Xylo gently shook my hands to bring me back to the present.
“I do not know how you did it without any vines or tentacles. Perhaps when you placed your lips on mine? We do not participate in what other species call ‘kissing.’ Nevertheless, you triggered a courting bond with me, which connects our minds. I can only trace thoughts you do not protect and those you directly address to me. I will explain everything, but please do not sever the courting bond—it is a gutting experience for my species,” he begged, his voice full of emotion, “I will not fail you—nor will I harm you.”
His words stunned me. How were we able to follow each other without a language barrier? I felt like I could trust him, but I wasn’t sure about being permanently bonded to him.
“How can we understand each other when speaking like this?” I questioned, tilting my forehead toward his, hoping he would hear my mental thought.
I tracked his facial expressions, trying to read whether I’d done it right. Though his face was expressive, I couldn’t tell if he’d understood me.
Xylo took a deep breath and closed his eyes. His hands squeezed mine once more, then he reopened his eyes and met my gaze. A sigh escaped his lips, and my attention diverted to their lush fullness. When he started to mindspeak, my gaze snapped back to his.
“Do not worry, I heard you. Connecting telepathically to one another has no limits when it comes to language. All telepathic species the Conglomerate of the Euph Galaxy—CEG—has come across can connect without any language barriers. A huge help when it comes to translating languages, especially when we encounter new species. Everyone registered with CEG also has a translator installed in the communication center of their brain that also functions as an ID and credit device.”
“How does one get a translator installed?”
“Senior Healer Chyox and I treated your injuries, and I used the knowledge from my research on humans to help him install a translator. We have monitored your progress, and there is no sign of any ill effect. These translators, or communicators, are programmed with Galactic Common and many other languages. They are not perfect, and sometimes, the translations will be rudimentary, but it works.”
“Then why couldn’t I understand you before?” I asked, confused.
“It seems yours may still be disabled. When I tried to connect earlier, I could not, nor does my communicator appear to have your language in its files. But once Senior Healer Chyox activates your translator, it should learn your language quickly and translate it to Galactic Common. Then you should have no problem communicating with anyone aboard the ship.”
“What if I can speak Galactic Common?” I whispered in Galactic Common.
He jerked away, his hands letting go of mine as his vines shifted, writhing around him. Eyes wide, he looked shocked.
“You speak Galactic Common,” he replied in the same language, excited.
“It’s not my main language. I taught myself English from the study materials my masters gave me. But I had some... help learning Galactic Common. There are still holes in my knowledge, but I can piece together enough to understand what’s said or written.” I looked away, embarrassed I didn’t know it as well as English.
“Do you understand how amazing this is? This will allow you to help me build the English-to-Galactic Common translation! It will help you communicate with everyone until Chyox can activate your translator,” Xylo stated, his deep voice laced with excitement.
“To prevent miscommunication, I’d rather speak like this until my translator’s activated. Since you said there are no language barriers here, I’d be more comfortable if we continued like this if that’s okay with you?”
“As you wish.” Xylo’s mental voice sounded pleased as he beamed a smile at me.
Steeling myself to broach the topic now uppermost on my mind, I eyed Xylo. I needed to know what this bond meant. “What did you mean when you said I triggered a courting bond with you?”
“I am a Wudox. We—and our sister species, the Ulax—share many characteristics though we have evolved into different species. Both Wudox and Ulax females are mentally stronger than males, and there are fewer females born, so they typically bond with three to five nestmates. The stronger the female, the more males she tends to bond with—though it is at her discretion. This is only important because either Circuli female species will create a courting bond with a male she is interested in—and one she thinks would work well with her other nestmates. The bond is temporary and only becomes permanent when the female accepts the male’s bonding spore. She can sever the bond any time before that.
He paused a moment, clearly hesitant to continue.
“Both Ulax and Wudox males yearn for a female to accept them and their bonding spore—to prove they are accepted and worthy. Reports state a severed bond leaves the male feeling he is forever missing something—much like an amputated limb. Like having a taste of heaven and having it snatched away. He is also viewed as a failure. Rarely will another female court him, nor do they often complete that bond with a formerly-rejected male.” His mental voice held a deep softness, and his lips curled up in a sad smile. “What I am less sure about is how you, a human, triggered the court bond. I have never heard of any outside our two species doing so.”
The weight of everything hit me in that moment.
I’d successfully escaped, and I seemed to have been found by a species that revered their females. Much to my surprise, I felt safe. Though I had only my limited interaction with Xylo to go on, I felt the knot of worry in my chest unraveling.
When I’d first seen Xylo, I’d been deeply attracted to him, and he’d treated me well thus far. I could see the benefits of being bonded to a male whose species allowed their females to dictate the relationships. I wasn’t interested in being
