“Were you feeling this way before your magnificent display in front of the Assembly?”
“No, because you gave me this.” Letting go of his tail, I grabbed my necklace, dangling the priceless jewel-like sphere between us. “Somehow, your distraction gave me the courage I needed to prove myself to the politicians.”
“The citizens want to meet the female who has begun remodeling the moon. The female for whom I have designed the villa on top of the mountain. Whether you like it or not, Selena, you need to address them.” His eyes softened. “I know a lot of weight has been placed on your shoulders so suddenly, but it’s been a month since you arrived on Destima. The time to address them is long overdue. The longer you wait, the more the population will question your leadership and purpose for them.”
I dropped the necklace as shame flooded me. “I’m afraid to fail. That is why I’m so worried.”
“You have nothing to be worried about,” Zirene purred, the deep rumble of his voice rolling down my spine, instantly calming my nerves. “I will be standing beside you, along with your four nestmates. Kaede and his sisters will be nearby as support.”
“Is their presence necessary?”
Zirene gently fingered a strand of my hair, bringing it to his nose and closing his eyes as he breathed in my scent. “No, but due to the unusual circumstances that brought you here, I don’t want to take any chances.” Releasing my hair, he opened his eyes, locking them on mine. “There is still that foreign presence somewhere out there that wants something from you.”
A sudden chill passed through me, cutting through the thick blanket of tropical humidity within the dome.
He was right. Beyond the glamorous paradise and relaxation, a threat still loomed.
“What am I supposed to do?” I licked my lips, my throat suddenly parched. “Go on living aimlessly in this fancy prison forever?” Sighing, I glanced away as I tried and failed to make out any of my clan members in the distance. “Zirene, I know this is the safest place for me, but sooner or later, I am going to want to stop hiding and face my problems.”
“Selena, look at me.” Pulling my mind away from my dreadful thoughts, I hesitated before meeting the amethyst eyes I knew so well. “Our enemies are far away and will be for some time. Promise me you won’t do anything reckless while I’m away settling the disturbances within the empire. Once I return, I will give you the stars, for I know how much traveling amongst them means to you.”
“I’m not foolish. You won’t have to worry about me whenever your duties call. I just wish I didn’t have to worry about some unknown force threatening me and claiming that I know something I don’t.”
“Believe in me, Selena.” He cupped my cheek lovingly, his eyes filled with fierce determination. “I will do anything to protect our clan. Anything. I just ask you to have faith in me and your security.”
“Zirene,” I breathed. “I trust you . . . and your ability to protect us. Just please don’t leave me in the dark.”
“Never again,” he swore, brushing my hair back. “I have worked too hard to regain your trust. I don’t need . . . I don’t want to have to regain it all over again.”
My hands found his thick mane as I pressed myself against his bare chest and leaned in for a kiss. He was the male the Stars had destined for me, tying us together as Nova and Shadow.
A loud growl ripped from his throat. His paws held my face as his mouth pressed hard against mine. He immediately took control, drawing me even closer. He melded our lips together and licked the seam of my mouth, teasing as he asked for entrance. Without hesitation, I opened, allowing him the access we both craved. A groan escaped me as his warm and spicy taste exploded upon my tongue. Closing my eyes, I let myself melt against him as our tongues performed an exotic dance, lost to the world around us.
A sudden pressure pushed against my mental shields, snapping me from my trance. I jerked my eyes open and pulled away.
Zirene lazily opened his lids, confused by my unexpected retreat. His eyes widened before his ears pinned back as he snapped his head toward the trunk of the tree. A quick snarl ripped through the air, rumbling through his body.
Three dark figures burst through the underbrush and tackled us, knocking Zirene over. Gasping, I caught myself on the tree limb as Zirene’s arms caged my body and prevented me from falling.
I gripped the branch hard, my nails digging into the rough bark, as I turned my face to brace for the impact.
Below me, all four of my nestmates stood with worried expressions. Their appendages and arms were spread out as if prepared to catch me if I fell. My Ulax males’ coloring turned a scared white.
“Caught! Caught! Caught!”
“We found you!”
“Found! Found! Found!”
A series of youthful chuckles rolled through the air. In their joyous chatter, my Aldawi cubs were oblivious of the harm they had almost caused me.
“On the ground. All three of you,” Zirene barked, lacking the thickness of his usual dominant aura. “You may have succeeded in finding us, but you have put your mother in danger in the process.”
I released my shield, reopening my connections to my nestmates, as the cubs obediently climbed down the tree trunk.
“Are you well?” Xylo asked, concerned. “Do I need my medkit?”
“Did we upset you?” Odelm’s eyes were laced with worry. “We didn’t mean to.”
“Do you need assistance?” V’dim wondered. “Z’fir and I can aid you.”
The warmth of Zirene’s body disappeared behind me as an arm snaked around my torso, gently pulling me from the tree’s bark.
Using his other arm, he lifted me off of the tree’s limb and cradled me against his chest. My vision blackened for a
