Xylo reached me and scooped me into his arms. His vines wrapped around my torso and legs, cradling me against his chest. I took a deep breath; he had a sweet herbal scent laced with a medicinal tang. It was calming. I rested my head on his chest, unable to resist rubbing my cheek against the baby-soft fuzz covering it. I closed my eyes as a sense of comfort and safety washed over me. His body felt cool to the touch but wasn’t uncomfortable—like splashing water on my face after a hard test session.
Xylo carried me to the bed. I opened my eyes when I felt the vines unwrap and watched in fascination as they pulled down the white blanket, allowing him to place me back in bed. Xylo gave me a wry smile as his vines pulled the blanket over my lap, then used his hands to help me to a comfortable sitting position.
“Better?”
I nodded.
“Now, let us get some food in you.”
I returned his smile and felt a blush heating my cheeks. “Sounds like a plan.” I couldn’t believe someone so gorgeous was being so kind and caring of me.
Xylo walked around the bed and grabbed the tray on the table, placing it on my lap. He showed me the different finger foods he’d gathered—dried meat, dried fruit, and nuts—and I watched as he crossed to the drink dispenser and explained the various hot and cold beverages available. I settled on a sampler of Xylo’s favorite hot teas and chilled juices.
I enjoyed listening to his deep voice and appreciated the time he took explaining things to me—especially when he picked up the scanner from the table and checked my readings. The soothing stroke of his voice in my mind calmed my nerves.
He described the bracelets' purpose on my wrists—monitoring my health, sending live reports to both his and the Senior Healer’s tablets and embedded tracking to assist them in finding me if something were to happen to me on the ship. I had a feeling the main reason was for security—as if I was going to cause any problems aboard the ship.
His explanations were reasonable, and he took care to ease each of my worries. It gave me hope I’d be allowed some freedom aboard the ship once I recovered.
“Selena. I need to explain the courting bond to you, so you understand. I think it will set your mind at ease. Do you think you are well enough to try a few things?” Xylo asked gently.
“It depends what you want me to do.”
“I want you to relax and close your eyes.” He paused as I closed them. “Good. Now... try to envision your surroundings. What do you see?”
What I discovered awed me.
A faint golden thread connected me to Xylo. It was definitely new—I hadn’t seen it before. The warm feeling I’d felt earlier—when we kissed—that must have been the court bond thread connecting us...
When my dreamscape male had trained me in the use of mental shields, he’d explained mine were naturally powerful, and if we strengthened them, we could ensure most mental attacks would fail against me. We hadn’t discussed nor practiced, much beyond my shields, however. I found it both fascinating and scary to learn other psi abilities existed. I would clearly need to spend time learning more if I was to protect myself.
“Umm... I see a golden bubble surrounding me... with a faint golden thread that goes to a teal bubble... Is that you?”
“Yes! Good, Selena. That golden bubble is your mental shield. The teal bubble is mine. That golden thread? That is our new connection. That is what all Circuli nestqueens have with their nestmates.” Xylo’s mental tone sounded pleased.
“Can anyone do this?”
“Though only a few species in CEG have the ability to form bonds—like the Circuli—there are many with some form of telepathic ability. The technique is fairly simple, sending a mental ‘knock’ down the thread to the individual we want to mindspeak, brushing their mental shields. It is considered polite to await permission before speaking, especially since stronger telepaths do not require it. They could barge in whenever they wished. Your shields are extremely strong—much stronger than almost anyone aboard Destiny—so the only way someone can mindspeak with you would be for you to lower your shields and grant access. Or for them to brutally force themselves in.”
“Was that the reason I woke with a headache?” I asked, opening my eyes.
He grimaced. “Most likely. We did not know humans had any mental abilities, so no one realized they might be trying to force a connection. It is part of why you surprised everyone—there isn’t a species registered with CEG with shields as strong as yours. This makes it impossible for anyone to mindspeak you unless you were to lower your shields.”
“Other than you?”
His gaze dropped to the ground and the corner of his mouth lifted. “Yes. Because of our bond. But I should tell you... you have been thinking out loud as you have been attempting to mindspeak me. That is the only reason I have been able to hear your thoughts. The correct way to mindspeak is to consciously touch—or brush—the connecting thread in your mind. You only need to lightly caress it to communicate with me. Anything harder than that... Ah, let us just say that you may drop them to their knees.” He winced at that thought.
I bit my bottom lip and gently tugged on the golden thread, testing our new connection. “So, if I ever wanted your undivided attention, all I have to do is...”
I envisioned myself grabbing it in a tight hold, then yanked.
Xylo gasped and fell to the floor. He was silent a moment as he breathed hard, then got back to his feet.
“Yes... like
