“Which is why you don’t like him around because he could overhear any details about your new tech and your special agents. But that doesn’t matter!” I grabbed his arm with both hands and tried to gain his attention, to look at me instead of at whatever was more interesting. “I need to wake up and contact them to explain what happened.”
He growled and rolled his arm, pulling it out of my hands before pushing my back onto the soft cushions. Swinging his body over my mine, he pinned me between his arms as his legs opened mine.
“Listen to me, Selena. There is nothing, nothing you can do right now to fix this,” he hissed, his eyes drilled into mine. “Not now. You need to calm down.”
I shook my head in refusal as my tears fell, blurring my vision.
“I didn’t reject them! They don’t deserve to go through what Odelm did. He came to me as a broken male, mentally scarred and filled with doubt—he still has issues even now.”
Zirene’s shadow darkened as his chest pressed against mine. His purrs rumbled through his body as he nudged my head with his nose. I closed my eyes and turned away, exposing my neck to him.
“Relax,” he whispered. “Contact them and explain to them in your words what happened. But after that? Focus on settling down, and when they arrive, you can work on mending what you had.”
“But…” I peeked at him, trying to see what he was doing.
“Relax…” He commanded gently, his lips pressing against my shoulder. Slowly, he lapped my neck, sending shivers through my body.
I closed my eyes and moaned at the sensations he gave me, allowing him to comfort me.
This was the male I knew so well.
Outside of this dreamscape, his position demanded attention from all around him. His aura made those around automatically turn their heads and obey.
But here, he could relax and not put on a front. There was no one who needed to impress, to command, or to attempt to challenge his decisions.
Here, we were equals. I hoped someday it would be the same outside.
I jerked awake, sucking in a breath as I sat up.
The surrounding room wasn’t the one I fell asleep in. It was bright and much larger. Sunlight beamed through glass windows, lighting up the green and silver bed twice the size of the one on the Destiny. Jade-swirled black marble tile covered the floors as silver etched the purple walls.
Xylo and Odelm were asleep, sandwiching me between them on the center platform, each with an appendage wrapped around my legs.
How had I gotten here? Was this my new room? The room Zirene spent all this time creating to make perfect for me?
“Selena?” Xylo mumbled.
“Selena, are you okay?” Odelm asked gently, worry lacing his voice.
Both nestmates scrambled awake and leaned over me as they searched my eyes.
“Where are we?”
A weary smile crossed Xylo’s face. “We are in our clan’s bedroom in your villa on Destima.”
“We are?”
“Yes, Selena. It’s magnificent.” Odelm glanced at Xylo. “But we have explored little as we waited for you.”
“And our cubs?”
“Safe,” Xylo announced. “They have been worried about you but have enjoyed exploring the villa’s grounds. Supervised, of course.”
“Thank the Stars.”
I closed my eyes and sighed as I leaned back onto the mattress. I searched my shields; they were up and well—including my connections with both of my nestmates sitting beside me. Zirene was right. My shallow connections with my Circuli princes were missing, severed from my walls, their spots completely missing as if their windowed attachments were never there.
“I need to talk to V’dim and Z’fir,” I said, staring at the ceiling. “Please tell me that is easy to do.”
“Zirene installed a vid-screen in our sitting area and ensured you would be able to comm the Destiny along with many others,” Xylo replied. “Let us move over there while Odelm calls for something to be delivered for you.”
Sitting up, I nodded. “Please.”
Both males unwrapped their appendages from me and led me off the large nestbed to the sitting area on the side. A long jade-colored couch—which seemed to be able to sit four easily—hugged two sets of purple chairs and a large display table, similar to those at the Zero G-Spot.
Odelm used his tablet while Xylo fumbled with what I assumed was the vid-screen hanging from the wall. The display flickered as a loading circle appeared, spinning. Xylo sighed and stepped away, sitting next to me.
The screen blacked out, and two familiar faces appeared, stress apparent by their expressions. V’dim’s coloring was off—gone was his bold, dark, water-like patterns. Instead, he appeared ashen, almost gray. Both of their eyes were dim as they scanned the room.
When their eyes met mine, both sighed in relief.
“Selena…” V’dim murmured. “I… We…”
Z’fir placed a hand on V’dim’s shoulder, silencing him. “Selena… Are you well?”
“I should ask both of you…” I breathed. “I am well, but… you aren’t.” Odelm placed a hand on mine, squeezing it. I could feel him trying to calm me—ground me—to prevent me from crying in front of the princes. It may have been an accident, but somehow I felt it was my fault. I should have waited or asked to be their nestqueen when we weren’t pressured for time. Nevertheless, I was the one who severed the court bond from them and caused them so much turmoil. V’dim’s coloring was extremely off.
“V’dim… Z’fir… I am sorry.” I paused as Xylo wrapped an arm around me and pulled me close. “I don’t
