With a sigh, Xylo closed his eyes and felt the rush of memories. He shuddered a deep breath as he relived last night’s coupling. Feeling Prince Z’fir withdraw, Xylo raised his mental shields and opened his eyes.
Prince V’dim watched Xylo, giving him a moment to relax, waiting for permission to touch him.
“Go ahead. I am fine.”
Prince V’dim traced the bite mark with his fingers. A wave of calm blanketed the room—soothing both Xylo and the still tense and uneasy healers. V’dim withdrew his hand, allowing Xylo to straighten his head.
He could feel the weight of the others’ stares.
“Is there anything we should know about?” Chyox asked anxiously.
They eyed him before Prince Z’fir responded.
“I believe nothing is amiss. Master Scholar Xylo’s hypothesis appears to be correct. If Selena’s body adapts to those she mates, and that leads to an instinctual need to mark her mates, so be it. It is no different than the instinctual need of Circuli males to seek a nestqueen. Some have found companionship with other unmated males, but that is a mere spark compared to the flame of a bond. Other than Master Scholar Xylo’s mental shields being strengthened and the bite mark on his neck, I do not see any unusual changes resulting from their permanent bonding.”
“But you should know, Master Scholar Xylo, since your bonding last night, we have sensed an echo in you. It is part of why we came to speak with you. We cannot get any direct readings from her—only that she exists. There is a faint ripple from Selena, through your connection, as though we were trying to reach her from far away. You should add that to your notes and make it known to her and any future mates. If she accepts any,” Prince V’dim added.
Xylo was shocked.
If the princes were able to sense her through him, they might eventually be able to include her in their broadcasts to the crew. Or read her. Hopefully, an emergency would never necessitate forcing the connection, but he would have to warn Selena so she would not be shocked if she ever received anything from them.
A sudden wave of emotions flooded him.
Surprise. Shock. Panic. Anger.
The princes turned to him, searching his face—as if they, too, felt her strong emotions.
Xylo followed the thread to Selena, his face instinctively turning in her direction. Just as he was about to rise to go to her, his wristband chimed. Glancing down, he did not recognize the caller. He flipped open the screen on his wristband, answering, and froze when multiple video feeds of the pond in the terrarium appeared.
Three Ulax males surrounded Selena, who was struggling to stay afloat. None of the males offered to assist her, and the strong emotions she broadcast told him she was both angry and scared.
One of the screens panned away from Selena toward the shore. Kaede stood on the black sand and nodded at the camera. Then the camera turned to Kaede’s right, focusing farther along the shore. Odelm ran through the shallow water toward Selena. Xylo watched as he dove into the water, then the camera panned back to its original focus.
Xylo heard movement behind him. Glancing over his shoulder, he saw the others had gathered around, their eyes on his wristband.
Returning his gaze to the screen, he watched Odelm say something angrily to the three Ulax males, then tow Selena back to shore. Both Kaede and Odelm talked to Selena, who was yanking her clothes over her wet body but seemed otherwise unharmed.
Xylo sighed in relief.
The screens blackened, and a message popped up:
“SELENA IS FINE. I GOT IT COVERED. NO PROBLEMS. SELENA IS HUNGRY. GOING TO SUITE TO CHANGE. MEET AT HER FAVORITE CAFE. -K”
Stunned, Xylo paused a moment before closing the screen.
He shut his eyes and focused on his thread to Selena. She was calm if a bit irritated. The irritation at the grit in her sandals was uppermost in her mind, followed closely by thoughts of what she wanted to order for dinner and curiosity about what Odelm would play later.
Opening his eyes, he turned to his princes.
“If there is nothing else you require, I am going to join my nestqueen for dinner. You are welcome to join me.”
Chapter Twenty-One Selena
As we arrived at my favorite café, I saw Xylo approaching from the opposite direction with his coworkers and the princes. Apparently, we were to have company for dinner. I stepped closer to wrap my arms around him as he reached my side, pressing my cheek against his soft fuzzy chest.
Xylo nodded at Kaede before looking down at me, searching my eyes with concern. “You okay, Selena?”
I nodded, wondering if our deeper bond had alerted him I was feeling unsettled.
“Kaede told me you were hungry and were planning on dinner at the café. I am finished my work for the day and thought we would join you.”
Ah! Clearly his conversation with Kaede had been about more than dinner, but I didn’t mind.
“I am glad you’re here,” I whispered against his chest, giving him a small smile.
Xylo returned my smile.
Pulling away, I glanced around at the group, then glanced into the insanely packed café. I hadn’t seen it this packed before—it was a little daunting.
“Do you think we can find a table? Is there one large enough for so many of us?”
“There are a few booths large enough to accommodate nine,” Prince V’dim reassured me.
“And I am hungry. I will find us something.” Prince Z’fir headed into the cafe.
We followed the princes to a large booth against the glass wall, opposite the stage. Prince Z’fir gestured for me to go first, and I slid into the center seat. Xylo and the healers sat to my left, and Odelm slid in on my right, followed by the
