“You both know I’m right here?”
I stared at my nestmates. They fell silent as they watched me. I sensed them trying to detect my emotions and thoughts through our bond. Wiggling in annoyance, I tried to get down. Instead of letting me fall, Odelm gripped me tighter before lowering me carefully into the bathtub. My feet touched the smooth, stony bottom.
After he released me, I crossed my arms over my chest and growled, “You automatically assume there will be sex once I start ovulating again? Do I have no say in this?”
Using both hands, I splashed water at Odelm and then Xylo. They gasped as the bubbly water hit them in the face before splashing onto the floor. They stared at me in disbelief as I continued to fling soapy water at them.
I hissed, “Perhaps I will be too tired taking care of my cubs to want to have sex. Perhaps we will be dealing with whatever is going to happen and can’t have sex. Perhaps we will be separated. I don’t know. You both don’t know. Our future is unknown...”
I could feel Odelm trying to calm me through our bond.
I growled again, turning and splashing as much water as I could all over him. Not that I could drown an aquatic species, but the splashing helped calm my agitation.
“Selena. What is the matter?” Xylo asked calmly.
Tears formed in my eyes as I hissed in frustration. I froze and turned away from them. Facing the glass wall, I stared at the stars outside of the terrarium’s dome.
“Everything I’m used to, this new life I’ve built with you both... it’s all going to end soon. Any time now my cubs will be born... and in, what, less than two days we’ll be arriving at CEG HQ? My wonderful little world is going to come crashing down...”
Splashing sounded behind me as hands gripped my hips and pulled me against a cool scaled body. Warm breath tickled my ear. “No matter what our future holds, we are bonded to you. Both Xylo and I know that our time with this crew is coming to an end. We will be by your side wherever you go.”
“Odelm is right. We will follow you until the Stars claim us once more.” He paused as I heard shuffling and a cupboard opening and closing. “How about Odelm dries you off and tucks you into bed? I will get a calming tea to warm you and we can talk.”
A weak smile flickered across my face as I rubbed my eyes. I stepped away from Odelm and turned.
“I’d like that.”
Chapter Thirty-Seven Selena
Sharp pain woke me.
I grabbed my stomach and hissed. Odelm and Xylo jerked awake and pulled away as though afraid they were the cause of my pain. They sat up, looking down at me with worried faces.
“What is wrong, Selena?”
“Is it the cubs?”
Xylo had explained that I’d know labor started when I felt sharp pains along my stomach and lower back. He’d called them contractions. Right now, it felt like someone was stabbing me, cutting me open from two sides. This couldn’t possibly be what he’d meant! Something must be wrong...
I gasped in agony.
Every time I opened my mouth to respond, a fresh wave struck, and I was forced to close my eyes and suck in panting breaths until it passed.
“This can’t be right, Xylo. Is this what you meant by ‘sharp pains?’ Really?” I lowered my mental shields to allow them to feel my pain.
Odelm rubbed my lower back, sending soothing waves of comfort across our bond, as Xylo replied, “It is okay, Selena. I believe this is normal. Just breathe through it. We will get you as comfortable as possible as soon as this wave passes.”
After a little while, the contractions subsided, but the pressure started to build in my nether regions.
“Odelm take Selena to the bathtub and get her comfortable on the bench. The warm water should help ease the pains. Do not add soap to the water. I am going to get Kaede and we will grab the rest of my supplies from the infirmary then return with the princes and Chyox. We will all be here to support you, Selena. We will make sure your labor goes smoothly,” Xylo directed, his voice laced with authority. I knew he was in Master Scholar mode now, and simply nodded in response.
I weakly opened my eyes as Odelm picked me up.
“It will be okay Selena. We are here for you,” Odelm whispered.
Another wave of contractions rocketed through my body, and I leaned my head on his chest as I hissed in pain. My arm tightened around his shoulder and my hand fisted against his chest. Oh Stars...
He carefully carried me across the nestbed. I heard the bathroom doors opening before moisture hit my bare skin. I winced in pain when he jostled me as he swung his leg over the edge of the bathtub. He froze.
“I am sorry, Selena. We are almost there.”
The pain was too much to allow a reply—I was panting through the pressure and slicing pain—so I just nodded. I was focused on my breathing and trying to keep calm. I didn’t see how this could possibly be normal.
Odelm must have understood since he finished stepping into the tub, lowering us into the warm pool of water. The water felt amazing against my skin and the warmth provided a measure of assistance with the pain, making me moan with relief.
My contractions passed once more, and I cracked open my eyes to look up at Odelm. He stared at me with concern in his pale green eyes.
Stroking my hair, he murmured, “I feel your anguish. I wish there was something I could do
