“What do you mean, you defeated your father and took the throne?” I searched his darkened, unreadable eyes. “Don’t tell me…”
“Yes, Selena. I am now the Aldawi Sovereign. I need you back here before it’s too late.” He sighed, blinking slowly as his tail stilled. “Vikvez discovered that the reason your absence is affecting me now, when I’ve survived it for the last seven and a half years, is that we weren’t officially mated as Shadow and Nova before. Our souls may have shared a void but our bodies never became one. He is hoping that meeting you every night in the dreamscape will keep me from spiraling, but Selena, I don’t know how long I can hold on.”
The words were on the tip of my tongue, and yet, I was afraid to ask the one question I needed to know the answer to. Breathing deeply, I steeled myself for the inevitable, grabbing his tail for what little comfort it could give.
“How are my other mates?” I bit my lip. “Are they…”
The moment Zirene’s expression softened, I knew I wouldn’t like what he had to say.
“Xylo and Odelm are stable and the princes are doing their best to keep Destima’s Circuli mental web under control, but I won’t lie to you, Selena—not again. Your nestmates, my brethren, aren’t doing well. They need their nestqueen, I need my Nova, your moon needs its leader, and most of all, our children need their mother.”
“Are they dying?” I covered my mouth as a sob broke free. “Please, answer me, are my nestmates dying? I can barely feel and hardly see our connections across this distance. Zirene, I’m afraid to reach out to them because of how brittle they seem!”
His strong arms wrapped around me again, engulfing me in his strength. His comforting smell and reassuring warmth radiated into me. Rubbing my face against the long, dark fur of his mane, I snuggled closer, wishing that I were truly home—closer to those I missed and loved.
“Selena,” he whispered, placing his hand on the back of my head to press it against his chest. “We are doing everything in our power to keep them alive. I have brought the best doctors in the Aldawi Empire to Destima to save them. Oeta is leading the medical team, and both of Xylo’s renowned healer fathers have relocated earlier than planned to help oversee their recovery. They are in good hands, though they need you desperately.”
“I know. I know,” I choked. “I need you, too. All of you.”
“Until you return, I shall cleanse my empire—our empire—from all the vile filth that dares defy the crown and prepare for your return. All the enemies responsible for your disappearance have been slain—all but one, and he’s with you.
“Before I was able to present my complaint about the Quaww breaking the peace treaty with their border attacks to the Assembly, they self-destructed and ignited in a civil war.” He chuckled throatily, shaking my body along with his. “It seems our greatest enemies cannot agree on how their territory should be run. My sources say that the merchant partially responsible for your kidnapping was executed by the order of one of the Windlords. I am staying out of that and watching from afar, though I’m interested to witness how much damage they will inflict from within.”
“Do you still plan to declare war on them now that they are divided and weak?” I asked soberly. “Zirene, I can’t return to the beginnings of a war, especially with our neighbors. When will I get the chance to stop fearing for my life and those I love and care about? I understand the need to defend what’s yours, but how am I supposed to feel safe in my territory, my moon, or even my villa during a war?”
“I won’t start a war, but I will protect what’s mine,” he replied, finger-combing my silver hair. “It’s not just our lives on the line, but the safety and livelihood of our citizens. I want to make sure we have an empire left when our cubs grow up and are ready to lead.”
“How are they?” My heart clenched with the fear that something might have happened to them. “Please, give me good news… I miss them and have thought about them all day.”
“They are well, Selena,” Zirene breathed. “Learning as much as they can at their aunt’s villa on Liskta. You have nothing to worry about. My sister has been doting on them while I’ve been dealing with the grind of taking over my sire’s throne. I check on them multiple times daily, and every time, they ask for updates on you and the rest of our clan. They are excelling in their studies and enjoying themselves as they play with other cubs their age. It is best that they stay on Liskta while I work to secure our empire. However, no matter what, Selena, they miss you and haven’t forgotten about you. All they ever say is how badly they want their mother back.”
“Kaede estimated he will be here in less than three days,” I muttered, pulling away to meet his gaze. “Somehow, he was able to find me. Once he arrives, I know he won’t leave until he has me on his ship.”
“How do you know where he is?” Zirene tilted his head. “Has he secretly contacted you?”
“A clan on this asteroid base was gracious enough to take me in,” I explained. “One of the clan’s males can communicate over long distances and found Kaede nearby by using my references. He gave Kaede our coordinates and directions on how to enter the base’s hangar. Now it’s only a matter of time. All I have to do is stay away from my cyan stalker.”
“Will you see his brother?” He pursed his lips, and I could tell by the rumbling undertone of his voice that he was trying to hold himself together. “You don’t owe that worthless male anything. Not after the way he treated you.”
“The people here
