The crowd instantly hushed, curious about what I was going to do.
“Selena…” he pleaded, his mental voice strained.
“Come, Favored,” I comforted. “I promise it will be worth it.”
Odelm walked up and stopped a few steps away from my side. His coloring was tinted a worried orange and nervous yellow along the edges of his defensive fins.
Taking his hand, I pulled him closer to stand next to me at the podium.
“Last night, I finally claimed my clan's Favored. In celebration, I want to present one of my Favored with a gift that I designed for him before my arrival,” I announced, turning to my shy musician.
“What are you doing?”
“Odelm,” I beamed, nodding as I locked my eyes with his. “I was told of your skill as a master of instruments back on Circul, and I know what you’ve been through. Someone of your talent deserves to be cherished and celebrated. To thank you for everything you’ve done for me over these last couple months, I give you this performance hall, to do with as you please. I hope that soon, you can share your music with Destima—and someday, the universe.”
“Selena,” he breathed. “It’s too much.”
“Nonsense, Odelm. You are the perfect role model for all the artists who want to do what they love professionally. Use this gift to create a place for them to make a living off their talents.”
He stared at the waiting crowd and sighed.
“You leave me no choice but to accept this generous gift,” he muttered, facing me. “Yes, Selena, I will accept this offer and use it for good. You are my nestqueen, and I thank the Stars every day for leading you to me. All the music I perform in this hall will be in your name because you are the greatest thing that has happened to me. I wouldn’t be here today, standing before you as the male I’ve become, if not for you.” He shot a glance at the Circuli in the crowd. “None of us would. I am thankful for the sacrifices you have made to grant my people a home.”
Instinctively, I reached for him, grabbing the back of his head and smashing our lips together. He was my gentle-spirited nestmate, who had stood at my side almost as long as Xylo. His kindness and determination to fight my battles for me, even when it wasn’t needed, made me fall for him. He was overprotective when it came to my emotions—and my wellbeing—and it both amazed and worried me that he sometimes knew how I felt before I did. Odelm deserved an audience, outside of our villa, for whom to perform his music. His experience was suited to such a performance hall, and I was glad that I had designed the space with him in mind.
Lacing my fingers in his silky anemone-like hair, I sent him all my love and appreciation through our kiss. I felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders when he had accepted my token of appreciation. Our kiss didn’t need to be hard or heated, not on this occasion, and yet the single kiss was enough to make me breathless as I pulled away.
The crowd cheered, startling me enough to fall into Odelm’s arms. During our kiss, I had forgotten we were being watched, and now the whole moon had witnessed our display.
"I believe our leader has no more announcements to make, is that correct?" Vagren asked as an attempt to pull everyone's attention away from us.
Pulling my face away from Odelm's chest, I nodded, tugging my musician away. "That’s all I had to say."
I made a mental note to thank him later.
Smiling, Vagren stepped into my place behind the podium to address the crowd.
"Selena has said what she needed to say. Before we conclude, are there any questions?"
Walking into my villa's sanctuary between my Favored felt refreshing. They guided me with one of their appendages wrapped around my waist.
The speech hadn’t been the hard part. The questions afterward had challenged me, but thanks to support from Vagren and my mates, I was able to answer them.
I didn't care if that made me look weak to the Circuli nestqueens. There was a difference between leading blindly with confidence and leading intelligently and effectively. I wasn’t a leader simply because I had been born female and become the nestqueen of my clan independently, like most Circuli females.
I was leading because of my males and their support. If it weren't for my clan, I wouldn't have reached my current position, dealing with all the stress of being the center of attention. If the decision were up to me, I would stay out of the limelight and exist peacefully with my clan, but the Stars had other plans for me.
Laughter filled the air, bringing a smile to my face. In the middle of the pool, all three cubs were working together to take down Pavryn, who looked completely soaked and ridiculous. Meti clung to his back, as she attached herself to his mane, only holding on by her front paws and her teeth. My sons, Nocrez and Neazzos, were circling him, nipping at his tail and legs.
Pausing, I halted my mates’ steps, not wanting to disturb them in case they were in the
