“Selena, we need to do your front now, so we can be on our way,” he said, trying to comfort her.
She opened her eyes, flicking her gaze to his. “I know. It just felt so good.”
“Perhaps once we are done searching for shells, we can eat lunch and give you a massage as we wait for the Destima’s hottest moment to pass,” V’dim offered, as he removed his tentacles from her.
She rolled over and glanced down at V’dim, sending him a bright smile. “I would like that.”
Z’fir floated beside V’dim and Selena, his vines entangled with his nestbrother, who was their safety tether in the water. While V’dim felt at home in the ocean, Selena hadn’t been born from the water, created to cut swiftly through strong currents like the Ulax were. V’dim did like to play the pranks Ulax often inflicted on their Wudox brethren, but Z’fir assumed his nestbrother respected him too much to do so to him.
He felt Selena grab his golden thread and entwine it with his nestbrother’s. “I want to thank you both for this amazing date. I know how much these excursions meant to my Favored, but didn’t want to exclude you.”
“We wanted to experience what a date was,” Z’fir replied. “Our nestbrothers raved about how much it meant to them—even Odelm, before you were attacked.”
“We wanted to treat you to a good time since you’re usually cooped up alone in the villa while everyone else attends to their duties elsewhere on the island,” V’dim added. “What’s the use of owning a moon if you aren’t going to explore it?”
She tried to swim closer to Z’fir, but the current and her tired muscles hampered her. Instantly, Z’fir reached out with his two spare vines as V’dim dragged her closer to him. As one, they lifted her onto his stomach, allowing her to sit down above the waves. Z’fir wrapped his vines around her hips to secure them.
Even though he’d sunk lower into the water and the waves were smacking him in the face, it was worth it to keep their nestqueen safe. V’dim moved toward his head, sensing his irritation, and blocked the waves from assaulting Z’fir’s face with his back.
“Thank you, V’dim,” he told his nestbrother before checking on Selena. “Are you okay?”
“Yes, sorry,” she sighed. “I got a cramp and was struggling to grab onto you.”
“It’s okay, Selena,” Z’fir comforted. “That’s why we both stayed nearby.”
“Do you really think that I’ve been hiding in the villa this whole time?” she asked suddenly, returning to the earlier topic. “Is that what everyone thinks I’m doing?”
“Some of the citizens wonder if you’re scared to face them. Others believe you think you’re above them, like our queens on Circul. Most understand that you’re doing the best you can as a new mother with the rule of a moon thrust upon you,” V’dim replied.
“I believe your speech helped some,” Z’fir added, watching her body sway with the waves on top of him. “But to keep the citizens happy, you should make more appearances; even just stopping by a social gathering or visiting the apartment buildings will help. Your presence will soothe their doubts.”
“Do you guys doubt me?” Her mental voice was so soft that the lapping of the waves almost drowned her out. “Have I done a good job so far?”
“We don’t doubt you, Selena,” V’dim consoled. Z’fir felt him send calming sensations through their combined bond. “It isn’t our place to do so, anyway.”
“What do you mean?” she asked, snapping her gaze to him. “Of course, it’s your place to doubt me. Just because I am your nestqueen doesn’t mean I’m immune to your judgment.”
“Hold on, Selena,” Z’fir coaxed. “You asked if you were doing a good job; let me answer you. We wouldn’t have sworn ourselves to you and completed the mating bond if we doubted you or thought you were a poor leader. We aren’t demanding perfection.
“Stars, V’dim and I are nowhere near perfect, and yet here we are, with you, on this date to show you how much you mean to us. Do you think we know what we’re doing? Nestmates are meant to fulfill their nestqueen’s every demand. You haven’t demanded anything from us other than honesty, open-mindedness, and cooperation as a clan. Compared to Circuli nestqueens, you are as much a paradise as Destima is. Just as you are building it into something great, you are mirroring its progress to become the leader that this community needs. Don’t lose sight of your core goals, and keep moving forward. That is the best you can do.”
“Is that truly what you believe?” Tears fell from her face before she covered it with her hands.
“What Z’fir said is true,” V’dim confirmed. “Now, let’s get you back to the villa. You’ve gotten enough sun for the day.”
Chapter Seventeen Selena
What Z’fir had told me cut me to the core. I feared becoming a weak leader and hiding behind my clan as I sat on my throne, giving commands. While most rulers might be satisfied with that, I didn’t intend to make it my legacy.
I knew I’d ruled Destima passively for the last month or so, but I was working to slowly change that, even if it meant spending every afternoon in the valley amongst the citizens. They were my people, even if we came from different species.
When I’d visited the caves with Xylo, I’d realized that I didn’t feel at home among the demi-humans. My treatment by my fellow demi-humans upon my ship had tainted my view of the rest of my species. I identified more with my clan—Aldawi, Ulax, and Wudox—than with those who looked similar to me. Standing on the landing pad and watching other demi-humans pass by, tending to their business, I hadn’t felt instinctively attracted to any of them like I did with Xylo, Odelm, and Zirene.
When Karfic had flirted with me, instead of feeling accepted or attracted, I’d been repulsed by his actions.
