Everyone in the room agreed to his terms without asking a single question. I watched as he dimmed the lights and fully closed the curtains, blocking off the view of the terrarium.
Then he removed his arm and wristbands, placing them on one of the empty counters. As everyone watched, Kaede reached up to remove his visor. I knew my nestmates were aware of what lay beneath, but no one else in the room did. From their reactions, it was clear they were shocked by what they saw. I also saw recognition in several faces.
He turned to focus an intent look on me.
“Please... Don’t ask, Selena. The safety of my crew rests on keeping our secret.”
Kaede unfastened the deep green cape from his shoulders and dropped it on top of his armbands and visor. He pushed a button in the middle of his chest, and I watched in awe as his sleek armor collapsed in on itself. The entire suit retracted into a small chest band that left everything bare aside from the straps over his shoulders that held it up.
Kaede was a beautiful male—and looked almost entirely human. This discovery surprised me, and my mouth fell open in shock. There were so many unanswered questions. And it was clear I was not the only one surprised, as I heard a number of other gasps around the room. But no one spoke.
Kaede’s skin was the same medium tan as his long pointy ears and was crisscrossed with the same network of fine white scars that covered his face. He was only slightly taller than me but was clearly in much better shape. He had a compact muscular body with lean and powerful limbs. And his torso was wedge-shaped with proportionally broad shoulders, well-defined abdominal muscles, tapering to a delicious V at his narrow waist and hips.
As my gaze slid down his body, I noticed the lack of genitalia between his legs. Was he like the Ulax and Wudox?
“I was created to be the ultimate weapon. They altered our sexual nature, requiring another to trigger our arousal to prevent any distractions while on a mission. Yet they needed us to be able to reproduce, so we were not created completely asexual.”
“How do I trigger your arousal?” I whispered, cheeks warming, my eyes never leaving the apex of his legs.
“My half-sisters reported that someone had to touch their genitalia for them to become aroused. I’ve never tried before, there was no need. I assume you’ll have to try to coax mine to come out,” Kaede explained in an emotionless voice.
I blinked. Stars... This couldn’t get much stranger.
I understood Circuli were used to the idea of sex in front of others, since nestmates often watched one another. And indeed, it had not been awkward having Xylo watch as I claimed Odelm. But having a room of males who weren’t my nestmates watch? I needed to wrap my head around that. Naked? No problem, I had never worn clothing until I awoke on Destiny. Giving birth with them here? Fine, there is a medical need, and this is an unusual circumstance. I’d take all the help I could get. But watching this? I was uncomfortably reminded of the Yaarkin studies—or even the entertainment demanded of their sex slaves.
I shuddered as another contraction rippled through me and gritted my teeth. The slicing pain as I lay panting against Odelm was a reminder I did not have the luxury of debating this. I’d made my decision and would just need to ignore the audience. The longer I waited, the greater the danger to my cubs. And the longer I potentially spent in pain that was not necessary—if Xylo’s solution worked.
As the contraction eased, I squeezed Odelm’s thigh, letting him know I was ready to sit up. As he helped me into an upright position, I addressed Kaede.
“It will be difficult to do this with you out there.”
Kaede eyed Xylo before glancing at Odelm at my back. Then he nodded and leapt over the edge of the bath. I watched nervously as he waded through the water.
As Kaede stopped in front of me, another contraction rolled through me. A hiss escaped as I gripped Kaede’s thighs for support, panting hard. He looked down at me. My head came to about his waist, and he stroked back my hair as his black-slitted neon eyes locked onto mine.
As the contraction passed, I sighed. “You’re lucky you’re pleasing to the eye. And I am lucky to have you here.”
“I would do anything to keep you from harm, Selena.”
Trying to ignore the others behind Kaede, I focused solely on him. His expressive face looked as nervous as I felt. He was clearly trying to hide his emotions, without much success. I hesitated, unsure what to do.
He must have known what I was thinking, because he whispered, “Touch me, you will need to bring my cock out.”
Sliding my hands up his muscular thighs, I allowed my fingers to trace over to the apex of his legs. His skin was hot to the touch, feeling much different than the cool of my nestmates.
He sucked in a hard breath, and I glanced up, pausing.
“I’m fine. Continue,” he murmured.
Returning my focus on my hands, I lightly traced between his legs, thinking about how good it felt for me when Odelm or Xylo did so. My fingers encountered two holes, one at the same location as my anus and the other farther forward, a little above where my own opening would be. A shiver rolled down his body and
