by Jade Waltz
Conscious of their audience, he carefully avoided the juncture of her legs. They were not permanently bonded, he certainly was not going to try to mate with her in public. Besides, it was up to the female to determine when it was time for coupling. As Xylo neared her buttocks, he felt a shiver pass through Selena. Though the water diluted her own body fluids, he could taste them—a saltiness from her sweat mixed with the water from the pond—a hint of sweetness along her creases.
She tasted delicious.
It was an addictive taste. Thoughts flooded his mind of what it would be like to mate with her. How Selena would taste when they came together as he gave her his bonding spore. Would her essence taste more potent? Nestmates’ bodies become biologically and chemically attuned with their nestqueens—a true addiction.
Xylo had never heard about nestqueens tasting sweet. If she accepted him, he would enjoy tasting her every mating season if she would allow it.
Kaede broke into his absorption. “You guys are into some kinky shit. I thought we were going to dinner, not indulging in some weird mating ritual.”
Xylo jerked. His vines were wrapped tightly around the apex of her legs and her torso, supporting her breasts. He hastily unwrapped himself, mortified he had lost control once more. A quick check and he noted with relief, she was completely dry though her face was even darker than it had been.
“I am sorry, Selena. I do not know what came over me.”
She shook her head at him and jerked her gaze away. He didn’t miss the confusion in her eyes. Selena turned her attention to Kaede.
Holding out her hand, she asked meekly, “Can I have my gown back now?”
Chapter Sixteen
Selena
For the third time today, I sat in the café overlooking the terrarium. Tonight, it was bursting with people though the noise level was surprisingly low given how crowded it was. We had managed to secure a booth near the stage.
Glancing around I assumed the groups clustered in booths were what Xylo had called clans—a nestqueen and her nestmates. The clans seemed to most commonly range from three to six people, those with the brightest coloring in the center of the group. Both at breakfast and now at dinner, the group insisted I sit in the center—which fit with my assumption the center person was, in fact, female and the booth’s nestqueen.
Yes, those must be the nestqueens. The entire group's attention centered on them.
Xylo and Odelm sat to my right, Kaede on my left. We sipped our drinks as we silently ordered our meals. I finished first and spent the time admiring the males at the table.
I had noticed both Xylo and Odelm had coloring and patterns unique compared to the other males of their respective species. Xylo’s skin pattern was much more elaborate and detailed than anyone else I’d seen even the princes. I wondered why that was, but I was thankful for it. I would never tire of looking at him.
Odelm was gorgeous in his own way. I might call his coloring more feminine than other male Ulax. In fact, as I studied him and glanced around the cafe, I realized his coloring was closer to those in the center of the booths—the nestqueens. Perhaps that accounted for the preference for solitude I’d noticed he possessed. He was an oddity to his species as much as Xylo and I were to ours.
I studied Xylo thoughtfully, his attention on his wristband. His actions today had surprised me. He’d definitely lost the ability to fully control his vines. When they’d explored me at breakfast this morning and again as he’d dried me off before dinner, he’d seemed almost in a trance, not conscious his vines were sexually touching me. It certainly didn’t seem to be on purpose. He’d been shocked and embarrassed when he’d realized what had happened. I couldn't fault him if it were a biological instinct he couldn’t control. Perhaps the tenuous court bond was the cause, and it would settle down when I permanently accepted him. Glancing around the room once more, I observed many of the Circuli kept their vines and tentacles touching the nestqueen in the center.
I broke the silence at the table. “Xylo, can you explain a few things for me about the Circuli?”
“Oh, this is going to be good,” Kaede mumbled under his breath.
Xylo looked up from his wristband, a pleased smile crossing his face. “What can I explain to you?”
I tilted my head toward the rest of the room. “In the booths, are the lighter Circuli in the center nestqueens? And the darker ones surrounding them their nestmates?”
Xylo examined the room while Odelm’s body stilled, the pained look on his face quickly replaced by a blank stare.
“Yes. Those are nestqueens. The cafe is considered a more intimate dining room, popular among clans who want to dine together. The unmated tend to stick to bars and common mess halls, or if they venture in here, they dine together as a group. Like...” Xylo nodded toward a booth by the door. He was right, that group of Circuli were all darker and talked animatedly though their tentacles and vines remained wrapped around their torsos. “Or they dine at the cafe’s bar alone.”
That explained why I’d found Odelm eating alone at the bar at lunch. I glanced at Odelm again, his expression still closed off. Turning back to Xylo, I noticed he’d closed his wristband and was waiting for my next question.
“Is touching each other with your vines and tentacles an expression of comfort? Like humans hold hands or hug?”
An awed expression crossed his face, and he exchanged glances with Odelm, who now looked at me with interest. Both males schooled their expressions as they stared at me.
“That comparison works. Humans are much more freely expressive when it comes to showing affection and giving comfort than both Wudox and Ulax. Typically, only nestmates use their vines or tentacles to touch their nestqueen. It brings them both comfort to have physical contact. Neither species holds hands, hugs, or even kisses. Those are things other species like humans do. I understand the concepts through my studies, but you are the first experience I—or any of the crew—have had with it.”
