“Until then.”
Silence fell on the group as they nursed their drinks.
Xylo grabbed the empty glass from Selena and placed both of theirs on the table. Wrapping an arm around her, he pulled her close. She snuggled into his side and rested her head on his chest, taking one of his vines in her hands.
V’dim watched in awe as she aimlessly traced Xylo’s vine’s flower with a finger.
How could he handle such intimacy? Not even Circuli nestqueens played with their Favored like that.
“Kaede,” Selena said, drawing everyone’s attention. “I want to know: how did you… we… move from one place to another? I am assuming your new suit has something to do with it.”
“You mean teleportation? Location jumping?”
“Yes, if that is what it is called. Is that how we got from the Assembly’s Waiting Room to your bedroom instantly?”
V’dim’s focus was turned to the conversation, forgetting about the provocative display Selena was putting on.
“Correct.”
“That is dangerous! How can you be so irresponsible and use such new tech on Selena? Do you understand all the trouble you would cause if something happened to her?” Xylo demanded.
“You mean your own sanity? Of course, I know what consequences there would be if I failed. But I didn’t,” Kaede said matter-of-factly. “I knew exactly what I was doing and took all necessary precautions before attempting to jump with her.”
“That doesn’t explain how you can teleport or how safe it is. You jeopardized Selena’s life for your own experiment and didn’t tell her. That was selfish of you and doesn’t make you better than anyone else who has recently crossed her.”
“As I said, I knew what I was doing.”
“Everyone knows what they’re doing, but that doesn’t mean someone or something else won’t come around and ruin everything they planned,” Selena said. “You tested a new tech on me without my consent; the least you can do is tell us exactly what the tech does.”
“I can’t say much,” Kaede began. “Since it is so dangerous”—Kaede rolled his eyes—“I am the only one testing the technology’s limits. My new suit lets me teleport to any of my drone’s locations at any given time. It is based on the new Aldawi tech Prince Zirene found, and my sisters helped develop. If all my tests succeed, it will become the primary technology for every special agent—and perhaps even citizens—to travel within limits.”
“You have the new Aldawi tech?” V’dim asked in disbelief.
Kaede smirked. “I helped make it.” In an instant, he blurred and appeared across the room. “We based it on Aldawi’s shadowstep ability.” He jumped again and leaned against the glass wall. “And made it better.”
“Better how?” V’dim asked, confused.
“We learned their ability’s requirements and limits—studied everything about it, added it to the Yaarkin tech we stole, and made it ours,” Kaede explained before teleporting back to his chair as if he never moved. “We can travel farther, but we also have our limits.”
“What limits?” Xylo asked.
“While we can teleport to any of our drone’s locations, we require our suits and their energy cells.” Kaede paused as a small sphere dome uncloaked and landed on his black-gloved hand. “The Aldawi’s shadowstep ability is limited to their line of sight and individual power. This is how they can sneak behind their enemy in hand-to-hand combat.”
“It is foolish to depend on an ability such as that amid battle,” V’dim warned.
“Of course.” Kaede tossed the drone and caught it. “That is why I am the only one testing the new tech. I don’t need to depend on it to win, and if things go wrong, I have no one—other than my sisters—left behind for it to matter.”
“You are quite the martyr,” Selena scoffed.
“Quite the opposite, really,” Kaede smirked and tossed the drone toward her. V’dim reached out to grab it before it could hit her, but it disappeared before impact. “Someone has to do it—it just happens to be that I was created to do so.”
“I was created to be a breeder, but that doesn’t mean I am going to open my legs to anyone who wants to repopulate a planet with a new species,” Selena barked.
Kaede’s visor came alive and unfolded over his face.
“I will take that as my sign to leave,” he said, standing up and turning toward V’dim. “I will return for my cape in the morning. The little warriors can have it as a temporary battle souvenir,” he chuckled with a wide smile. “Make sure Selena gets some food before bed; it seems she has forgotten to take care of herself once again. Good luck.” In an instant, he faded away.
“Of course, he has the last say before he runs away. Again,” Selena growled, jumping to her feet. “He is such an ishing frax. I need to remember never to take him seriously.”
V’dim stood up and joined her. “It’s been a long day. Let’s get you fed and retire for the evening.” He gently took her hand and sent calming waves to her. “We can relocate Odelm to the nestbed since Xylo confirmed nothing is wrong with him. By the time you are done eating, Z’fir should be here to retire with us.”
Selena pursed her lips and glanced over to the sleeping warriors on the floor.
“The cubs…”
“If Zi—” Xylo cleared his throat. “If Prince Zirene wants to back out of his deal…”
“If he wants nothing to do with them, so be it,” Selena hissed. “I am done waiting for that male to figure out what he wants and how royally he fucked up.”
Chapter Twenty-One Selena
I stared at the ceiling, listening to the soft snores from across the bed. Everyone in the clan was accounted for, sleeping almost soundlessly in the special bed, even though Odelm still hadn’t woken up after ravishing me in the shower.
I heard what happened from both the princes and Xylo. They made sure no details were left out—I’m not sure for whose benefit. I had gotten over the whole “being watched while getting pleasured,”
