Closing my eyes, I leaned into him and allowed him to dip my head in the water. His tentacles combed through my hair as he held my face above the water.
Slowly, he guided me back upright and slid my hair over my shoulder to expose my back. Starting at my neck, he soaped and massaged my neck and shoulders, silent as he worked his way down my body. His complete focus and the care with which he attended me reminded me of the way he played his music—made me feel as if I was one of his instruments and he my owner.
A shiver passed through me at the thought.
While the Yaarkins had treated me as an object, both Xylo and Odelm seemed to worship me. Though they claimed me as their nestqueen, it never felt like a statement of ownership—more like I owned them. Or perhaps it was mutual—we belonged to one another.
I wanted that to be clear to everyone. My marks on their necks were a symbol of our bond, but I also needed to make it clear I was proud of them, proud of our bond.
Somehow the Fates or the Stars had allowed me to escape my masters. More than that, they had put me in the path of the Circuli and given me Xylo and Odelm. That I had been lucky—or blessed—enough to be rescued, healed, cared for, and fed without a demand for some sort of payment by a crew that revered their females and treated other species with respect was astounding.
I sent another silent prayer of thanks to the Stars.
He stepped back and smiled, his warm eyes tracing my body.
I returned his smile, feeling clean and thoroughly relaxed.
Odelm scooped me, dripping, into his arms and carried me out of the tub. As he set me on the edge of the bath, he grabbed one of the towels sitting nearby to dry me. I could feel his happiness radiating through our bond.
When he’d finished, I stood and touched his chest. “Thank you Odelm, that was lovely. Why don’t you dry yourself? I will get dressed.”
“Are you sure?” His gaze went from my hand to my face.
“Yes.”
I smiled at him and went into the closet to grab a simple gown and a pair of slip-on shoes. I dressed in haste—conscious of my stomach’s angry growling—and headed back to the bedroom.
It was empty.
Tracing the bond threads to my nestmates, I saw both were already in the common room. I smiled. I pulled open the door to the common room and entered, walking right into the middle of an argument.
Kaede sat on my loveseat with his feet up on the center table, a pair of empty glasses near his feet. My nestmates faced him wearing identical expressions of fury.
They fell silent as I entered the room.
“What’s going on?”
All three turned to face me.
“Kaede decided to move in while we were sleeping. I woke up when I heard our main door open,” Xylo explained.
Glancing at Kaede, I raised a brow and asked, “How did you get in here? Who said you could move in?”
He chuckled with little humor.
“I told you. I have full control of the ship. I also said that I would come back to talk about what happened and follow you around from here on out.”
That was it. That was the last straw. Not so much as a by-your-leave. Arrogant ass. I couldn’t handle him right now. He’d hurt me. I’d asked for space and he still didn’t listen. For him to now abuse his power to get what he wanted—to invade my privacy—was uncalled for.
I turned on my heel.
“I’m going to have breakfast with my nestmates. You aren’t invited. When we return, you’d better be gone. I didn’t approve you’re moving in here. You aren’t welcome. Not until you apologize. Until then, I want nothing to do with you.”
He laughed.
I hissed in outraged anger and stalked out of the suite, my nestmates following behind me. They stayed silent until we were seated in our usual booth in the café—as always, Xylo to my right, Odelm to my left.
“I have been arguing with both Kaede and the princes since I woke. The princes apologized once more—though they refused to get involved in our dispute with Kaede. They said he controls the Destiny until we reach CEG HQ and they do not want to cause problems, not when this is a private quarrel between Kaede and our clan. They are not going to intervene.”
I growled, “Can’t we sedate him until we reach the space station? Or something? He has to have some weakness.”
Odelm chuckled. Xylo and I looked over at him in surprise.
“What?”
“Unless Xylo knows something I am unaware of, I can think of only one weakness Kaede has.” Odelm smirked.
“And what is that?” I asked.
Odelm glanced at Xylo before locking his pale green eyes on mine. “Do not worry about it. Let your nestmates take care of it.”
I growled.
Yes, I trusted them, but I hated being kept in the dark. Glancing between them, I tried to read their expressions. Blank. Nothing but blank. They were not planning to tell me.
“Once we get done with your checkup, I think you should go talk to Kaede,” Xylo said, clearly trying to divert my attention. “Only you can fix things between you. He will not listen to anyone else on the ship.”
“Xylo is right. He may have hurt you, but he will not be going away. Like it or not, he is your Head of Security. Unless you have some way to contact his client—to go over his head—he will do what he must to fulfill his mission,” Odelm reminded me.
I growled again, tapping my fingers on the table.
I didn’t know who his client was, but I did have a connection with my cub’s sire. I pondered whether he could perhaps help—maybe get in touch with Kaede’s client... No. No help if I didn’t even know who the client was. Plus, I’d told him to leave me alone