I blinked, perplexed. “What about the princes? I saw them freely touch one other.”
Kaede made a choked sound.
Xylo exchanged another glance with Odelm, whose expression was steely, before leaning closer. “Unbonded males who have no interest in being accepted by a nestqueen—or who want to and have not yet been so honored—sometimes become close friends with one another. There is not the deep bond formed from the transfer of spores to one other as there is within a clan, but they open themselves up to one another mentally and seek each other for comfort. Males are asexual until they are court-bonded—at which time their bodies biologically prepare to mate and give their bonding spores to their nestqueen.”
Kaede coughed.
We leaned back in our seats as our meal was delivered to our table. I peered up at the servers and smiled in thanks.
Picking up my spork, I scooped a bite of the nut stew and blew on it impatiently. I was starving, and it smelled delicious. As the rich, hearty taste proved a match to the wonderful aroma, I made a small noise of delight. It certainly beat the monotony of the nutrition bars the Yaarkins had usually fed me. In fact, everything I had experienced so far had exceeded anything I could have imagined.
“Selena. What are your plans aboard ship?” Kaede questioned between sips of the meal beverage he was drinking with a straw, his face still hidden behind the visor that covered his eyes and the dark green cloth that hung from it.
Taking another scoop of the nut stew, I thought the question over.
“I don’t have specific plans, I’ll figure it out as it comes. Whatever Xylo says is okay to do, I guess—if he thinks I shouldn’t do something, I won’t. The only things I have scheduled are my daily morning check-ups with the healers and swimming lessons with Odelm whenever he is free. Other than that, I am hoping to explore and meet others. Xylo said exercise would be good for me, and Odelm said swimming was easy on the joints and relaxing. Why?”
Kaede tapped something into the armband with his black-gloved hand. “I need to
be aware of your schedule so I can ensure I have you well protected at all times—both outside and inside the ship. I will make sure I always have an eye on you.”
I choked on my soup, gasping as I banged on my chest. “Including when I’m asleep?” I rasped.
“Of course.” Kaede shrugged.
Odelm interjected, “It is Xylo’s job to protect her. Even if it is only him at the moment, the nestbed is designed to provide the nestqueen protection. You should not have to protect her in her bedroom with Xylo there.”
“But I slept alone in the guest room at the infirmary last night.”
“You started a court bond with him and didn’t have him sleep with you?” Kaede asked as he looked between Xylo and me. “Are you planning on rejecting him after all?”
“I didn’t know until Odelm explained it to me earlier. I just needed some time alone to think after learning I was pregnant,” I murmured, embarrassed. Turning to Xylo, I grabbed his arm, and he looked down at me with concern. “Why didn’t you tell me any of this?”
He gave Odelm a heated glance. “Odelm should not be intervening in something he knows nothing about. Selena, I understood your need for space. I knew you had just escaped the Yaarkins, your life had been turned upside-down. Then you heard about your pregnancy in the worst way possible. You are human and had no way to know details of our society or culture. I did as you bid because I did not want to pressure you in your delicate state.”
I closed my eyes and leaned forward, resting my forehead on Xylo’s soft mossy shoulder.
“I appreciate everything you’ve done for me. I don’t know what I would do without your patience and understanding support. I’m sorry if I inadvertently hurt you, Xylo. I was not intending to reject you. I just want you to know that.”
His hand slid into my hair, cradling my head against his shoulder as a vine wrapped around the wrist on his arm. A moment of silence fell upon the booth.
“I know you mean no harm, Selena. You have been through a lot, and we are from very different cultures. It will take time for us to learn of one another,” he whispered.
“So, are you going to tell Selena about her new room assignment?” Kaede broke in.
I jerked away and turned toward Kaede. “What new room assignment?”
“Oh, but Xylo should tell you the news since supposedly you are his to protect.”
“Jealous?” Odelm taunted from across the table.
He snapped his armband closed with an audible click and leaned back in the booth. “Just making an observation.”
“Wait. Prince Z’fir was serious when he said they were giving me Prince V’dim’s Royal Suite?” I gasped.
“The princes gave her one of their Royal Suites?” Odelm asked, his voice laced with confusion and shock.
I turned to Xylo and eyed him, awaiting confirmation.
He shrugged. “Yes, it is true. There are no vacant rooms available on the ship with a nestbed in them. All the vacant rooms are single housing. It was assumed since you were able to court bond with me, you may accept me fully—and perhaps others before we arrive at CEG HQ.”
Wait. They actually thought I’d be accepting more males before we arrived at CEG HQ? I still didn’t know what to do with the one I had. The connection with my children’s Aldawi father and the new court bond with Xylo were already too much to process—not to mention my pregnancy. Adding any more males was ridiculous. It would only add more stress to my life.
Letting go of Xylo’s arm, I fell back in my seat, took a steadying sip of my drink, then leaned back and closed my eyes. Xylo’s vine was still wrapped around my wrist, squeezing in comfort as I tried not to let everything I needed to do before we arrived at the space station—and I gave birth—overwhelm me.
“Okay, one day at a time. I have a lot to think about.” I glanced at Xylo. “And I think there are a lot of things we need to discuss. When can we?”
