Just as nestqueens didn’t care about males who weren’t Favored, the clan didn’t care about any offspring they created during a mating cycle. It was all about reproduction, not the protection of the ones they conceived.
“I want you three to promise me something,” Selena said in a soothing voice.
“Yes, Ma?” Meti answered, tilting her head.
“The three of you are going to go with Mentor Pavryn and stay at your aunt Masmi’s house for a while.” She licked her lips, trying to calm down. Odelm assisted by sending waves of serenity through their bond in hopes of helping her remain calm. “Your Clan Fathers and I need to go bring your sire home, and while we take care of that, we need you to be good for Pavryn and Masmi. Can you do that for me?”
Nocrez nodded, his head flopping uncontrollably, oversized compared to the rest of his body. The cubs’ growth spurt had resulted in some oddly proportioned body parts as the rest tried to keep up.
Neazzos rubbed Selena’s cape against his cheek. “Pavryn promised us some new hunting grounds.”
Selena raised an eyebrow at the male, who raised his paws in defense.
“I told them that we’re going on a hunting adventure since I can’t take them fishing as I promised.”
Selena rolled her eyes and nodded at her son, smiling. “Yes, dear. You three get to go hunting in new territory on Masmi’s planet. I’m expecting you to bring back lots of food for me, okay?”
Meti leaped and hugged Selena. “I will get the biggest and best prey for you!”
“No, I will!” the twins replied in unison. “We will!”
Meti glared at her twin brothers with amethyst eyes like her sire’s. “I always win because I’m the best!”
“But there are two of us!” Nocrez replied.
Neazzos dropped Selena’s cape, his bushy-ended tail swaying wildly. “What do we get if we win?”
Selena shot Masmi a panicked look, who bent over and smiled. “If you win, you get some of my famous candy. Maybe you’ll get to try my new flavor before Kaede does!”
“Candy?” Xylo asked in shock. “Really?”
Masmi shrugged. “Cubs love candy. You can tell because Kaede can’t get enough of it.”
“It’s not my fault your candy is addicting,” Kaede protested. “Plus, who else will tell you the truth about how they taste?”
Nocrez walked over to Masmi and yanked on her cape. “When can we get candy?”
Masmi looked to Selena, who closed her eyes and nodded. “You can get candy as soon as you say goodbye to your mother and we reach my planet. Then I can show you how we make it!”
One by one, Selena hugged her cubs and said her goodbyes. Odelm could tell she was fighting back a sob. The corners of her eyes were wet, threatening to bathe her cheeks in tears.
Pavryn led them to the ship, and the twins bolted inside. When Meti stepped a foot on the ramp, she turned and ran back to Selena, leaping into her arms.
“I love you, Ma,” she whispered. “I will watch over my brothers, just bring back Da.”
Odelm felt Selena’s composure break as she wrapped her arms tightly around her daughter. They were two different species, but it didn’t matter. Odelm could clearly see their loving bond.
Thick tears fell down his nestqueen’s face as she sobbed into her daughter’s fur. Meti was just under half of her mother’s height, but their position on the ground as they held each other made her look taller. Selena’s daughter’s tail lazily curled around her mother’s ankle as she let her cry.
“Selena . . .” Kaede warned.
She pulled her face away and slowly released her daughter. “I love you, Meti. Remember that, okay?”
Meti smiled. “Always.”
“Okay, cub,” Masmi announced. “We need to get going. How about I show you my ship’s controls, and you can help me fly?”
“Really?” She beamed, jumping in place.
“Of course,” Masmi winked. “I’ll teach you before my brother can.”
“Okay!”
Odelm couldn’t fight it anymore. He had to touch his nestqueen, to comfort her, to soothe her. The miserable glow radiating from her was too extreme to ignore.
Tentatively, he joined Xylo in wrapping an arm around her back. When she didn’t resist and leaned her head against his side, he sighed in relief.
He’d always told her that he would take her burdens off her shoulders. He had failed to do so, and witnessing—feeling—the strength of her motherly instincts firsthand gutted him.
They watched in silence as Masmi followed Meti up the ramp and saluted the group before closing the hatch. A short while later, the cruiser took off.
Once it was a mere speck in the sky, Selena sighed. “I have an announcement to make, and I don’t want any arguments.”
“What is it now, Selena?” Kaede growled. “There isn’t much time left.”
Selena faced the Circuli princes, forcing Odelm and Xylo to turn with her. “I need you two to do me a favor.”
Z’fir shot Xylo a glance before replying, “Anything.”
“I need you two to remain here.” She raised her hand to silence their protests. “This isn’t up for debate. We all know that Destima is still in a fragile state. All of its leaders, besides Vagren, suddenly leaving for an indefinite amount of time won’t solve anything. The citizens are still adjusting, and there are still minor conflicts that need to be resolved. I’ve already recruited Oeta to aid you two in ruling in my absence. I think the position will suit her; while Xylo, the cubs, and I are gone, I assume most of her research will be on hiatus anyway.”
“But how can we protect you when we aren’t with you?” V’dim questioned. “No offense to my nestbrothers, but your Favored
