Xylo’s expression turned to steel. “I wouldn’t jeopardize Selena in any way. If this will help, lessen Selena’s stress, I will not tell a soul. May the Fates and Stars witness.”
“You don’t want to disappoint me.”
“I won’t.”
Kaede nodded and turned toward me. “He wants you and your offspring to live on his property on a small planet in one of the three Aldawi star systems.”
“And if I want to continue traveling with Xylo and the others? If I want to build a family in the stars? Explore the galaxy? Relocating me from my cell on the Yaarkin ship to a property on a planet is still a prison, just one of a different size.”
Kaede threw back his head and laughed. “Believe me when I say where he wants to take you is no prison.” He took a sip of his drink before continuing. “I understand your reluctance, but moving to his property would make it easier for him to protect you and your offspring. Once you become known in CEG, others may want to steal you for their own research and experiments.”
“So, basically, he wants her blind trust he will not do the same and is giving her little choice.”
“He won’t let any harm come to her or their offspring.” Kaede swirled the remainder of his drink around in his glass. His visor turned toward my stomach. “What’s your definition of a family? There are many different forms in CEG with all the different species and cultures. A few don’t even have families. So, what’s your plan, Selena?”
I could feel the weight of both their stares as they waited for my answer. I took a long sip of my drink, trying to collect my thoughts before setting the cup down on the table. Pulling the blanket up to my shoulders, I glanced at Kaede before turning to meet Xylo’s eyes.
Revealing this to him sealed our fate. There would be no second-guessing accepting our bond after this. I took a deep breath.
“The Aldawi male that hired Kaede? He has been visiting me in my dreamscape since I woke from my tube. He calls me ‘his little Nova’—whatever that means. He’s said the connection he and I have is rare, and I know he’s afraid of someone using me to get to him. I’m assuming by sending Kaede and our escorts, he’s either rich or powerful, perhaps both. But before anything happens between you and me, I need you to know there’s another male that’s bound to me.”
Xylo gave Kaede a sidelong glance before his gaze returned to me.
As he opened his mouth to reply, Kaede interjected, “You shouldn’t have told him that, Selena. He could tell others, and it could jeopardize your safety.”
“He is bound to me!” I yelled, turning to stare down Kaede. I pulled my arm out of the blanket and gestured at Xylo with an open hand. “Don’t you get it? I’m not going to keep secrets from him when his life is also affected by my decisions. After a lifetime of secrets—secrets your contact is still keeping from me—I refuse to do that to him. I know too well what that feels like.”
“My client will not agree,” Kaede criticized.
“I do not care,” I growled, giving Kaede a dirty look before pulling my arm back under the blanket.
I blew out a breath in frustration before turning back to Xylo.
“Look, I know what we have is unique, especially with me being human. I want to start things with open communication. I hate secrets. Maybe it’s because I grew up in seclusion, only reading about families in my studies, but I want a big family. I don’t know exactly what I want that to look like yet. I have so little experience of such things, but even with what little I’ve seen of your culture, I can see the advantages of having multiple males. There were a few examples of both men and women in human history with multiple partners—marriages, permanent partnerships, poly-style relationships, arranged marriages for political gain with consorts on the side—so I know this is part of my culture as well. I’m not saying what we have is love, I’m not saying I have things figured out, but I am attracted to you and—"
“Well, this isn’t awkward—”
“If you’re uncomfortable, you can leave. Door’s over there,” I growled and pointed, daring Kaede to continue making rude comments to interrupt the important conversation I was having with Xylo. One Kaede had no right to be privy to, come to think of it. “But I believe you’re too nosy to do the polite thing and give us privacy.”
“No. These are all things that will help me plan for the future. I just didn’t think you’d be talking feelings so soon.”
“I believe it is good for Selena to express how she feels. It prevents misunderstandings. We will already have enough of those with our different cultures. My biggest question for her is...” Xylo turned to address me directly. “Selena, what do you want to do with all your offspring—current and future ones?”
“Huh? What do you mean?” I asked, confused. Do with them? Of course, they’d stay with me.
“Both Wudox and Ulax nestqueens typically only keep their daughters, placing them in their resident hatchery to be raised by their nestmates. They send their sons to the local or regional hatchery and never reclaim them.”
“Why would they do that?”
“Male offspring are considered military fodder. If a male is sent to the regional hatchery and is left unclaimed by the time he fully matures, that male is sent to the military academy. The tradition started when soldiers were desperately needed during the Ulax and Wudox wars. Once we signed the peace accords, the tradition remained to ensure we could protect our planet from invaders. When our technology progressed to allow space travel and the Aldawi came, our military was instrumental in assisting them and CEG in the Yaarkin War.”
“That’s horrible,” I gasped,
