by Jade Waltz
And then I dared to glance behind me once more, only for my foot to catch in a root.
Head over heels, I fell, but before I could smack into the ground, he was there, grabbing my hips.
“Mine!” he growled.
He lowered me onto my hands and knees and ripped the nightgown into shreds, leaving me bared to the world.
On all fours, my ass was raised high in the air, presented to him almost instinctually. His paws grabbed my hips, claws digging into my sides as he pulled my hips upward. Instantly, I dropped my head and chest toward the ground, giving him a better angle to use me as he pleased.
Zirene was shuddering behind me, panting hard as he tried to catch his breath. He pressed his knees between my legs, opening them wider for better access.
I quivered, anticipating his next move as his paws pulled my hips backward. I felt him place his hardened cock between my folds and groan at my wetness. He rubbed his cock along them, covering his member with my natural lubrication.
Once satisfied, he aligned his head to my entrance and pushed.
Looking over my shoulder, I locked my eyes with his.
Zirene started to purr, intensifying the sensation of his cock vibrating within me.
Smiling, he leaned over me, taking me on all fours, his body on top of mine as we joined like savage lovers on the jungle floor. Zirene slowly placed kisses up to my neck. Pressing his nose to my skin, he inhaled deeply, savoring my scent. Instinctively, he nibbled his mark on my neck as his paws covered my hands, holding me in place.
Slowly, he rocked back and forth, my essence welcoming him deeper with each push. His hardened cock felt incredible against my walls, driving my need for him to take me harder.
Small moans escaped my lips as he picked up his pace, forcing himself not to thrust all the way in. I could tell he was savoring our last time together, allowing my body to adapt to his large size rather than hurting me by rushing this.
Sounds of pleasure radiated from both of us with every move.
I closed my eyes and focused on my feelings. Deep in my heart, I knew he was trying to show me how much I meant to him through this.
Zirene started to rock back, pulling his cock out before plunging back in. A groan escaped me at his swift movement. He repeated the motion, rocking back and forth, only allowing a small part to slide in and out but picking up his pace with every stroke.
Whenever his head hit a specific spot, my pussy spasmed and tightened around his cock, and I moaned in pleasure. Gradually, his strokes grew longer and more intense, keeping the head of his cock inside whenever he pulled out, only to bottom out once again. The sounds of our bodies rubbing against each other filled the night air.
“Zirene,” I gasped as he entered me forcefully from behind.
“Yes, Nova?” he paused.
“I need to tell you something.”
Pausing, he gripped my hands tighter. “What is it?” he growled.
“I love you,” I breathed. “I want you to know that I love you before you go.”
“I know,” he swore. “I knew this whole time. I love you too—and every time you orgasm, you’ll remember how much I love you.”
He impaled me entirely once more.
I cried out as my pussy spasmed. I could feel my walls tighten around his thick length, sucking him deeper. His body rocked against mine as he struggled to keep his control. His nails scratched at my hands as spasms racked me; the pain only heightening my pleasure.
As soon as he pulled out, he pushed back in, bottoming out once more.
He frenzied. His pace was fast and deep, wild with his great need. Loud moans escaped me as I rode out a chain of orgasms. He tightened his hold on my hands to savagely fuck me.
I felt his clamp emerge, inflating as it traced along the crease of my ass crack each time he thrust into me. As soon as it teased my rear, he surged forward, embedding the small extra appendage inside my rosebud.
Instantly, an inferno burst through me as I screamed his name.
His clamp pinched the wall between his hardened cock and itself, triggering his release. He roared my name in ecstasy, my body spasming beneath him.
Swiftly, he bit my shoulder as darkness welcomed me.
Chapter Eighteen
Selena
Usually, waking up in the arms of my Favored felt terrific, but this morning I woke up feeling raw, for I knew Zirene had left me the night before.
An unrestrained sob escaped me, instantly waking Odelm, who pulled me away from Xylo’s embrace. Carefully, my musician rolled me over, wrapping his arms and tentacles around me as if he was trying to protect me from the universe.
Hands rubbed my shoulders, and instinctively, I knew I’d woken Xylo as well. He, too, was trying to massage my sorrows away.
I could feel the calming influence radiating from Odelm as he tried to stop me from drowning in my sorrow. But no matter how much I tried to push the negative thoughts away, they returned in full force.
How could I be happy knowing that Zirene had left by himself to deal with his corrupt father in some palace across the galaxy?
“I won’t say it’s okay, because I know that's a lie,” Odelm offered. “But we’re here to take your sorrows and make them our own. You deserve all the support we can give.”
“How could he watch me go on dates with all of you, knowing how soon he would be forced to leave?” I asked. “He couldn’t comprehend how that made me feel when I learned about it.”
“He would rather see you happy in the little time he had left with you than make you worry about his departure,” Xylo explained. “That’s how warriors think. They would rather see their nestqueen content than drag her mood and the rest of the clan down, spiraling into a web of despair. In times of war, Circuli warriors would notify their nestqueens right before they left so that they didn’t make the rest of their clan suffer.”
