“You are right.” Xylo leaned closer to me, filling the newly open space between us. “I am sorry. Forgive me.”
“Do we need to find a nickname for you?” Odelm asked, searching my gaze as he brushed my hair away from my face.
The offer was sweet—but was it necessary? No, not really. I was theirs as they were mine, and that was what mattered.
“I am sorry you had to witness that, Selena. I had hoped he would have learned to keep his opinions to himself until he retired, but it seems that was not the case.” Zirene turned and addressed the trio of workers staring at us. “If I were you, I would learn from his mistakes, or you will be looking for work elsewhere with him soon enough.”
The three nodded and scrambled back to their stations.
His apology brought me to the present as both Aldawi princes studied me. Was he worried because of my silent exchange?
“And with that, I will take my leave,” Royak announced. “I will make my rounds, then board the Hope for my own star system.” He stuck out his paw to Zirene, and he grabbed it. They smiled and shook their enclosed paws and pulled each other into a hug. “I will miss you, brother. It has been fun. Let me know when you want to do something like this again.”
Zirene chuckled as he pulled away and patted Royak on his shoulder.
“I hate to disappoint you, but I don’t want to go through this ever again.”
“Agreed. Let’s skip the Assembly part.”
By the time Zirene led us to our cabin, the cubs were already in bed. Mwe and Oeta were sitting on a couch in our lounge, waiting for me while everyone else was in their own assigned private cabins.
“Shouldn’t you be somewhere else, Chamber Master?” Zirene hissed.
“Don’t worry, Prince Zirene. I will be on my way after I teach Selena as I promised her.” He stood and stretched his wings. “Then, I will go back to defending CEG and the space station from injustice.”
“Zirene, please,” I begged. “Just let him teach me, then we can be on our way.”
He glanced between Mwe and me, tail flipping wildly behind him.
“Fine,” he hissed. “I will be on the bridge.” He eyed Mwe. “Let me know when you are off my ship.” He turned and left my cabin in a hurry, as if he couldn’t stand being in the same room as Mwe.
“It is because we did not see eye to eye on how to handle the Yaarkins when they first arrived in our galaxy. We have come to terms, but he feels threatened around other males similar in power—other than his littermate, Royak.”
“I hate when you do that,” I mumbled.
“We cannot help it,” Oeta said. “I am sure the Circuli princes can explain it better if you ask them.”
“Where their constant connections are limited to the net they have with their crewmen, ours touch every intelligent being within our range. We can shield them or accept them—with my job, I often forget to shield myself from others when I am not working.”
“It is true,” Xylo said. “It’s harder to shield ourselves for long periods of time… which is why the princes have been able to control themselves fairly well around you as they fight their natural biological urges to coax you into completing the bond.” He faced me, brushing my hair back as he stared deeply into my eyes. “Selena, your soul is beautiful, and your mind is amazing. Not only does it protect you, it protects those who are tied with you.”
“But I am just—”
“A blessing from the Stars,” Odelm murmured as he pressed against my back.
“Change won’t happen overnight. Do not let that captain or any other dimwit tell you differently. They are stuck in the past—which is the reason the Yaarkins were capable of doing as much damage as they did,” Mwe explained.
“I wasn’t strong enough—”
“You will be. If not, you will at least be able to prevent them from harming you.”
Closing my eyes, I leaned into his hand, letting out a deep sigh.
“Let’s do this,” I smirked at Mwe. “Before Zirene comes back and has Kaede lead you off the ship too.”
As Oeta led us past the cubs’ room, I paused and peered in from their doorway, watching as they slept curled up together. Knowing they were safe and sound, I carefully closed their door and turned to Mwe, Oeta, Xylo, and Odelm, watching me with smiles on their faces.
“What?”
“Your cubs are being taken care of, Selena. You have nothing to worry about,” Oeta whispered.
“I just wanted…”
“They are fine. You can spend more time with them once we settle on Destima,” Xylo breathed.
“This way, Selena.”
I followed Oeta into the room next door. It was small and housed a black bed large enough for six, leaned up against the far wall. A chest and a couch were the only other furniture pieces.
“So, how do we do this?”
“We have little time left, so I will need you to lie on your bed. Your nestmates can join you with the lack of space in here,” Mwe directed.
The three of us hurriedly followed his directions. They both faced me, wrapping their appendages around me, giving me their comfort and support.
“Okay, Selena. Close your eyes and calm your thoughts,” Mwe directed. Once I did, he continued, “You are a shielder, which means until someone touches your mental shields with their mental thread, you will most likely not be able to reach out to them. This is because your walls naturally remember those unique signatures of the mental threads you allowed inside your shield. Your walls will only accept those familiar to you. At least, that is how the few other shielder species’ minds work,” he hummed. “Have you ever been able to see mental threads? Before or after you joined with any of your nestmates?”
“No, not outside of that one attack in the Dreamdome. I have only
