What Xylo truly wanted to do was to trip this arrogant male and leave him in this cave. Not to die—no one deserved that. Death was too harsh a punishment for his crime, which in reality had been minor in the broader scope.
How could Karfic believe that making unsolicited advances on a female was the way to gain her interest?
He’d hoped Selena would put the male in his place, so she would stop feeling uncomfortable, but he knew his nestqueen was too kind for her own good.
Xylo was now one of her Favored. If she needed him to toughen up and protect her from the attention of unwanted males, he would do so gladly to keep her happy.
Feeling her hands grip his vines as he led her down the unstable pathway brought a sense of pride to him. This was where he belonged: with his nestqueen, guiding her past the dangers of life.
“We are here.”
Xylo stepped beside the old geologist and stilled when he spotted the scene before him.
The hidden chamber was a large underground lake. Thousands of gems similar to the one Selena wore around her neck gleamed around the walls.
“Xylo . . .”
“Yes, Selena?”
“The ceiling reminds me of the stars.” She faced him and placed a hand on his chest. “Just like you.”
He looked down at her hand and covered it with his. “I’m afraid they are more beautiful than I am.”
“Don’t compare yourself to a bunch of stones.” She leaned forward and gave his lips a quick peck. “You know I love you just the way you are. It was your unique, space-like pattern that attracted me from the moment I laid my eyes on you.”
A loud cough sounded behind them.
Xylo shot a glance in that direction to find Karfic covering his mouth, smirking.
He bit his tongue, knowing he could school the young demi-human in more languages than he could comprehend.
Taking Selena’s head in his hands, he kissed her.
His nestqueen moaned, but before she was able to grip his shoulder moss, he wrapped her wrists with his vines and held them above her head. She gasped, allowing his tongue to dive into her mouth and twirl around hers, savoring her flavor. Xylo lifted her and pinned her against the wall. Her legs instantly wrapped around his waist, securing herself above his waist petals. His spare vines wrapped around her torso and aided in holding her in place.
This was his date, his moment with his nestqueen.
He’d had enough of others trying to steal his time with Selena through jealous acts. Every moment he’d spent time planning so far had been ruined.
By the Stars, he wished he could send Kaede after Karfic.
He would make him regret his advances—and he didn’t care if either male in the chamber felt awkward or embarrassed by his display. He loved this female and was willing to tell the universe if needed.
“Nestbrother,” Odelm cautioned. “You are allowing her hormones to cloud your thoughts. I worry about what’s happening over there, based on the extreme emotions radiating from you. You’re giving me whiplash.”
Like a cold snap on his vines, he froze and slowly untangled himself from his nestqueen, placing her safely onto the ground. She gave him a confused look, her lips puffy from their heated kiss.
“I’m sorry,” he breathed. “I don’t know what came over me.”
Grabbing his hand, she shook her head. “You never have to apologize for kissing me.”
“I’m better than this,” he muttered. “I must become a stronger male to support you and our clan the way a Favored should.”
“You and your honor.” Selena rolled her eyes and waved him off. “Xylo, you need to learn to loosen up a little. Just because you’re Favored, doesn’t mean you have to change who you are. I love you for you. Remember that.”
Xylo knew that she did.
He felt the truth in her words every time she spoke, for her thoughts couldn’t lie. His nestqueen always made sure she told him she loved him at least once a day.
Ever since the night she’d declared him as a Favored, he could feel himself settle into a critical role. He had simply existed as part of her clan before she made him her Favored, but now that she had, it was as if his body had gone into an advanced state of maturity.
Surprisingly, he could feel himself becoming stronger without any change in his usual routine.
Was this something every Circuli male went through after his nestqueen declared him a Favored? As if his body knew it had to grow stronger to protect his nestqueen and his clan? Or was this a way to ensure retaining one’s rank—to preserve the spot above others within the clan?
He didn’t know. He would have to address this with the others.
The princes weren’t a threat to him or his position; they and Selena had made their intentions clear.
For once, their clan was truly at peace. At least, that was what he kept telling himself.
Xylo glanced down at his teal moss buds as they glowed in the cave’s darkness. They were a sign that the clan was about to enter another trying time. Selena would be ovulating soon, marking the time where she was the most fertile.
Would Selena allow Odelm to have the first attempt to mate with her, giving him the highest chance of siring her offspring? Or would she go against the nature of a Favored and deliver the princes with an opportunity to produce heirs first?
The choice was up to Selena, no matter what. She held the power over her clan; it was up to Odelm and Xylo to enforce her decisions.
Ultimately, he was perfectly content with never producing any offspring. Unlike Odelm, his standing in the clan didn’t define