“He wanted to be here when you delivered your speech, knowing you would want him to be—that you would appreciate his support when facing Destima’s citizens,” Z’fir added. “He stood by your side to prove to the empire that you’re a united front, working together for the common good, even if you're the one making all the decisions.”
Opening my eyes, I pulled myself from Odelm’s embrace to see the princes already sitting up and watching me from Xylo’s other side. Glancing over to the corner where Zirene usually slept, his bare spot added to the proof that he was indeed gone. The nestbed suddenly felt too big for just the five of us.
“I’m sorry for waking everyone up,” I sighed, wiping my face. “It wasn’t my intention.”
“We woke up as soon as we felt your emotions spike. We know you will need the four of us close during your time of need,” V’dim explained, lifting my chin with his tentacle. “It’s okay to be upset and angry, but you need to get this out of your system now, or you will only upset our cubs. They mustn’t find out about the danger their sire is about to face. It would be better to tell them he had to leave due to a diplomatic dispute.”
“How am I supposed to go on knowing he’s fighting for his life on the other side of the galaxy?”
“Selena,” Xylo breathed, stilling his hands. “You are supposed to live. Think about how he would feel if he heard you spent every day he was away sitting in your room, crying non-stop? He would feel worse than he already does. His concern for you may even distract him enough to make a mistake. Would you want to be responsible for causing him to make a fatal mistake? For injuring him? No, you would feel guilty and would never forgive yourself.”
There was truth in his words.
My Scholar was wise, aware of precisely what I needed to hear to pull myself together. I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I were to blame for any punishment inflicted upon my Shadow.
And yet, everywhere I looked, all I saw was him.
He had designed this perfect villa for me. Every detail was carefully planned to fit my every want and need—he’d even thought to add extra rooms for s
taff, guests, and future children. What male purposely added a wing of suites for any future mates that I may take?
He’d known this day would come.
Zirene had often told me that he would have to leave soon to fulfill his duties, but I’d always thought he meant making the rounds across his territory, visiting bases and dealing with any trouble along the way. I didn’t know—didn’t want to believe—that his father would take Zirene away from me against his will.
Zirene was one of the most powerful males in the galaxy, so it had taken his own flesh and blood to make him yield. He’d acquiesced to protect the one thing that he cared about—our clan.
My gut instinct told me that I needed to finish what I had started. If Zirene could be taken away from me without warning, then who knew when my other males could be?
Sitting up, I pulled away from my Favored’s embraces, wishing Zirene was here to witness this critical moment in our clan’s history. My nestmates surrounded me in our nestbed, staring impatiently as if they knew what was about to happen.
Knowing them, they had already heard my thoughts.
“I want to make an announcement,” I said, licking my lips nervously as I grabbed Xylo and Odelm’s hands.
“You don’t have to do this,” Xylo breathed, rubbing his thumb along my hand. “You weren’t in the most favorable position when you declared. Don’t make any rash decisions that will change our clan’s dynamic just because you feel the need to regain some control over your life.”
I snapped my gaze to my scholar, taking in his serious demeanor. I wouldn’t let him convince me to delay the inevitable.
“I want this.” I lifted our joined hands. “I want to do this, Xylo, so please don’t stop me.”
His teal pupil-less eyes held mine as if daring me to look away, to submit, to test me and my resolve. Was this a show of strength? Or a tactic to make me reconsider my options?
I didn’t care. He was the male I turned to whenever things went awry—they both were.
“When you first showed me our clan’s nestbed on the Destiny, you explained to me the importance of the two tiers within the bed,” I announced, holding my cosmic scholar’s gaze. “You told me that only the nestqueen’s Primary and Second slept with her regularly in the center, while her other Favored joined them occasionally, and the remaining males were left to forever sleep upon the upper level. Zirene knew that I didn’t want such a hierarchy, yet he wanted the males I took in to have enough room to stretch as they pleased, so he created this enormous nestbed. As a compromise, he created a whole wing for my mates to have their personal spaces, knowing that I would want some time alone with each member, or someone may not want to join us in our nestbed.” I glanced at the ceiling and tried to will myself not to cry once again, though I could feel tears threatening to fall from the corners of my eyes. “Despite the unique customs of our clan, one thing has held true. Almost instinctively, I have unconsciously claimed my Primary and Second.”
Returning my gaze to my first nestmate, I nodded. “Xylo, you took me in on the Destiny, not caring that I wasn’t Circuli. I was your patient and a pregnant female who needed support. I may have accidentally started our courting bond in my excitement, but after learning more about your character and the loyalty that you’ve already shown to me, I completely accepted you as my nestmate. Then I learned you’d taken the initiative to form a nestbrother bond with Odelm, even before I permanently sealed our bond, knowing full well that your alliance would create a united force to support me. Since the beginning, our nestmates have referred to you for decisions regarding our cubs and my wellbeing. You were already acting as my Primary, even though I never officially acknowledged it. I want to rectify that mistake right now, if you’ll let me.”
If the Circuli were capable of crying, I believed Xylo would be right now. His pupil-less teal eyes came alive while locked onto mine. Time seemed to slow to a standstill as I waited for my cosmic scholar to reply.
I needed this.
