Kiss you. The words were on the tip of his tongue, but if he started, he was afraid he wouldn’t be able to stop.
Bickering disrupted the silence of the hangar bay when the group of passengers entered. The twins were arguing over whether Ryzen should go or stay, and why Xenak couldn’t go instead. As they got closer, the emerald twin won out and the ishing frax fumed against the wall, refusing to tell his brother goodbye.
Whatever.
Kaede was just glad Selena didn’t want to bring Xenak along. He would have ejected the male before they even left the solar system.
Each of Selena’s new ambassadors carried a bag, except for Zyxel, who was trailed by a large chest on self-driving wheels.
“What’s in the chest?” Kaede crossed his arms and eyed the storage unit.
“Research, medicine, extra seeds in case we’re allowed to start a greenhouse, and other useful things,” the healer replied, staring him down as if daring Kaede to challenge him to open it.
Kaede wasn’t in the mood to play games with the cocky male. All he wanted to do was to get off this rock as soon as possible.
He surveyed the group one last time and sighed, sending a prayer to the Stars above.
“Let’s pack up and leave!”
After showing the guests to their respective rooms, Kaede told them to remain there until they lifted off and it was safe for them to walk around.
Thankfully, no one challenged him.
“Selena, I want to show you the bridge,” he said, reaching for her hand. “That is, if you want?”
She blushed as she glanced at their enclosed hands and nodded. “I would like that.”
Smiling, Kaede felt relieved and giddy as he led her through the bridge’s doors. He wanted to show her what he had built and finally get some alone time with the female that had haunted every moment of his life since he had lain eyes on her.
He didn’t know if she remembered him giving her an Oetsae, but even if she didn’t, the revelation mattered—his words mattered.
He loved this female and would do anything to make her happy, even if it meant waiting until she was ready for another mate or transporting her newfound friends’ home with her.
At least most of the males were mated to Tori, so he didn’t need to make sure they weren’t bugging Selena. Her reaction to Zyxel’s confession was all the proof he needed to know that male would be trouble. There was no way Zyxel would become Selena’s mate before Kaede did.
Ryzen was a harder male to read. Even though he was humanoid, there was a clear division between him and his brother and Tori, Selena, and Kaede. He didn’t appear to harbor any interest in Selena other than her identity and perhaps her wellbeing. However, he was unmated, so Kaede couldn’t rule him out as a male trying to join Selena’s bed and clan. Kaede didn’t plan to take the choice away from Selena, but he would protect her rights, especially during this journey. Until they reached their galaxy’s borders, he would receive no updates from Oeta or his sisters.
“This is my bridge,” he announced. He directed her to his commander’s chair. “And this is where I sit to oversee the ship.”
She glanced around the room, scanning the charts and vidfeeds along the wall. “Where are your crewmembers? Didn’t you say you had five?”
“Selena, can you keep a secret?”
“Do you know who I am and what I rule?” She rolled her eyes. “Of course, I can keep a secret.”
“Crew, report.”
One by one, all five of his Oetsae staff appeared, introducing themselves and their roles. Finally, both their symbionts became visible. REI stood beside Selena’s Euouae, all eyes on the exchange with the newcomer.
“Kaede, is that your symbiont?” Selena asked, covering her mouth.
“Yes, Selena,” he replied. “I have an Oetsae like you. Mine has integrated with my AI system and has taken on its name. She has helped streamline my process, allowing me the freedom to accomplish more as she focuses on larger tasks.”
“Like managing more drones.”
“Exactly.” He nodded. “And communicating with the Oetsae on this ship.”
He sat in his commander’s chair and pulled her into his lap. Surprising him, she didn’t resist or complain, as if she wanted to be close to him, too.
“But why?” She searched his eyes through his visor. “Why do you have one?”
He had prepared for this conversation but hadn’t anticipated having it so soon.
“I was responsible for placing an Oetsae in you, knowing full well what they are and do,” he explained. “I had planned on putting one in me once I discovered how useful they were after the completion of this vessel. If I could put the same intelligence and power within me, I could become a more efficient bodyguard to you.
“After I rescued you and sent you away, I concluded that if I had implanted an Oetsae sooner, you wouldn’t have been kidnapped. So, I implanted REI in my headjack and became a host.” He sent her a sad smile. “If you were forced to live your life as one, I decided I needed to do the same, so you wouldn’t experience this alone.”
“Oh, Kaede,” she gasped, covering her mouth. “How could you? You didn’t need to become a host just because you made me one to save my life.”
“I was planning to become one anyhow, Selena,” he stressed. “I built this ship, the deadliest spacecraft in existence. Since I am no longer the leader of the Fab Five, I needed a crew whom I could trust on missions, and the Oetsae were my solution. I didn’t want Q’s mutiny to happen to me; his crew decided to prioritize credits over loyalty.” He gestured to the room filled with ethereal forms. “How could I ask for a better crew than this one?”
“After what happened, I understand your reasoning,” she mumbled. “I just wish the Stars hadn’t given you this path.”
“I did this
