At least the bonds were still there and untouched, which meant my mates were still alive and waiting for my return.
Chapter Thirty-One Selena
Waking up in Kaede’s arms felt like a dream. If I hadn’t visited Zirene in the dreamscape, I would’ve believed it was a dream.
Solely his presence gave me a sense of home.
His scent. His body’s warmth. His leg wrapped between mine.
Somehow, I knew that I was safe now that he was with me.
When I opened my eyes, the dimmed lights of our master bedroom greeted me. Gazing at the walls, I smiled at all the vidscreens filled with images of my clan.
I must’ve been too tired or otherwise occupied to notice them until now.
Somehow, Kaede had been able to capture the time Zirene and I had won Hunt and Prey against our cubs. There we were, holding each other and kissing in the branches of a tree in our own little world.
The vidscreen beside that displayed the time I had fought Pavryn alongside my cubs as my mates watched us from the shore. We splashed around the Sanctuary’s pond, teaming up to defeat him. The vidrecording had been filmed from Kaede’s point of view from his spot on the ledge above us.
Sunbathing with Xylo and Odelm.
Swimming with my Circuli princes during our group date.
Precious moments that I could never have imagined as a prototype trapped on my masters’ ship. Not too long ago I had been in a cell, waiting to be experimented on again.
Now, my life had meaning.
It was full of so many bright colors, often blinding in its intensity. Smiles and laughter painted the dark walls, making me pray I would never revert to the way things had been before I escaped.
Closing my eyes, I focused on my precious golden threads and prayed to the Stars that my mates would be okay.
I couldn’t fathom how Zirene must have felt when his sire betrayed him and he was forced to kill him to protect his clan. Now, he was leading an empire he didn’t want to rule while trying to hold himself together for not only my sake but also our cubs’ and his fellow clanmates’.
I was not the only one suffering, and yet, I was the one who needed comfort.
Zirene had no one other than his brother, Royak, and perhaps Oeta to support him now. I could only provide him temporary relief while we were in the dreamscape together. Outside of that, he had nothing—especially since I couldn’t reach out to him.
Tears streamed down my face, blurring my vision as I watched the vidfeeds. While I was happy to finally have Kaede as a mate, I missed the rest of my clan dearly.
Reality hadn’t hit me in full force until now. Perhaps the need to focus on surviving in a foreign location with strange people until I could find a way to escape had distracted me. Now that Kaede had rescued me, I knew I was safe. Able to relax and let my mind wander.
“If I’d known you would be this upset about waking up beside me, I would’ve slept in my captain’s chair,” Kaede breathed against the back of my neck as his arms tightened around me. “Now, tell me what’s wrong so I can fix it.”
Rolling my eyes, I snuggled against him as I wiped the tears away.
“You’re mine now, Kaede,” I muttered, gripping his arm around my waist. “Just because I haven’t marked you yet, that doesn’t mean you can back away.”
“That’s where you’re wrong, Selena,” he whispered against my neck, squeezing me tightly again. “You haven’t marked my body, but you’ve left your claim on my heart and soul. I am already yours for all of eternity.”
Closing my eyes, I inhaled deeply and took in his calming scent. His warmth surrounded me like a comforting blanket as his pounding heart pulsed at my back.
I needed him.
While I loved all my mates for helping me grow and flourish, Kaede could ground me in ways the others couldn’t. He was the stability I needed to become a better mate to my clan and a better mother to my children, so I wouldn’t have to depend on my mates as much as I did now.
“Talk to me, Selena,” he begged as he gently nipped my ear. “I am not like the others. I don’t have a gateway to your mind.”
“The wall.” Surveying the collection once more, I took in all the saved moments he had displayed. “How did you do this?”
“I’ve told you plenty of times.” He lifted his arm from my waist and held his palm out in front of me. A metallic, spherical drone appeared, floating just far enough above his outstretched hand to avoid touching him. “I am always watching not only your every move, but everyone else’s, too.”
“You always say that, but I didn’t think you meant it.”
“I meant every word.” Kaede tossed the drone into the air with a snap of his wrist. He caught the orb as it fell, balancing the sphere on his index finger before bringing it in front of my face. “Every night, I index every important moment, filing it away to study or view later. Knowing how much you would appreciate being able to see occasions I’ve deemed special again, I programmed the screens to project them for your pleasure. I can’t fathom how you are currently feeling, especially after everything you have gone through, but I want to help you in any way I can.” Kaede snapped his fingers, making the drone disappear as he wrapped his arm around my waist once more. “I can erase them if you want—”
“No!” I jerked around to face him. His slitted neon eyes flicked to my lips before meeting my gaze. “I want them. Other than my children, they are the best and most thoughtful gift I have ever received.”
“Then I will keep them on that wall
