“Are you sure you want to?” Odelm hesitated.
“What I want is to burn off this pollen,” she hissed, jerking forward. “What do you all hear? What do you feel?”
“That you want us to be happy,” Xylo breathed. “And you want us to ease the burning in your body.”
“You know what you have to do, Selena.” Zirene flicked the end of his tail over her core, making her jerk. “Do it, and we will cool you.”
“Xylo,” she sighed, releasing her grip on Zirene’s legs and opening her arms. “Kiss me. Claim your spot as the first Favored of my clan.”
Xylo shot a wary glance at Zirene as he leaned forward, placing a hand on the couch in the open spot between her legs as he cupped her face.
Zirene watched with a smile on his face as Xylo pressed his lips to hers. He pinched her nipples, making Selena gasp and grip his shoulders. Xylo took advantage of the sudden opening of her lips.
Moans filled the air as she clawed at Xylo’s shoulders, his vines wrapping around her legs as if he was claiming her.
Oddly, jealousy didn’t prick Zirene; instead, happiness fell upon him.
His Nova was securing her clan, stabilizing its foundations while strengthening their bonds to protect their future.
He knew he would have to leave soon after she presented her speech. His father was growing angry that he’d repeatedly delayed his requests to meet in person. Zirene knew nothing good ever came from such meetings.
He didn’t know when he’d be able to return to Selena and their clan, so it was vital to make every single moment count. Remembering that she would be protected by her clan, with Agent Kaede supervising, appeased him.
If he had his way, he would make Destima his permanent residence and only leave when his duties called. But the Quaww were becoming more daring in testing the limits of their shared border, and the mysterious voice that had attacked Selena still weighed heavily on his mind. The Fab Five were working on finding any connections or clues, but so far, they’d discovered no leads.
Tonight, he would show Selena that he could put aside his territorial tendencies and share with her Circuli nestmates. Easing her mind would help her relax around him and focus on their clan.
He could do this.
No matter how many consorts she took, in the end, she would always be his Nova—until the Stars returned them to the Fates.
Slowly, Xylo pulled away, sucking in a breath as his vines untangled from her body.
“Selena, you honor me by taking me as your first Favored in front of our clan,” Xylo announced, humbled. “I will not fail you.”
“I know you won’t.” She cupped Xylo’s face as if she’d forgotten they were being watched. “You have been by my side since before I opened my eyes. I’m sorry it took this long for me to do this.”
“There is nothing to forgive,” Xylo assured, returning to his seat. “I will lead your nestmates to protect both you and the clan.”
“I don’t doubt you.”
“See, that wasn’t so bad,” Zirene whispered in her ear as he released her breasts, trailing his paws down her sides. She shivered in his grasp when he cupped her core, pulling a gasp from her lips. He shot a glance at the star-patterned male, chuckling as Selena tried to grind her pelvis into his paws to relieve her ache. “Did it work?”
Xylo closed his eyes and nodded, breathing in a deep breath. “Yes, I am Favored.”
“Good,” Zirene purred, his chest emitting a pleased, rumbling hum.
“Odelm,” she called as she wiggled between his legs, eager to proceed.
He chuckled to himself as he watched the pale-purple musician approach, refusing to let her ignore him. When Odelm leaned in for a kiss, Zirene flicked his wrist and rubbed the pads of two fingers over her clit.
Selena groaned as she snaked her arms around Odelm’s head, smashing his lips to hers hungrily. Zirene rolled his pads on her bundle of nerves and watched, amused, as she ravished her shy mate. The male seemed lost, wanting to touch every part of her body at once and struggling to keep up with her demands. Odelm’s tentacles mimicked Xylo’s vines and wrapped around her legs. The other Circuli mates stared in anticipation.
He wasn’t just watching his Nova come undone, he was feeling her pleasure as she jerked and squirmed in his grasp. He was going to make sure she never forgot this moment—the night all her mates had gathered to watch her claim her two Favored.
Zirene knew this was a crucial moment within the clan, a shift that would forever change the dynamics within. He respected the others enough to refrain from interfering, but that didn’t mean he regretted pushing them to complete the ritual now. His instincts told him that if they hadn’t crossed this bridge before he left, she would’ve procrastinated until he returned—whenever that was. He couldn’t allow her to do that to the males who had found her and nursed her into what she had become.
Odelm unwrapped his tentacles from her body and tried to pull away, but his aroused Nova refused to let him go. The Wudox pollen must’ve pushed her into overdrive, making her crave any touch to try to ease her need. Odelm snapped his gaze to Zirene’s, his pale-green eyes glowing with wonder, lips never leaving hers.
“Selena,” he coaxed, slowly rubbing loose circles around her clit. Xylo had explained the bud’s official name when he’d taught Zirene what body parts were different from theirs and which motions pleased her. “How does it feel?”
She released Odelm with a gasp, panting as she tried to catch her breath.
Odelm traced the lines of her body, his heated gaze locking on Zirene’s paws as he worked her juncture. Zirene didn’t miss the bite marks on his bottom lip, which was already beginning to swell.
“I’m assuming from your expression that the kiss worked?” Zirene pinched her clit, pulling a screech from Selena, as he waited for
