“Should I trust them?”
“Both newcomers mean no harm,” Vowels confirmed. “Celyze senses that you are more than human and is interested in what you are. The emerald-eyed one is curious about you and your relationship with Tori. Luwyn is protective of his mate and leery of change.”
“Haven’t the Stars told them?” I teased. “It seems like I’m the incarnation of change.”
“To answer your original question, I don’t know what you’ve heard I can do, but I haven’t agreed to anything.” Relaxing my stance, I crossed my arms as I studied the group’s sudden change in demeanor. All three males almost instinctively surrounded Tori as if they were suddenly wary of me. “Though he’s been a complete ishing frax, Xenak has demanded that I heal his brother. Why should I? He has threatened my clan’s lives for the sake of someone I didn’t even know existed until recently.”
“Is it possible for us to move this conversation to our nest?” The emerald-eyed male’s wings stilled as he glanced around the room warily. “I don’t think we should have this discussion out in the open.”
“I agree,” Celyze replied, grabbing Tori’s hand. “Want me to carry you?”
Tori gave him a quick nod before biting her lip again as she glanced at me. “Are you willing to allow one of my mates to carry you to my clan’s nest?”
“I’m sorry, but I’m not interested in climbing into your bed.” Flicking my gaze to the tunnel holes that dotted the stone wall, I tried to estimate how high we were and whether I would be able to survive a fall. “I don’t know if I’m comfortable heading to a private location at the moment. It seems every time I do, something bad happens.”
“Selena, please trust me—trust us—enough to visit my clan’s housing unit.” I flinched when Tori grabbed my hand. She frowned as sympathy crossed her face. “I’m truly sorry about what happened to you. I don’t wish that on anyone, nor do I like that Xenak has no qualms using your clan’s lives to blackmail you into doing his bidding.”
“He was always the hostile brother,” the emerald-eyed male muttered, crossing his arms. “Normally, he isn’t a bad guy, but he’s been unstable ever since his brother fell unconscious.”
“I don’t care. That doesn’t excuse the way he’s treating me.”
“You’re right.” Tori grabbed my shoulder, giving it a light squeeze. “Which is why I’m on your side.”
“I’m surprised that Xenak didn’t demand Zyxel keep me in that deluxe infirmary room.” Scanning the lifedome, I searched for any signs of the two males I was trying to avoid, finding nobody resembling them. “But Zyxel said I was free to roam the base as soon as I had an escort. I guess he spoke the truth after all.”
“Well, you can’t go far without a communicator,” the lavender-eyed male, Luwyn, quipped. “And even if you could freely roam the base, there is only one way on and off this asteroid, and that’s the hangar, which is hidden from any passersby’s sight. I highly doubt you can pilot a ship, and there aren’t many in the base who could aid your escape.”
“So, in a sense, this base is my jail, and he is my warden.” I sighed, blinking back tears as I tried to keep it together. “I’m going to have to do what he wants me to do in order to go home, aren’t I?”
“Unfortunately,” Tori replied, frowning as she released her grip on my shoulder and stepped back. “Please, reconsider visiting our clan nest and having some refreshments with us. I would like to get to know you better. If anything, it beats being stuck in a room with Zyxel.”
“Where is your nest?”
As one, Tori and her mates turned and pointed to a ledge near the top of the wall overlooking the small pond. “Right there!”
“And you can only get there by flight?” I asked, biting my lip.
“I’m afraid so.” Tori shot me an apologetic smile. “This asteroid was built by the Swynemi since they were the species most often rescued in this galaxy and needed a place to stay. Since they have the technology to create lifedomes, the commanders asked the refugees to design the base inside this asteroid. While there are plenty of cabins on the lower levels for the wingless, my mates are Swynemi, so we were given an upper-level cabin.”
“Can I trust your mates not to drop me?” I eyed the three males surrounding her, who peered back at me, shocked. “I’ve never been flown by a male before. A transport, yes—but not in the arms of a winged person.”
“Luwyn can carry you.” Tori kissed the lavender-eyed male’s cheek and shoved him toward me, slapping his ass. “He is my hunter and loves proving himself.”
I shrugged. “Are you up for it?”
While I would have preferred the silent emerald-eyed male, I would still rather let Luwyn carry me than Celyze. He was a Cosmic Soul capable of mind-wiping others, which made me want to avoid touching him at all costs. I was still recovering from my drugged haze and near brush with death. I wasn’t keen on having my memories altered while I was away from my clan, too.
I would fight if he attacked me under Xenak’s orders, even if I had to permanently damage his fragile wings. Flight was paramount to winged aliens. If he planned to take something precious from me, then I would do the same to him—and anyone who dared hurt me.
“If that is what my StarPyre wants, then I shall.”
“Then I accept your invitation.”
“Yay!” Tori cheered, enclosing my hands in hers. “I can’t wait for you to try some of my cooking.” A contagious smile lit her face as she jumped excitedly, wavy hair bouncing in her wake. “I’ve heard so much about you. I’ve been waiting to get to know the female in my mate’s visions.”
“What?”
Celyze placed his hands on
