Looks like I would have to deal with Kaede and his shitty attitude personally. I sighed.
Xylo grabbed my hands and I shifted my gaze to him. He squeezed them reassuringly. “Selena, I know you do not want to, but I really think it would benefit you in the long run. Having Kaede on our side when we get to CEG HQ would help us all.”
Odelm placed a hand on my thigh. A calming blanket soothed my agitation. “You need to calm down. Stressing is not going to solve anything nor is it good for you.”
We wrapped up our meal and my nestmates kept the conversation light, knowing I was dreading the coming discussion. I appreciated their efforts and felt a little less stressed by the time we arrived at the infirmary.
The healers froze as we entered and eyed Odelm in shock.
“Another?” Chyox exclaimed.
I smirked and turned toward Odelm, reaching a hand up to his shoulder to pull him down to me. Standing on my toes, I leaned in and kissed my mark on his neck. He shivered under my lips. As I pulled away, I licked at the white ridges of my bite before releasing him.
Turning back to Chyox, I growled, “He’s mine.”
He looked shocked, bumping into the bed behind him as he tried to back away.
I giggled, then squinted and met each of the healers’ gazes. “I’ve claimed both Odelm and Xylo. They are mine. Now deal with it and stop acting like this is new or surprising. Got it?”
All three nodded.
“Good. Now, I’m here for my morning checkup.”
Chapter Thirty-Four Selena
I paused outside the main door to my suite, steeling myself for what was sure to be a heated discussion with Kaede. I wasn’t in the mood—or ready—to face him. But if this could help when we got to CEG, it needed to be done.
Squaring my shoulders and taking a deep breath, I opened the door. Kaede sat where we’d left him, a variety of drinks and snacks laid out on the table.
“I’ve been waiting for you to come to your senses.”
“And here I was, hoping you’d stop acting like an ishing frax.” I rolled my eyes.
Laughter exploded from him. “Ishing frax?!”
“What of it?” I snarled, crossing my arms.
He chuckled, and I just knew he was smiling under that face drape of his. “Where’d you learn that?”
Walking toward my bedroom door, I retorted, “Asked Xylo for swear word translations. He said that was the closest to ‘fucking asshole’ in Galactic Common.”
“Yep”—he laughed again—“I’m just shocked to hear such words from you.”
I growled and allowed the door to close behind me, cutting off his laughter.
Grabbing my tablet off the chest and scooping up a blanket, I sucked in another deep breath and reentered the common room.
“Why are you doing this?” I asked as I dropped onto the couch opposite Kaede. I spread the blanket over my lap and leaned back against the armrest, my legs tucked beneath me.
“Explain what you think I’m doing.”
“I get that it caused problems and scared everyone when the princes read me. We should probably have thought it through more—but it didn’t occur to us that it might cause any issues to anyone other than us! It was an accident. I am thankful you stepped in and got the Destiny and her crew functioning again. But what you said about Xylo? That was completely uncalled for—and cruel. And threatening to follow me everywhere? I thought we were supposed to be friends. You’re acting more like a power-hungry frax, like my prison guard instead of my Head of Security—or a friend.”
He fell silent.
I eyed him, uncertain of his response. Glancing at the table, I noticed a familiar light green hot beverage and smiled to myself. Grabbing it, I took a fortifying sip, comforted by the reminder of Xylo.
The couch cushion dipped beside me. I looked up to find Kaede sitting next to me, unreadable behind his impenetrable visor.
“Selena...”
I didn’t want to hear any more criticism. I couldn’t.
I broke in, “No, Kaede. You hurt me. I don’t know how to get that through to you. You’ve been treating me as if I were a child. I know I haven’t had much experience interacting with people and I have a lot to learn, but Xylo, Odelm, and everyone here has been helping me learn. Not trying to shove me in a cage as though I were incapable of figuring things out for myself. I know I’ll make mistakes, but they are mine to make! It isn’t my fault that I don’t know what’s going to happen once we arrive at CEG HQ—it’s yours, because you refuse to tell me. I’m doing everything I can, and I’m glad to have both Xylo and Odelm as a permanent part of my life, but...”
I choked back a sob and Kaede reached out to touch me. I threw up a hand to hold him off, unable to bear his touch right now.
“I may look like I’m happy and carefree—but I’m not. I’m fucking scared. Scared of what the future holds. Scared of my cubs being forced to endure what I had to... Scared of being put back in cage. And you doing precisely that? Not helping. Nor does you acting one way when we’re alone, then entirely different in public or when things don’t go your way. Who exactly are you, Kaede?”
His black-gloved hands gently took the cup out of my shaking hand. He set it on the table as the lights in the room dimmed—only the light streaming in from the glass wall behind Kaede remaining, casting him into shadow. Reaching up, he removed his visor, setting it on the armrest.
He turned to face me, black-slitted neon eyes meeting mine as he gathered my hands in his. Blue-black eyebrows scrunched in deep thought. His thin black lips turned down in a frown, making his fangs more prominent.
“Do you truly believe this?”