I needed to stabilize my life by controlling what aspects I could and establishing a sense of order. Every day of the last two months had brought chaos—waking up in the colony ship, boarding the Destiny, defending my citizenship at the CEG Space Station, and moving into our permanent home on Destima. All while mothering three gorgeous cubs and becoming the mate of five males, each with a unique history, while trying to balance our clan life with ruling my gifted moon.
I was surprised I hadn’t collapsed into a raging fit yet, unable to function.
Was I holding on because of the layers of support my bonded nestmates offered—whether emotional, mental, or spiritual? Or because I had finally gotten a chance to live outside the prison I’d grown up in?
Xylo knew why I’d chosen this moment to honor him, but that didn’t change the fact that he deserved it. He had always been there from the beginning—the beginning of my new life.
Yes, Zirene had been the one to put things into motion. Our Nova-Shadow bond had compelled him to hunt for me, but he was no more important than those who came after him.
Each member of my clan added value to the group, something that I was lacking, and each had joined for different reasons.
Xylo had been an accident. I hadn’t known I was creating a bond until it had been too late, but I didn’t regret my actions. Odelm’s bond had been intentional. I’d been drawn to him because I hadn’t wanted someone who was already protective of me to suffer as a severed male.
My Circuli princes had also bonded to me on purpose, to save themselves and their crew from a life as refugees. We were still developing our friendship, and I needed to spend time with them individually, but the ease of our group date had been just the beginning. After rushing into bonds with my other mates, I was looking forward to taking things slowly, and I could tell they needed time to work through their feelings, too.
“Selena,” Xylo breathed, slowly closing his eyes as he sighed. “This is the greatest honor a nestqueen can bestow upon a member of her clan. You know that I never even dreamed of becoming a Favored—or siring your offspring. I don’t need that honor to make me feel complete or any more of a male. Maybe my view is biased by my experience growing up looking different from other Wudox, but I believe that the true measure of a male isn’t by his appearance or his ability to attract a female. It’s whether he can take care of not only his nestqueen but also his nestmates as well.” He shook his head. His thin, green, grass-like hair swayed lazily. “How is it helpful for a nestqueen’s nestmates to continually fight for her attention? Logically, I’ve always believed their effort is worth more when combined to lift each other up, wasting less time and energy on meaningless disputes when they could be focusing on the clan and the nestqueen instead.”
He cupped my face lovingly, tracing my ticklish cheek with his thumb. “Yes, I will accept your title, not because I demand or need it, but because you believe I should lead your nestmates. May the Stars bless me and show me what you need—what our children need—because you are the center of our universe, and we should never lose sight of that.”
Taking command, his lips met mine as his vines wrapped around me. I almost didn’t notice Odelm dropping my hand—this moment was Xylo’s alone. He would get his time next.
Xylo’s hands cupped my ass as he lifted me onto his lap, maneuvering me to straddle him as my legs curled around the petal blades at his waist. Combing my fingers through his lush hair, I bit into his soft, fuzzy lips as they made mine tingle, earning a moan from him. His vines pulled me tight against his body. This was our moment, and we were claiming each other once again.
I nibbled at his bottom lip, absorbing the fantastic tickle of his soft, downy fuzz, tasting his unique sweetness. He opened his mouth, inviting me to sample more of him. My tongue drove inside and danced with his. Moaning, I took in more of his addicting sweet flavor, my own secret supply.
His hands tightened on my hips, holding me still as his vines gently stroked my body. Their soft touches flowed across
my skin, sending arousal spiking through me.
It had been a while since my mates had indulged in my pleasure, but there was something else I needed to do before we moved any further.
Another male that needed to be claimed.
Pulling back, I ended our kiss and pressed my forehead to his. His vines were already untangling themselves from me before I voiced, “There’s something else I need to declare.”
“I know,” he whispered, his eyes locked onto mine as he gave me one last peck on my lips. “You. Honor. Me.”
I gasped at those words, earning me a smile from him. They’d been amongst the first he had ever sent to me after I’d first kissed him, establishing our courting bond.
“Go claim my Second, my nestqueen,” he teased. “Don’t keep my nestbrother waiting.”
I shot him a playful glare at the sassy attitude he’d gained with his new position. He was already taking charge, and I hadn’t missed the reason why.
Glancing around, I searched for my sensitive musician, following our golden bond thread behind me. A short distance away from the rest of us, he sat in the corner of the nestbed, staring out the wall-to-wall windows.
Whether he was afraid of being forgotten or jealous of Xylo—maybe a combination of the two—he was too lost in his thoughts to notice me crawling over to him.
The male had dealt with so much rejection in his life that his response wasn’t surprising. I planned to correct it. He wasn’t facing the universe alone, no matter how much he felt like it sometimes.
I straddled his lap, making sure to dodge the sharp edges of his waist blades as I crossed my ankles to secure me. Not that I needed to; as soon as my hand touched his cool skin, his eyes snapped to mine, and his tentacles instantly came alive.
Cupping his face, I toyed with his thin, anemone-like hair, rolling strands between my fingers as I stared at my musician in wonder.
“What am I going to do with you?”