I jerked awake from the sudden reply, turning toward the source’s voice.
There on the edge of the bed sat Xylo and both princes, all three bodies glowing as the dim moonlight shone through the bedroom’s windows.
I crawled over and climbed onto Xylo’s lap, wrapping my arms around his neck, and gave him a quick kiss. “I am so proud of you.” Pulling away, I glanced over to the princes. Their faces were filled with worry and desire.
“Are you both well?”
“Now that we finally have a place to call home,” Z’fir breathed.
I gave Xylo another kiss, thanking him before I unwrapped myself from him and scooted myself toward the princes.
Placing my hands on top of theirs, I sighed. “I don’t know what to say other than I am sorry for accidentally severing our bonds. I truly didn’t mean to—”
“We know,” V’dim replied, rubbing his cool thumb over the back of my hand.
“Xylo said I should be able to reclaim you both… how do you want to do this?”
“Just take them, Selena,” Xylo said. “Claim them right here in front of Odelm and me.”
“But…” I bit my lip and peered over at Odelm. “I don’t want to…”
“It’s alright, Selena,” Odelm murmured. “I am fine.”
I sighed, trying to dispel the nervousness coursing through me. This wasn’t a light matter. After tonight, I would have two more permanent members in my clan, allowing a total of four others access to my inner emotions and thoughts. My privacy would become almost nonexistent once I took them.
My nerves calmed; eyeing Odelm, I knew it was because of his guidance. He nodded, confirming my instincts.
Releasing their hands, I pulled V’dim’s face to mine and kissed him. Closing my eyes, I licked his slit and asked for entrance. He moaned as a familiar warm feeling washed over me, but this time, I could see the court bond’s golden thread as it formed. His tentacles rubbed up and down my body as I traced the inside of his mouth with my tongue. He tasted like the drink they served me back on the Destiny—the fruity creaminess of a “Mystic Nightfall.”
Slowly, I pulled away and pressed my forehead to his, feeling the coolness of his scaled skin. Opening my eyes, I stared into his half-lidded ones.
“Welcome back.”
“Thank you, nestqueen Selena.”
I turned toward Z’fir and smiled. “Your turn.”
He nodded and gave me a small smile. I reached for his face as I closed my eyes, smashing my lips onto his fuzzy ones. I nipped the soft bristle as the same familiar warm feeling coursed through me as I tied my newest nestmate to me. He groaned in reply as our court bond snapped into place.
I pulled away and laid my head on his shoulder, breathing deeply as he held me.
“I did it,” I murmured. “I reestablished the court bonds.”
The bed dipped as cool hands gripped onto the zipper along the back of my uniform.
“Let us complete our bond,” V’dim breathed.
“So we never feel lost again.” Z’fir peered in Odelm’s direction. “I don’t know how you could live like that over the years. The four days away was torture of the worst kind.”
“Selena was like sampling fresh water on a hot summer day after going without for a long time, only having a small amount out of necessity but craving more,” Odelm replied. “Since she finalized our court bond, permanently binding our lives together, I have been feeling like I am constantly swimming in an ocean of water, never to be restricted from happiness ever again… Finally, I was free from all the pain I suffered, and wondering if I would be missed… if I mattered.”
Twisting my body around, I faced Odelm. “You do matter! Never forget you are mine, Odelm… that mark proves it!”
Xylo placed a hand on Odelm’s shoulder. “I will make sure he never doubts you… or himself.”
“Thank you.”
Xylo’s focus fell on the princes behind me.
“I believe I overheard you telling your new nestmates something about claiming them in front of their crew.” He did a quick survey of the room. “I don’t see anyone else but us five—if that matters any—but instead of worrying about us, put your focus on expanding your clan… nestqueen.”
“Or what?”
“Perhaps I should give our princes some instructions,” he smirked, nudging Odelm. “We could tell them what she likes.”
“Should we warn them about her habit of sucking and biting?” Odelm teased, giving me a sly smile.
A spike of arousal shot through me from their dirty comments as I rubbed my legs together to ease my sudden need. I gasped as both males chuckled at me.
“I am surprised they aren’t ravishing her right now,” Xylo replied. “They haven’t even lost control around her.”
“You mean like we did?”
“You were worse than me, but only because you resisted Selena’s innocent touches.”
Odelm chuckled. “There is nothing innocent about what she does.”
Xylo locked his glowing teal eyes with mine. “Selena. You don’t have to…”
“No. I want to. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t have offered the first—or second—time.”
He grinned. “Then relax as we aid the princes, guiding them to ease your newfound needs.”
I gasped at his forwardness, my mouth ajar. Xylo had always been the leader between the two of them, but making such bold statements to the princes showed he approved of me taking them in. Odelm joining the banter calmed my worries about him.
The bed shifted behind me and hands trailed along my sides to the base of my neck, sending shivers through me. Carefully, someone pulled the zipper all the way down, then peeled the suit from my body as Xylo and Odelm watched with undivided attention.
“Odelm, would you like a glass of Xowyn to celebrate this moment?” Xylo asked with a smirk as he climbed out of bed.
“That sounds perfect. I will take you up on that offer.”
Hands lifted and flipped my body, my back hitting the sheets as I faced the princes.
They stared at me hungrily as I lay before them naked, their appendages waving wildly in
