Odelm was simply grateful she had directed that kindness toward him and had persisted, despite his attempts to push her away. As Odelm worked his hands and tentacles across the Ulepo—a multi-tiered organ developed by another species in CEG—he was glad to be counted her friend and determined to deserve it.
To deserve her.
Conversant in many styles of music, capable of playing a multitude of songs from memory, and with a natural talent for improvisation, Odelm closed his eyes and lost himself in the music.
As he drifted with the music, he marveled over Selena’s acceptance of his past, her anger and hurt on his behalf, that she was not disgusted by him as a severed male. When she had touched his hands, her emotions had flooded him.
Shock. Dismay. Heartbreak.
Awe. Inspiration. Sympathy.
She stunned him—precisely why he needed to keep distance between them. He didn’t trust himself with her. She brought out thoughts and feelings he had not felt in ages.
Odelm opened his eyes and peered across his Ulepo to the booth where he had left Selena. She leaned back in the booth, her intriguing blue-green eyes closed, swaying to the music. Her expression was serene, clearly lost in the music. Her silver hair fell in a sheet, covering the uppermost of the white spots that patterned her bronze skin.
Those spots fascinated him. He had tried numerous times to connect the spots to find their pattern—when her arms were exposed by her halter as they ate in the café, when they had spent time in the terrarium pond swimming. He had yet to find a pattern. Her body was a living piece of art, one he could get lost staring at.
Pulling his gaze away with an effort, Odelm tried to clear his inappropriate thoughts. She was not his nestqueen and such thoughts were dangerous. He would not ruin the friendship she offered with the fantasies and urges he knew were a result of his changed biology, his instincts—the urges and instincts that never left once a court bond was formed. Being severed did not allow a male to return to asexuality.
With Selena, the blind anger at the females around him—that usually shielded him from sexual thoughts and prevented any unrequited attraction—was fast vanishing.
All right, he acknowledged—had vanished.
Selena was so different from Circuli females, both mentally and physically, he could not help his attraction.
These thoughts, and many others, plagued Odelm as he played.
Odelm’s gaze, of its own volition, drifted back to Selena. He almost made a mistake in his playing—something he never did.
She had fallen asleep.
Her head leaned against the cushions of the booth, and her hair had fallen across one eye. Her lips were parted, and he could see the evenness of her breaths from the stage.
He immediately felt guilty. Had he known she was tired, he would never have asked her to stay and listen to his performance. Now he was the one who was not taking care of her properly.
Glancing at his wristband, he noted with relief his scheduled performance was almost over. He focused on the remainder of his set while keeping a close eye on her booth. As the last note faded, Odelm was already pulling the cover over his Ulepo.
He hurried over to Selena.
“Selena?” he whispered.
He waited a few moments for a response that did not come. Leaning closer to her ear, he cupped her shoulder and gave a slight squeeze. “Selena?” he said, a little louder.
She still did not respond.
Warning bells went off in his head. Was she okay? Or was her unresponsiveness due to her pregnancy? He knew nothing about humans, but this did not seem normal.
Odelm carefully picked Selena up in his arms, using one of his tentacles to grab her tablet while the others helped secure her to his chest.
But where to take her?
He thought for a moment and decided waking in the infirmary might frighten her, so he would take her to her suite and call Xylo en route. He could meet them there and check on her.
As he left the café, Odelm sent an urgent mental knock to Xylo’s shields.
“Yes, Odelm? What has happened?” Xylo demanded, mental voice concerned.
“Selena fell asleep in the café after lunch, and I have been unable to wake her. I am worried something is wrong. I am carrying her to your suite now. Can you meet us?”
His relief palpable, Xylo replied, “I suspect it is her pregnancy and nothing to worry about. I was unable to rouse her last night either. I will be there shortly. Thank you for letting me know.”
No one questioned him as he made his way through the crowds and up the lift to the topmost floor. Nor did they offer to help.
As he approached Selena’s suite, he was surprised when the doors automatically opened for him. He had not needed to place her hand on the door scanner to open it. Walking in, he eyed the room. Odelm had never been on the top floor of the ship, much less in either Royal Suite. He was not important enough for the privilege.
And yet, here he now was.
Taking in the layout, he selected a navy couch and gently laid Selena down, dropping her tablet on the nearby table. He could not resist brushing her silver hair back from her forehead before turning to search for a blanket.
Nothing.
He did another sweep of the room before deciding there must be one in the master bedroom on the nestbed though he knew he should not enter.
He shrugged. He would risk being scolded by her or Xylo if it meant he found something to keep her warm on the couch.
Odelm took a calming breath as he entered. This bedroom was Selena's clan domain and should not be in here.
He had crossed a line.
He started to step back to look elsewhere for a blanket, but as his eyes roamed the room,
