Kaede sat in one of the chairs along the terrarium wall, typing on his armband. Selena lay on her side stretched out on the couch, a dark green blanket spread over her. Her face was serene, silver hair spread across the pillow her head rested on. Kaede closed his armband’s screen with a snap and stood, nodding to them both.
“She wanted to talk to me here and fell asleep shortly after having a cup of hot tea. I left her here to sleep, knowing you were still moving Odelm’s things, and it would be hectic in your suite. I knew you’d look for her once you were done. If I assumed wrong or worried you, I’m sorry,” Kaede whispered, trying not to wake Selena.
Odelm surveyed the dimly lit room. His gaze landed on the table in the center of the seating area, and he noticed the empty mug near Selena. His eyes roamed over her once more before he returned his gaze to Kaede.
Xylo spoke up, “You assumed correctly. Thank you for keeping an eye on her. I did not want her trying to help. She would have insisted on carrying things. A lot of Odelm’s belongings were too heavy for her to lift, especially in her pregnant state.”
Kaede studied Odelm for a moment before returning his gaze to Xylo.
“I’d like to take a more active part in Selena’s daily life. I’ve been supervising her from a distance since I arrived, but I’d like to play a more active role. It’s likely I will be assigned as her permanent Head of Security once we arrive at CEG HQ. Earning your trust, and hers, would make the job of keeping all of you safe much easier. I’d like us to become friends.”
Odelm was stunned. He would not have thought Kaede capable of that level of emotion or that he would wish to become close to them all. He tried to get a read on Kaede’s aura, but his mental shields were too strong. Kaede’s emotions were mute to him.
“What did you have in mind?” Odelm asked.
Sometimes, he was able to sense when others were lying, and he wondered if he could do so if he kept Kaede talking.
“I’d like to continue going with you to breakfast and the infirmary each morning. I know you want to give Selena swimming lessons before lunch, and the exercise is good for her. I can use that time here to do my work. Then I figured I could meet up with you and Selena for lunch. Perhaps help Selena with her research while we listened to your performance. I can either join you for dinner or leave you alone if you wish some private time as a clan. It can be flexible. I just thought it might benefit Selena to take advantage of the nine years I have spent in close association with the Aldawi and CEG.” Kaede shrugged, keeping his tone matter-of-fact.
Odelm glanced at Xylo. He liked Kaede’s plan but knew Xylo felt hesitant about trusting Kaede. A mental brush came across his shields. Odelm grabbed the teal strand that matched his nestbrother’s eyes and accepted it, allowing Xylo to bypass his mental shields.
“What do you think?” Xylo’s deep mental voice asked, the aura of his thought a stressed black.
“I believe it would be smart to accept his offer. I would rather work with him than against him—”
“True,” Xylo interjected. “The princes warned me to work with him since Kaede would be within his rights to pull rank and override me if it came to an argument.”
Odelm continued, “Plus, Selena seems to trust him enough to fall asleep alone in his cabin. If you are correct about her delivering soon, we need to be sure someone is with her at all times. That will be much easier with assistance, even if he is not part of our clan. And Xylo, if you do not trust him yet, this gives us an opportunity to keep an eye on him.”
“Good thoughts. Give Kaede a chance to prove himself.” Xylo’s thought aura shifted to a pleased violet.
Odelm felt Xylo disengage, and his shield snapped back into place. It really was stronger than before—remarkable.
He turned back to Kaede, watching as he looked between the two of them.
“You’re doing that secret conversation shit, aren’t you?” Kaede questioned dryly.
“Yes. I was asking my nestbrother’s opinion. You will have to get used to it because that is how our species communicates—both within the clan and broadcasts from our leaders,” Xylo explained crossly.
Odelm put a steadying hand on Xylo’s arm and squeezed. He mentally brushed Xylo’s shields and sent his pale green strand to try and calm him. He felt Xylo accept his strand and take a deep, calming breath. He was clearly battling conflicting emotions. There was something about Kaede that bothered Xylo, and he was struggling to move past it.
“It is getting late. Before anyone says or does something we might regret, how about Xylo and I take Selena back to our room. We will see you for breakfast in the morning,” Odelm proposed.
“I didn’t mean to sound so harsh or to denigrate your species’ ability. I’m just a simple soldier, and I keep myself—and my charges—alive by always knowing what is happening around me. So, conversations that exclude me—especially when they are clearly about me, but I cannot defend myself—are difficult. And I’ll confess, I don’t fully understand this mental bond the three of you share.”
Odelm nodded at Kaede’s generous admission and apology. “Thank you. We will think about it. Just know, mental communication is important to our species and prevents a lot of miscommunication.” Odelm glanced between Xylo and Kaede. Tugging at Xylo’s arm, Odelm added, “Let us get Selena and go to bed.”
Xylo nodded at Kaede. “See you at breakfast. Do not come for us; I will message you when we are about to leave. Selena may end up sleeping in more often now, at
