“That is enough, Odelm,” I whispered, trying to calm him down. “I believe you have proven your point.”
“She is right, nestbrother.” Xylo squeezed his shoulder. “Settle down. Selena is okay.”
“You don’t understand—”
“I do understand, Odelm,” Xylo corrected. “I am just like you, as is Selena. Stand down.”
“I am tired of people judging before they know the whole story. Selena doesn’t need any more of it. She has already been through enough, more than any of us combined.”
“Odelm, I am fine,” I breathed. “I just want you to drop it, make our purchases, and leave.”
“I don’t want you to taint yourself with products from this stall. We will find something better elsewhere,” Odelm snarled.
“Please,” the old shopkeeper begged. “I am sorry. I was out of line. Please forgive me. I can’t afford to be reported and fined.”
“Odelm. Please drop it. Take your anger out bartering with her. Prove to me you are the son of two merchants and get me the two things I want. Continue acting this way, and you are the one ruining this day more than she is, no matter how right you believe you are.”
His shoulders sagged as his tentacles slowly unwrapped themselves from me. Xylo glanced at me and nodded his head as I stepped away from them toward the princes who were standing next to the exit. I took my spot between them and watched Xylo stand guard next to Odelm as he took in a few deep breaths.
“You are lucky today, for my nestqueen has not taken offense to your rudeness. If it were me, I wouldn’t have taken it as lightly. You owe her a great boon.”
She looked up at me from her position on the floor, her eyes full of tears. “I did not know…”
I nodded. “I believe you. No hard feelings.”
Slowly, she rose to her feet, grabbing on to the table to help her stand and balance herself. After a few moments of her settling upright, she glanced between Odelm and me and asked, “What pieces were you interested in… If you still are?”
“The purple one-piece nightgown with the white details… and that silver chain armband with white stones,” I replied, pointing to each piece. “Odelm will be the one paying.”
She jerked her head toward him and nodded tensely, her face panicked.
“Xylo, please make sure he doesn’t rob her of all of her profits. He is furious, and I don’t want him to take it out on her just because he isn’t fully acting like himself today.”
“I will watch over my nestbrother. If he punishes her too much, I will pay the difference to what I believe is a fair deal.”
“Thank you.”
He glanced over his shoulder at me and nodded.
“Nestbrothers, can you please take Selena outside the stall and see if there is anything else that might catch her eye? This may take some time.”
“We would love to,” V’dim said, placing a tentacle around my waist, guiding me away.
“Wait,” the shopkeeper shouted.
I looked over my shoulder toward her, just as we were about to walk out of the stall.
She maneuvered around her displays and tables, away from Xylo and Odelm watching her, confused.
She stopped in front of us and panted, “It is important not to lose that necklace. It is said to be invaluable and to bring its wearer great fortune.” She locked her silver eyes with mine. “If it were me, I would never take it off.”
Chapter Twenty-Four Odelm
After an easy bartering session with the rude shopkeeper, Odelm left with the armbands and purple nightgown Selena wanted—and a black version with metallic details, which included a matching robe and sandals. The quality was exceptional compared to the other pieces they’d viewed so far today.
He envisioned Selena smiling as she proudly wore the outfit, her silver hair bringing out the metallic designs as her spots glowed a variety of purples and pinks from how much she loved it. He wanted to bring joy into her life and make her feel beautiful for once—for she was the one who brought life back to his world.
As soon as he laid eyes on it, he had the sudden urge to buy it. It called to him. He rarely bought anything he didn’t need with his income. Most of it he saved and only spent whenever he came across an instrument or musical literature. Now that he had Selena as a nestqueen, he had an excuse to spend his credits on her and their cubs—and he would.
Clothing and jewelry weren’t something the Circuli wore—slings, packs, and utility belts that had carrying purposes, but not a fancy robe and matching sandals.
Odelm strolled along the bazaar with a smile on his face as he followed his nestqueen bond thread. Xylo walked beside him, stealing glances randomly at him as they passed other potential shoppers going on a stroll.
“Do you want to tell me what that was about?” Xylo asked a worried orange tint flooded their connection.
Odelm slowed down his steps, stalling their return to Selena and the princes.
“What do you mean?” he replied as his tentacles tightened their grip on the sling, securing his precious gifts for Selena.
“You know what I am talking about, nestbrother,” Xylo scolded, his orange becoming an angry red. “What has become of you? Since yesterday you have become different—needier… Has Selena done anything to cause this? It is like you are trying to prove something to her.”
He looked over a passing couple, meeting Xylo’s hardened gaze for a moment before returning his focus on where he was going.
“Has she ever mentioned offspring to you?”
“The only offspring we have ever discussed are our cubs,” Xylo replied, matching his stride shoulder to shoulder. “Do you honestly believe she would be in the mood to talk about more offspring while she was pregnant with cubs she didn’t plan for? She had her own problems to deal with, including not knowing what would happen to her and our cubs once we
