The gem will save her. Use the gem.
Those were the words that had always echoed in his head whenever his dreams with Selena turned for the worse.
He had taken a gamble and followed his instincts, using what he had known about the Oetsae’s abilities and his desire to save Selena’s life to decide for her.
He just hoped she would forgive him for his actions.
His only other choice had been to let her die, and he refused to allow that to happen before he had even gotten a chance to be with her.
When he had sent her away and left Q to handle the cleanup, Kaede had decided that if Selena was forced to live with an Oetsae, he should be, too. They could work out their new lives as hosts together, so she didn’t have to experience it alone.
No matter how many times he envisioned the future, one caveat always lingered in the back of his mind.
He had failed Selena.
His arrogance had gotten in the way and caused the chain reaction that had placed them in this nightmare. Moreover, he felt he was now the same as Z—taking executive decisions away from his love and forever changing her life without her consent.
Kaede had grown to resemble the very male that he respected as a leader but resented as a mate for Selena.
Z should have handled Selena earning her citizenship better than he had. He had stomached the process for Kaede, his sisters, and the rest of the demi-humans. Kaede believed Z had taken the more difficult route in guaranteeing a claim on Selena’s rights by impregnating her. None of the other demi-humans could reproduce yet, so by proving that Selena could bear healthy Aldawi cubs, he had placed a target on her head. While Selena had gained her rights as an Aldawi citizen, her body would be forever fought over by the rest of the galaxy.
When Kaede had become her bodyguard, he had known he was signing his life away to stand by her side. The Stars had pulled them together, sealing the Fates’ will. They were stars in the same constellation, their souls forever calling to each other across lifetimes.
Yet, how could she forgive his actions?
Would she even want him near after he rescued her?
Had he ruined his chances with her in this lifetime—even if he saved her?
Now that he had time to reflect on that day, he cursed his irresponsible decision to form a bond with his Oetsae shortly after the Abyss had broken free of Destima’s atmosphere. He knew that he needed to heal—and quickly—if he wanted a chance to fight off the crew members who had swooped in and grabbed Selena’s Cryopod. Even in his vulnerable state, Kaede had known he was in good hands with his Oetsae crewmembers and had trusted them to continue following the unmarked vessel as he adjusted.
What revolted Kaede, however, was that he knew a day would come when he would need REI’s abilities, yet he had hesitated to form a relationship with her. If he had become a host during the month they had spent relaxing on Destima, he knew he would have been able to prevent Selena’s kidnapping in the first place.
Now, he was racing against time to save Selena and her mates.
“You can’t blame yourself for the past, Kaede,” REI shared. “Even if we did form a bond before Z was summoned to see his sire, my specialty doesn’t lie in second sight. No matter what, I would not have been able to read the Stars, for there is only so much they are willing to divulge without dramatically changing the future. They are the lights that lead each living soul to their destiny, forever changing with each decision they make or have made for them.”
“Could you at least tell me if I picked the right Oetsae for her?”
“Euouae was her match. They will make a perfect pair once they get used to each other.”
“What about us?”
“The same,” REI replied firmly. “I have joined with your biotech AI system to make it work more efficiently while I learned everything about you from your memories, thoughts, and the system’s recordings. The concept of love is foreign to my kind, but we understand devotion. You have sworn yourself to her, therefore she has garnered importance to me. I shall do whatever I need to make sure that you and, by extension, Selena, are protected and well.
“In the future, whenever you need to connect with another computer system, I can easily override and manipulate it to your wishes. I will be prepared to aid you in your rescue mission and help you bypass their security if needed. Once we return to Destima, you will be able to control more drones at once through me. I shall take on the burden of managing them so you may focus on other matters, like the relationship you want with your star. When we are done with this mission, I will make you the best guard to protect Selena from the evils of this universe.”
Chapter Eight Selena
“This is our lifedome,” Tori announced as a pair of doors slid open.
The room beyond reminded me of Destima’s terrarium, but instead of a dome, it was covered by a cave ceiling, the walls dotted by holes. Aliens of Celyze’s species in various colors sat along the edges of the room. The ground was flat, devoid of any holes or formations. Multiple exits were available along the walls, each equipped with a walkway leading to the center of the cave. Every open space was filled with seating, decorated with a mass of plant life I had never seen before. A variety of aliens and humans played together in
