did you want to discuss?” Xylo asked.
Glancing over at Kaede, I noticed he looked more relaxed, leaning back on the couch, drink in hand.
“Kaede, I need to know what your client plans.”
Kaede paused a moment, then nodded as if he had decided something. He turned to Xylo.
“What I’m about to tell you is highly confidential—and I shouldn’t be telling Selena this—but if this eases her mind and allows her to trust me,
