“When the Circuli princes contacted me about your discovery, a great weight lifted off my shoulders. I told them to bring you here as I prepared a home for you and our cubs. I put all my focus on perfecting everything for us. Having my brother, Royak, on our side will prevent others in the CEG who want to study you and our cubs from taking away your futures.”
I took a sip of the drink and winced when the spicy flavor burned as it went down. Coughing to clear my throat, I placed the drink on the table and grabbed his tail, feeling it flicking in my hand.
“What do I need to do for them to leave us alone?”
Zirene growled. “You need to come with us to the council meeting with all the representatives. They want to meet you and our cubs. Now that I’ve marked you, they will have to let you be. Some will have choice words about the matter, but they won’t have the power to do anything about it. We may have to allow some scientists to come with us and observe you and our cubs, but I won’t allow them to do anything you don’t want, or prevent you from living your life freely. You have been locked up, alone, and experimented on long enough.”
Dread filled me.
Was I ever going to be able to get away from it all? I just wanted the freedom to live, to be able to explore life with my clan, to travel among the stars, and visit other planets and cultures.
I wanted to be able to settle wherever I wished without any restraints; to live my life with my cubs and the males who filled it.
And to learn about my amethyst-eyed Aldawi dreamscape male, Prince Zirene Darcaw, Second Prince to the Aldawi Throne, Ruler of the Lunkai Star System.
“What about us?”
Chapter Five Selena
His tail stopped flicking in my hands. I looked up to find the cause, only to see his focus was on my hands. Just as I was about to let go, his voice halted my release.
“I want to take the time to know you again. You have changed since the last time we spent a night in our dreamscape world. You have become stronger, more confident. And you have a fiery attitude about you. These traits weren’t as dominant before. I feel like spending time with the Circuli has changed you.” His forehead scrunched. “Not in a bad way.”
What he said was true—even with the craziness of being pregnant, my time on the Destiny changed me. Both Odelm and Xylo taught me it was okay to have opinions, to have the need to learn, and to desire independence. I felt as if I could be myself, instead of trying to be a submissive test subject for the Yaarkins. Finally, I was about to have my own opinions, wants, and needs without fearing punishment.
“Are you jealous of them?”
Zirene looked up, locking his eyes with mine.
“Jealous? I wouldn’t call it that.” He placed his drink on the table next to mine and picked up my legs, placing them on his lap, and began to massage my feet. “If I had it my way, you would only be mine. The Stars and the Fates made you my Nova for some unknown reason. But knowing this, I would feel uncomfortable leaving you alone for long periods of time. I know I will be a difficult male to be with and to love. I spend a lot of time traveling and managing my star system. Meeting you in our dreamscape world wouldn't be enough to fill all the hours you would spend alone in between. How can I be jealous when only I can spend time with you while you sleep? Odelm and Xylo give you things you need. Things I may not be able to give you—ever. And I know you care for, love, and want them. Forcing you to be alone when you have been alone all of your life would be unfair to you. How can I love you, knowing I also hurt you?”
“But you did hurt me. You impregnated me without my consent,” I breathed.
He halted his hands as his face filled with sorrow.
“Selena…”
I yanked my feet out of his paws and sat up.
“You have all the power. Can’t you see that?”
“What do you mean? You are my Nova, and we are now mated.” His face scrunched in confusion.
“I am inferior to you in every way. I am in no way equal to you—physically or in status. Not only are you rich, but you are also an ishing prince of the most powerful species in CEG! How am I supposed to compare to that?”
Zirene jerked back as if I had hit him, pain filling his eyes.
“That may be true, Selena, but I would never use that against you.”
“But you did! Don’t you understand? You did! You bought me and used our connection to coax me into having sex with you, knowing full well you were going to impregnate me. Then you took your time to return for me, only for that mission to become an utter shit-fest! If it weren’t for me escaping by myself, I would have died. Now, tell me—if I wanted to continue to travel the stars with the Circuli instead of coming here, would you have allowed me? Or would you have hunted me down, so you could take me and the cubs you impregnated me with to wherever you wanted to go?”
He closed his eyes and looked away before taking a long sip from his glass.
“You are right… and wrong…” He paused, unable to stifle his chuckle. “But I would have assigned Kaede to protect you permanently until you wanted to reestablish contact with me again. Then I
