“Then I won’t leave your side, either,” Zyxel breathed. “I was the lead doctor on the asteroid base and am fully capable of assisting your medical team with your mates’ treatment. They are yours, and I know you won’t be content until they’re healed.”
“You would do that?”
“What else am I supposed to do on your moon?” Shrugging, he picked up his glass and took a sip. “I am a doctor. It’s my duty to heal any patient brought before me, not to be idle when my skills could be of use.”
His words stunned me.
Zyxel wanted to work with Destima’s medical team to treat my mates without requesting any sort of payment. He didn’t demand I accept him as a mate, that I pay him in credits or titles, or even that I spend time with him.
Zyxel was willing to help my mates because he wanted to make me happy.
“Thank you,” I whispered, wiping the tears that formed. “You don’t know how much that means to me.”
“It would be an honor.” He bowed. “It’s not often I get to work for an empire’s leader.”
“I am not the leader,” I corrected. “One of my mates is.”
“Ah, but you are mated to the sovereign, therefore, you are a leader.”
“That may be true, but that doesn’t mean I know what I’m supposed to do.” I sighed, regarding my favorite tea. “That’s one more thing I need to address when we arrive on Destima.”
“Will your mates welcome Kaede as a part of your clan?” Zyxel hedged, swirling his tea around in its cup. “Are they as territorial as he is?”
“They are all fiercely loyal and love me for me.” Biting my lip, I glanced at the doors Kaede had left through as a wave of sadness swept through me. “The father of my children is my most aggressive mate when it comes to guarding his family. The others are more submissive, but don’t mistake their gentleness as a weakness. They will protect the clan if needed.” Smirking, I let out a small chuckle. “Still, I have no doubt they will accept my new mate. However, Kaede himself has pushed me away in the past, and my Sovereign will need some time to accept him fully. They are allowed their opinions, but, in the end, it’s my clan.”
The galley doors opened, their whoosh filling the room. I snapped my head toward the entrance when an arm suddenly wrapped around my waist.
“What’s this I hear about me being part Ezzaska?”
Chapter Thirty-Four Kaede
Kaede eyed the crimson doctor, daring him to object as he pulled Selena’s body against his and inhaled her addicting aroma.
Selena had been right; he did listen in to their conversation, along with all others on the Abyss.
Tori and her clan were curled up on their bed, brushing each other’s hair. He didn’t worry about them, since their clan had taken Selena in and protected her until he could rescue her.
The only male in that clan who may be a danger was their Cosmic Soul, mainly due to his ability to mindspeak. Kaede didn’t know what other capabilities he wielded, which would have worried him if he weren’t surrounded by Oetsae. He trusted his crew would report anything amiss to him.
Ryzen was intelligent enough to understand where he belonged. He had remained in his room for the whole trip, meditating as his psy-daggers danced around him. Kaede didn’t care for the pretty boy, but he appreciated that he only emerged for meals because he could easily observe him and didn’t need to worry about the male pawing after his mate.
Unlike the male before him, who always seemed to be in the galley. Kaede wasn’t a fool; he knew Zyxel was hoping to speak with Selena—alone.
Hearing how Zyxel feared for his life brought a smile to his face. Kaede had allowed the male more alone-time with Selena just so he could hear how uncomfortable he made the unmated male.
He may no longer be the co-leader of the Fab Five, but that didn’t make him any less lethal. Zyxel had been lucky that Selena had touched him, not vice versa, and that he hadn’t attempted to go any further.
She could be friends with the other passengers, but until they had been vetted by Oeta, Kaede couldn’t trust them around Selena unsupervised.
He knew that requesting she remain in their room wasn’t an option. She wouldn’t comply anyway, and he wouldn’t lock her away for his reassurance. Selena deserved the freedom to roam the halls and socialize in her newly formed relationships. Kaede couldn’t imprison her simply because his instincts screamed for him to keep her by his side where she belonged.
He wished he didn’t have to work the bridge for long periods. If he’d had it his way, he would have traveled with only Selena, himself, and the Oetsae crew aboard. Then they could have spent the whole trip together—alone. Kaede could have explored Selena’s body at his leisure.
Instead, he had to share her with mere strangers because she wanted them to become ambassadors. However, though they could become her ambassadors, he could control their access to Selena. They should be thankful to be in the presence of royalty.
Selena gripped his thigh and squeezed. “Kaede,” she whispered. “What are you doing?”
Squeezing her tighter against his side, he brought his mouth to her ear.
