Z’fir traveled along his sworn connection with Odelm and was instantly assaulted by the thoughts and strong feelings attached to them.
Anger. Disappointment. Jealousy. Shame.
Odelm’s thoughts were full of disappointment that he had followed Zirene’s plan and anger that he didn’t push for them to tell Selena about the trial and what waited for her on her moon. He was ashamed he’d failed Selena—so much so, he felt like she was punishing him by not gracing him with siring her next offspring. Jealously raged at both princes for being publicly granted permission to be the clan’s next fathers.
Odelm felt inadequate.
The intensity of Odelm’s thoughts and emotions jerked Z’fir’s gaze away from him. Z’fir swayed, disoriented from the sudden ejection, combined with the jolt of the lift coming to a stop.
Z’fir leaned his head onto V’dim’s shoulder, clinging to his arm as V’dim held him. He glanced around the cabin and saw no one noticed his current position.
“Odelm has dark thoughts on the current situation. He will need a lot of self-healing and stability in the clan before we can even entertain joining with him,” Z’fir explained.
“Will this be worth it?”
He pondered the question, weighing the pros and cons of their new predicament.
Z’fir raised his head from V’dim’s shoulder. They released each other and stepped off the lift, following the others to the Royal Aldawi Commons.
“I don’t believe Selena would sever our courting bond. She is too honorable and genuinely seems to care for us. We should also receive aid in our shielding if her connections with us are like our nestbrothers’. We are going from refusing to be used as political gain, to commanders of the separatist's colony ship, to clan members of one of the most powerful beings in the galaxy. I don’t think she has fully acknowledged what her connection with Zirene has made her, with everything going on. Even if she ends up not wanting anything to do with Zirene, her Seedbearer status to him still outranks most. Will this be worth it? If anything, our self-sacrifice will give our crew a new home.”
Silence filled the room as everyone settled, reflecting on the day’s events.
“What if she wants nothing to do with me after this?” Zirene whispered, standing in front of the sitting group.
“Then you will have to continue ruling your star system and treat Selena as a true Seedbearer,” Royak replied, watching his brother with hardened eyes.
“But she is my Nova… I will always be connected to her.”
“And so are we,” Xylo countered. “You aren’t the only one who has an unbreakable connection with her. While nestmates have issues surviving when they are far away from their nestqueens for long periods—or after death—you don’t. Your actions not only affect her but us as well.”
“You think I don’t know that?” Zirene growled, pinning Xylo with his gaze. “I only want the best for her… but I can’t back away from what we built over these past years. I have spent almost nine years dedicated to her and only her. You know Aldawi don’t do that.”
“That may be, but it doesn’t change the fact that you kept secrets from her, after we warned you not to,” Odelm added.
Z’fir watched Zirene pace the floor, his tail jerking and swaying in frustration. Zirene paused and looked over at the group.
“What should I do?”
“Grovel,” Xylo remarked.
The veil lifted from his nestqueen’s connection, sending a shiver down his spine, his vines tightening from the sensation. Instantly, he reached for his nestqueen, his body needing to confirm she was well.
“Selena!”
She tugged his golden bond thread and combined it with his nestbrothers, addressing them as a clan.
“There is a lot to be discussed, but at the moment I need Xylo to check my injuries and I want to see my cubs.”
“If I were you, Zirene, I would leave,” Xylo said to the troubled male. “Selena is on her way back, and by her thoughts, it would be better if you weren’t around and gave her time to cool off.”
Zirene huffed in defeat. “I hope you are right.”
“Come on, brother. Let’s go,” Royak said. “You have done enough damage already.”
Chapter Seventeen Selena
“Hold on tight,” Kaede directed, gripping me tightly. His cape wrapped around me tightly as his hand dug into my side. In a blink of an eye, we went from his dark bedroom to the middle of the Aldawi Royal Commons. A wave of nausea passed through me as popping sounded in my ears once again.
Bright lights assaulted my vision as a series of gasps filled the room. I placed a hand over my eyes, squinting as they adjusted. My nestmates—both new and old—surrounded me with their appendages fully extended and ready to strike.
“Stand down!” Kaede barked. “Your nestqueen needs medical attention and wanted to return to get aid.”
Xylo instantly went into scholar mode, his teal eyes focusing on mine as he made his way to me, wrapping his vines around his torso. The others slowly followed.
“What is the matter?” he asked urgently, his voice laced with concern.
Kaede carefully unwrapped his cloak from me and stepped away as I held out my arms to Xylo to inspect.
“It seems that Zirene—accidentally or not—injured my arm as he tried to prevent me from leaving. His nails ripped my coat’s sleeve and dug into my arm. When I slapped him, my hand was injured. I believe it’s only bruised, but I still would like you to look at it. If you would, please?”
His eyes softened. “You don’t need to ask, Selena.”
His cool hands lightly grabbed my arm as he examined them. The others hovered nearby, ready to assist when needed.
“I will go get your cubs for you, Selena, and bring them here.” Kaede glanced at me, his eyes covered once more. “I assume that
