Rolling my eyes, I sighed, annoyed.
I didn’t know how to explain what happened, and to be honest, I just wanted to be alone. But if I was going to get any answers, I would have to offer some as well.
“I went into the Dreamdome to update and design the layout of the main island. As I was going over the final touches, something hit me, disorienting me and knocking me out of the sky—”
“That shouldn’t have happened,” Aunya injected, stepping closer. “It shouldn’t be possible. Only those in the dome should have access.”
“Well, it did,” Mwe said, tilting his head toward Aunya as his eyes bore into Zirene. “What exactly does the Dreamdome do? Should I be worried about having such a thing operating on the space station?”
“It is completely safe,” Zirene grumbled. “What happened to Selena has never happened to anyone else.”
“Is that because no one has tried to attack the occupant before? Or the technology has always protected the occupant?” Mwe asked, flexing his wings.
“What happened to Selena was an anomaly. It won’t happen again,” Zirene scoffed.
“And why is that? Is it because you both have been fighting your Nova bond?” Mwe crossed his arms. “You do know why they exist, right?”
“You aren’t an Aldawi,” Zirene spat. “What do you know?”
“Zirene,” Royak said, placing a hand on his shoulder. “Let’s listen to what he has to say. He has been around longer than most and may know something.”
“I may not be Aldawi, but I have had the pleasure of doing business with your sister, Masmi,” Mwe said as he touched his robe. “You see, Masmi’s corporation makes the finest robes…”
“That doesn’t have to do with anything, father,” Oeta grumbled, her voice a slightly higher version of Mwe’s with a slight ring to it.
“But it does,” Mwe said, smiling. “I had the pleasure of discussing business over dinner. The topic came up. The Aldawi females have a lot to say when they are treated as equals and with respect. It seems like some of your history has been kept away from the males in fear of what they may do once more.”
“We have done nothing to them!” Zirene shouted. “They have all the land they want and the freedom they need to manage themselves. We only ask for monthly tithes as we defend our territory.”
“That may be true, but that doesn’t forgive what the first Sovereign of your line did.” Sorrow filled Mwe’s eyes. “It is said the Fates and the Stars punished everyone who took part in the Great Dimming.”
“The Great Dimming. I’ve heard about that,” Royak whispered. “But that was almost two thousand years ago, before the Aldawi helped form the CEG. It was said it helped strengthen our species.”
“Strengthen? You mean weaken,” Oeta fumed. “Your own ancestor came into power by mating with the Beacon, and the night after birthing their first and only litter, he slaughtered her while she slept from her labor exhaustion. His first action was to cleanse all who remained of the old royal bloodline before purging the Novas and their Shadows.” Oeta ruffled her wings in anger.
“Mated Novas and Shadows grow in power, the more intimate they are and the longer they are a pair. Your ancestor knew this and didn’t want anyone to challenge him, in fear a long-time mated pair might be able to win. That started the Great Dimming and the split of the Aldawi genders. Over time, females distrusted males, only tolerating them at the time of their heat cycle.” She laughed.
“You see, the mated pairs? Those are your Novas and Shadows brave enough to accept their bond and go public. It seems like those who were gifted one are slowly accepting their destiny and learning to tolerate each other’s presence after many generations of separation ingrained into your society.”
“So, you are saying Zirene is my Shadow?” I asked as I tried to piece together what was happening. Too much had been going on and was left unsolved for me to understand. “Why are mated Novas and Shadows feared? And why me?”
Mwe looked between Zirene and me and sighed.
“I can’t explain why the Stars and Fates paired the two of you, but if his reactions to you are what he said, then you are indeed his Nova—and he is your Shadow. You may not experience the same things as those who are bonded, but you are indeed capable of fulfilling their species’ needs.”
“How are you so sure?” Xylo questioned slowly as doubt laced his voice.
“You felt your body adjust to her, correct?”
“Yes. Both Odelm and I experienced this, and it got worse until she finalized our bond.”
“What about you two?” Mwe asked the Circuli princes.
I turned and faced both males sitting behind me, realizing their appendages hadn’t unconsciously reached out for me since we established our court-bonds.
“We have been careful about not overwhelming Selena. At times, it has been difficult, but the nearer we are, the more our need lessens,” V’dim replied, meeting my gaze.
I grabbed an appendage from both princes and pulled them to my chest, hugging them. Instantly, they both wrapped gently around my wrists.
“You shouldn’t torture yourselves.” I gave each of them a squeeze. “From what Xylo told me, I know how hard it must be on you both—especially when you have to manage your crew.”
I leaned into Odelm’s side as Xylo pulled up my feet and slowly started to massage them. Turning toward Mwe, I asked, “What does my connection with Zirene mean for him?”
He glanced at the two Aldawi princes. “It all depends on who wants to be the next Sovereign.”
“Prince Royak will be the next ruler,” Zirene said regally.
“Are you sure?”
“I have no desire for it,” he growled as his tail whooshed back and forth. “And Izyana would be a fool if he tried challenging for it.”
“Why? Who is Izyana?” I asked, confused.
“Our brother,” Royak replied, crossing his arms as he glanced at me. “He is full-blood, and it would be in his right to do so if he