He gave me a gentle smile. “We can start tonight before bed if you want.”
Returning his smile, I whispered, “I’d like that.”
Chapter Seventeen
Selena
We stepped out of the lift on the way to my new suite. It was late and my body ached. I was ready to turn in for the night... but first, I needed to have that much-needed conversation with Xylo.
Kaede broke into my reverie. “The princes assigned me a cabin down the hall from you. Use your wristband to locate me if needed.”
“Okay.”
I didn't know why I’d need his assistance with anything—or protection for that matter—but I didn't make a fuss. If he’d been sent by the Aldawi to protect the ship and me, I wasn't going to make his job harder. I had more freedom than I ever had before. If today was a sample of what was to come, I’d have no complaints—not even with Kaede looking over my shoulder.
Xylo led me to the door and placed his hand on the scanner, Kaede trailing behind us. The door slid open revealing a large room.
“Welcome to your new quarters, Selena,” Xylo said as he stepped back, gesturing for me to enter.
The first thing I noticed was a back wall exactly like the café, the large window overlooking the terrarium. Slipping past Xylo, I pressed my face against the glass and looked down. My new room faced the pond. Looking up, I could see space through the terrarium’s dome.
“What do you think?” Xylo questioned behind me.
“It’s beautiful,” I murmured, not wanting to pull my eyes away from the view of space.
“Let me give you a tour of the suite, then you can continue stargazing if you want.”
Agreeing, I turned around. Xylo stood between a wall unit and another door. Kaede leaned casually against the arm of a couch, scanning the large room we were standing in.
“This is the suite’s common room. As you can see, there are a few sets of chairs with side tables and a large couch perfect for socializing. Along this wall is the drink dispenser. There is a data screen installed in this wall that allows you to link your wristband to display newscasts or any other information you need. Down the hallway behind Kaede are a pair of bathrooms and individual rooms, typically used to store belongings. Through this door next to me is the master bedroom where the nestbed and master bathroom are located.”
“All this is mine?” I stared at him, aghast.
“We already went over this. The princes don't want to offend the Aldawi by giving you—an important person of interest—a normal single cabin.” Kaede, his focus centered on whatever he was doing on his armband, tilted his head toward the master bedroom door. “I had the crew place your belongings in your bedroom.”
“My belongings? What belongings?”
“My contact wanted to make sure your every need was provided for prior to your arrival.”
I was utterly overwhelmed.
I couldn't believe the suite was all mine. Well, mine and whoever I took as a nestmate. That was something I still had to wrap my mind around. I had whiplash from the speed at which I’d gone from being a failed prototype to being given a Royal Suite. I didn't understand why the Aldawi had given me so much nor what he had to do with it.
How much easier and more exciting it would be to stay on this ship and join the Circuli as they explored the galaxy, seeking a planet for a new colony. Being restricted once again held little appeal—not after my first taste of freedom.
I examined the Royal Suite. It had an elegant, sleek design, everything in shades of black, silver, and blue that complemented one another well. But the room was so sterile, I had to wonder if Prince V’dim had moved all his belongings to Prince Z’fir’s suite. The room lacked individuality—that personal touch—though it wasn’t like I had anything with me to remedy that sad lack. Perhaps Xylo would when he moved in?
I ran my hand along the dark blue loveseat near the glass wall.
“Kaede, do you know your contact’s plans for me?”
Kaede paused in his typing. “Of course, I do. I am your Head of Security. Whether or not I’m allowed
to tell you anything is another story. It is up to my contact to disclose his identity and plans to you.”
“I’d appreciate it if someone who’s supposed to be my Head of Security would at least tell me what to expect when we arrive. I’m flying blind and being yanked away knowing nothing, possibly against my will by people I don’t know...”
He sighed, then closed his armband and sat on the couch.
“Sit down. This will be a long discussion but necessary.”
I followed his directions and collapsed on the nearby loveseat.
Kaede added as he looked up at Xylo, “Might as well get us drinks while you’re up then come join us.”
“Are you up for this?” Xylo’s mental voice was concerned.
“I need to know. Even if it’s bad, it would be better to know and plan. I read an old Earth saying when I was with the Yaarkins—‘forewarned is forearmed’—and I finally understand what they meant. Hopefully, knowing, I will spend less time stressed and worried.”
“Okay. The lower your stress, the easier the rest of your pregnancy will be.”
“You can stop with the mindspeak. It’s rude,” Kaede chastised from his spot on the couch. “Especially since it’s my hide on the line.”
“Whether or not you find it rude, telepathy and empathy are important parts of both the Wudox and the Ulax. There are species out there who only communicate that way.” Xylo looked sternly at Kaede as he handed him a light purple beverage. “Truthfully, Kaede? I do not trust you. I cannot get a read on you with your visor and head-to-toe shroud. You show up here unannounced, flaunting your drones and claiming you are in charge of Selena’s protection. What are we to think? Am I to simply trust your word?”
Xylo handed me a cup with steam rolling off the rim. I held it carefully in both hands, sighing with bliss as I absorbed the warmth. I sniffed and a sweet herbal scent filled my nose, drifting from the light green beverage.