“I can’t promise anything.” I shook my head with pursed lips. “For now, I want you to leave me alone.”
“But you need comfort—”
“But not from you,” I corrected. “Zyxel, I thank you for taking care of me and for this meal, but it would be unfair to the both of us if I allow you to stay here any longer. I don’t want to accidently lead you on. If I allowed you to comfort me, I would do just that. For now, could you please give me the space I need?”
Sadness filled his pale face as he retreated toward the door. I thought I saw his scales lighten, too, from rich crimson to pink.
He paused in front of the door to look over his shoulder.
“I’ve waited all my life to find you. I almost gave up on the idea of mates and love. While I understand we met under difficult circumstances, at a crossroads in both our lives, I hope you will give me a chance once things settle for you. I’m sorry that tonight ended this way, but know that ever since I received your Cryopod, I haven’t been able to get you out of my mind.”
Chapter Twenty Kaede
The Abyss entered the asteroid belt almost a day early, thanks to ZYU and EYN working together to speed the vessel. While the ship wouldn’t be able to run at such high speeds for a long time, Kaede was pleased to be able to get in and out sooner than originally planned. The quicker he could get Selena to safety, the better. He wouldn’t feel safe until they crossed the boundary into their galaxy.
First, he needed to find the base’s exact location in this asteroid field.
“VYA, could you please send out our survey drones?” He turned to the crimson Oetsae projection. “We need to find evidence of mental signatures hidden within an asteroid.”
“On it.”
“REI, could you search for any lifeforms?”
“I can’t sense anything,” she replied, confused. “Other than a blank, void-like spot in front of us.”
“Send some drones over to that location, too.”
“Will do.”
“While that’s happening, let’s discuss a plan to break into this asteroid base,” Kaede announced, excited to finally be able to plan Selena’s rescue mission. “Anyone have any ideas?”
Chapter Twenty-One Selena
Waking up alone in a room that wasn’t mine after a night like last night wasn’t an experience I wished to repeat. Crying myself to sleep hadn’t helped matters. I had returned at such a late hour that I hadn’t wanted to ask Vowels to call Celyze and retrieve me.
I had probably been harsh with Zyxel, but he wasn’t trying to understand how I felt or the position I was in. I knew some species swore themselves to their mates the same day they met, but I wasn’t like them.
My heart was still raw from my kidnapping and fear for my mates’ survival. How could I accept someone I hardly knew just because the Stars had decided it was time for us to meet?
The Stars may have granted me some amazing gifts recently, but I couldn’t be thankful when they had placed all my mates in danger of a slow death while I was absent.
All Zyxel wanted was for me to openly accept him and allow him to comfort me, yet he didn’t understand that I needed familiarity, not more unknowns.
“Vowels. Do you happen to know where Zyxel is?”
“He’s in the lifedome, fighting Luwyn.”
“Why is he fighting Luwyn?’
“He mentioned something about Luwyn challenging him to a battle for your honor, and the honor of all females in the universe.”
“Oh, Stars!”
I hadn’t known how common it was for males to battle each other over trivial matters until I met my mates. While my nestmates didn’t fight beyond some friendly sparring, I had witnessed enough aggression on Destima and this base to know it held true across many species.
If one male looked at another male’s mate the wrong way, he challenged him.
If a male spoke to someone another was interested in, he challenged them.
I suspected Luwyn was fighting Zyxel because Tori’s clan had found out about last night. Either she had sent Luwyn or he had come on my behalf.
All I had wanted was to try to clear things up between us. That was what I got for sleeping in late.
After roaming aimlessly through the halls, I had confirmed the discovery that every corridor and door was unlabeled. Zyxel had ensured I had an escort because, without one, I would have been lost. Luckily, Vowels was leading me via a map he had stored in his memory.
When I approached the lifedome’s entrance, the doors slid open, revealing a recently washed Ryzen staring directly at me. Without his robe, I could see the sleek physique he displayed proudly. He was dressed in black pants and a golden vest. His emerald runes and the streaks in his golden hair seemed as alive as his glowing emerald eyes.
Scanning his body, I couldn’t find any of his daggers sheathed on his body and wondered why they had been sitting next to him in his infirmary room if they weren’t important.
“You were the exact person I was hoping to speak to.” His voice was honey-thick with a smile. “I was wondering if you had time to talk.”
“Are you going to ask me about the sparring match?”
He frowned. “No… Should I?”
“Forget I mentioned that.” I waved him off. “Then, are you going to tell me that you think we are destined to be together?”
His smile dropped as his eyes hardened. “My kind doesn’t believe in mates and love.”
“Then we have nothing to worry about.” I giggled nervously, trying to change the subject. “So, what do you want to speak about?”
“I was wondering if we could speak privately about what happened yesterday.”
“As long as we speak in the open. I’m sick and tired of being cooped up and want
