It was clear they were littermates, even though the same parents rarely produced the same physical attributes. They had the same coloring but different patterns and eyes. How could my cubs share the same coloring and patterns as the most powerful males in the galaxy?
I couldn’t lie and say both males weren’t attractive, but my desire was for Zirene.
Zirene slowly undid his jacket and took it off, revealing his bare chest.
“Agent Kaede, come here.” I could feel him muting his dominance on the room as the surrounding crowd relaxed and slowly stood. Kaede hurried over, stopped beside us, and bowed. “Hold this for me.” Zirene tossed Kaede his jacket. “You will mark me first, then allow everyone in this room to watch you submit to me as I mark you in return.” Zirene knelt down and pulled his hair over to the right exposing his left shoulder to me as he closed his eyes.
“By allowing you to mark me, I trust you and put my life in your hands.”
This male was the one my heart knew.
The one who helped make every day of the last nine years easier. The one who taught me all I knew, and by using that knowledge, allowed me to adapt to the world around me. Because of him, I could make friends aboard the Destiny. Because of him, I learned to trust and love both of my nestmates.
My body wanted his—to feel him against my skin. My heart wanted to trust him, wanted to love him—but my mind knew better. He took my choice away from me and impregnated me without my knowledge to fulfill his own agenda.
Stepping up to him, I ignored the others around us—especially the other male who hurt me so.
I brushed his long, midnight hair back, feeling its thick silkiness between my fingers. A small groan escaped him—shortened to a light purr. I traced his neck, feeling him shiver from my light touches as I searched for the perfect spot. I gripped his shoulder and fisted his hair as I brought my lips to it.
Closing my eyes, I lowered my face to the side of his neck and swiftly bit down. His fur coat made it hard to break his skin as the fur tickled my tongue. I locked my jaw and jerked my head back and forth until I broke his skin. The taste of blood flooded my mouth, soaking the fur between my teeth. The hiss that escaped Zirene radiated through my grip on him.
“Selena. That is enough. You made your mark,” Xylo cautioned.
“The guards…” Odelm warned.
“They will hold!” Royak barked.
He was mine and no one else’s.
I would not allow our differences to change that, even though things were still uneasy between us.
It was done.
I released him from my grasp and stepped away, spitting out his fur. His blood and fur covered my face, but I didn’t care. Let those within these walls know what I had done.
All the guards from the three species had a range of unease and wariness on their faces and in their stances. Prince Royak watched Zirene with a smile on his face.
“That looks like the mark will stay.” He glanced up at me. “I didn’t know you had it in you. Your kind seemed ill-equipped to do such damage.”
I blushed as my gaze fell on the mark I left. He was right. Gruesome as it may be, the bite mark looked like it would indeed scar.
“Now, it is your turn.”
“What do I need to do?”
“Pull your hair to the side and expose your neck as I did to you. I will try to make it as quick, but it won’t be painless.” He glanced behind me, addressing my nestmates. “Am I right?”
I turned to face them.
Did I really hurt them amid our passion?
Xylo looked sheepish. “The bliss of our coupling and having my bonding spores accepted by her overrode the pain of her bite. It was more surprising than painful.”
“I felt the same way.” Odelm locked his light jade eyes on mine and winced. “Selena, it will hurt. Humans do not have the protective skin that Aldawi and Circuli have.”
“It needs to happen,” I shrugged. “Pain is something I am not afraid of.”
I pulled my hair over my shoulder, exposing the left side of my neck to Zirene.
“Selena. I know things between us aren’t ideal, but whatever you do, don’t move,” he cautioned.
Nodding, I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.
Soft pads pulled me closer, my body pressing against his as my face rested on his furry chest.
Slowly, he ran his paws along my body, tracing my sides before resting them on my hips. I felt heavy breathing against my ear.
“I am using all of my restraint. Please don’t tempt me.” A low rumble escaped him. “I will make this up to you. I promise.”
Gentle kisses pressed behind my ear and traveled slowly down my neck. The sensations, heightened with my eyes closed, caused my body to react to him.
My body knew him. So did my heart. Yet my mind knew better.
I could feel the slickness starting to develop between my legs as my body reacted to him, not caring we were in front of everyone.
He was the male who had spent almost every night with me in our dreamscape and he was now caressing me with kisses. If he hadn’t made me a mother against my will, I would have thrown myself at him—had him take me away to somewhere private, so we could explore each other in person. I would have been excited to be together again.
But this wasn’t a happy reunion.
There was still an unsettled atmosphere between us. We were going through the motions to protect my clan, surrounded by everyone to make it official.
Zirene purred as he placed his lips against my collarbone.
A sharp pain exploded. My mouth opened to a silent scream, but I refused to allow myself to wince, to cry, or to make any noise.
I was stoic, as I
