by Jade Waltz
I pursed my lips, annoyed that he’d taken this long to correct me.
“As I was saying,” I continued, addressing Zirene’s littermate. “My cubs are two moons old. The Sovereign wants to see them, and I’m afraid he has nefarious plans, especially since he’s been pressuring your brothers to have offspring.”
Shaking my head, I pleaded, “I don’t want my cubs to fall into his hands. Is it possible for you to come and take them in? Only until it’s safe for me to return, of course. Kaede mentioned you might be willing to. I needed to ask myself.”
Masmi flicked her gaze to my guard. “You’ve done a good deed offering to contact me, Kaede. I’m proud of you. When this conflict settles, I’ll set aside a fair share of candy with your name on it.” Returning her mauve eyes to mine, she continued, “Selena Darcaw, we may not be of the same species, but that doesn’t make you any less of a worthy female. Through my brother, I’ve gained a sister, something I’ve always dreamed of. I wished we could have met in different circumstances, but this is the Star's way, nevertheless. I would be honored to take in your cubs, for I also wouldn’t want my sire to get his greedy paws on them. They will be welcomed and cared for by my people.”
“Are you sure it won’t be a hassle?” I asked, biting my lip nervously. “I don’t want to put you—”
Masmi raised a paw to silence me. “Selena, you have to understand that Aldawi females work together to build up and support each other. If one of us needs the community to watch her cubs so she can work, we are glad to help, because we know that we’ll be needing similar help in the future. It is our way, and yours, too, since you’re one of us.”
I nodded, holding back my tears once more. “Thank you. You don’t understand how much this means to me.”
“I was a mother once,” Masmi explained. “I know how it is to fear for your cubs’ lives. I was just lucky enough, by the Stars’ blessing, that my sire never took an interest in me or my offspring. I’ve never bowed to his ways, so he banished me from the palace. Since then, he’s wanted nothing to do with me other than to collect the credits I’m required to pay in tribute. I'm nothing but a thorn in his paw; he’s willing to pay attention when it benefits him, but other than that, he ignores the pain.”
“You were a mother?” I asked, glancing at Kaede, who shrugged.
She waved me off. “My cubs are all grown. One even has a litter of her own about your age, but that’s beside the point. Of course, I’m willing to take your cubs in.” Her eyes found Kaede. “How do you want to do this?”
He opened his wristband and typed a few buttons. “How fast can you get here? Selena and her clan have to leave by midday. The sooner you arrive to retrieve the cubs, the better for everyone.”
Narrowing her eyes, she nodded. “I shall be there as soon as I can get my personal cruiser ready.”
“Your cruiser, huh?” Kaede smirked. “Not taking any chances?”
“A gift from my dear brother, of course,” she quipped. “I bet he never imagined I would be using his gift to rescue his cubs.” She scanned the room once more. “We are done here. Masmi, out.”
Instantly, the vidscreen’s projection died, retracting to its flatscreen. Kaede swiftly picked it up. A few keystrokes later, he cursed.
“What’s wrong now?”
“It seems Zirene predicted this would happen,” he grunted. "My sisters’ orders are to search for your secret stalker and not return until the mission is completed."
"So, I only have you here to protect me?" I asked in disbelief. "What if you aren't enough?"
He lowered his vidscreen, glaring through his visor at me. “I will be enough, don’t you worry. If need be, I will kill anyone who tries to hurt you. I swore myself to the prince, not to the empire. I don’t care what the Sovereign says. You are my topmost priority.”
“I believe you.”
“Remember that when the time comes,” he whispered. “Hopefully, it never will.”
Chapter Twenty
Odelm
Odelm could tell that his hesitation had damaged his nestqueen’s faith in him. He hadn’t meant for his self-doubt and insecurity to damage their relationship yet again—but they had, and at the most inopportune time.
While their clan may be small compared to ancient times, it wasn’t unheard of for a nestqueen to rank her Favored once she determined their official order. Back then, if a nestqueen had a larger clan, she would surround herself with a layer of Favored, keeping her Primary and Second the nearest to her. Even though others keep trying to take Selena from them, they weren’t at war with anyone and didn’t need such an elaborate ranking system, especially since Selena had non-Circuli mates.
They explained all of this to her, but instead of accepting the great honor of being the clan’s Second—Selena’s Second—he had pushed her away. How could he have done that? Especially at a sensitive time like this?
The Sovereign’s summons caused problems for both the citizens of Destima and his clan. Odelm knew that Vagren would skillfully manage the moon in Selena’s place, but their absence would damage her reputation as a leader nonetheless. Six days had passed since Selena had bravely stood in front of a large crowd and made her speech, and the people of Destima already expected her to take over. Now that she had been called away, would her citizens doubt her leadership?
It only took one dissonant note to ruin a harmony.
There was no time for him to reconcile with his nestqueen and apologize for what he’d done. How could he? Their future was unknown. All of the clan’s energy had to be focused on trying to return home safely, and hopefully, with Zirene alongside them.
The wind blew wildly through his anemone hair as they stood, watching the incoming tropical storm and waiting for Masmi to arrive. If not for the gloom radiating from his clan, he would have considered the view beautiful, dark clouds on the horizon blocked out the planet Lunkai hanging in the sky.
His nestbrother, Xylo, had explained to him about Zirene’s binary star system. The reason for Lunkai, its capital, to always be in the sky was because Destima was tidally locked to it. The two suns hardly appeared at the same time because they never fully appeared zenith to the moon. Xylo went off spewing other facts about the whole star system’s relationship, but Odelm couldn’t understand most of what his scholar nestbrother said. The main thing he took from the conversation was that because of the uniqueness between Destima to Lunkai and their two suns, he shouldn’t be alarmed when Destima would fall into total darkness about twice a year. While the Aldawi followed the same time system as the CEG, Odelm appreciated knowing that their time was similar between Destima and Lunkai because of this reason.
He wondered when the first day of darkness would fall upon them, and how would his nestqueen react, as the storm clouds thickened, dimming the sunlight around them.
Odelm’s tentacles twitched, yearning to pull his nestqueen close and comfort her at her most dire time of need. He was afraid to touch her, not because of what his nestmates might think, but because he was afraid his advances would be rejected, especially in public.
Agony. Confusion. Stress.
Those were the emotions she cycled through, though she appeared calm to the world around her. He knew better. She wore a mask of strength to show her cubs and the Aldawi that she wasn’t weak—that she was fit to mate a prince.
She had chosen to wear a formal outfit similar to the one she had worn to face the Assembly, and now he understood why. Judging by the grace she radiated, outsiders and onlookers would think she was a born ruler.
She stood proudly with her head held high, her silver hair braided to look like a metallic crown sitting upon her head. The sun reflected off her simple jewelry, paired with a fitted black dress suit detailed in Royal Aldawi colors and equipped with a cape and heeled boots.
Selena was a force to be reckoned with.
He was almost afraid to watch her face off with someone, especially with Kaede by her side. Those two complemented each other in
unimaginable ways. He didn’t understand why they had such a difficult time getting along. Whenever a problem arose, they instantly sought each other’s help to overcome the difficulty. There were moments when they got along so well it seemed as if one might just give in and confess...
Until Kaede said or did something that resulted in an argument and he disappeared.
A part of Odelm wished that they would just communicate their feelings and decide to be together. He didn’t know how he felt about Kaede joining the clan before he became Second. Perhaps Selena would give the Circuli position to another, which made his mistake seem that much worse.
She may never offer him the position again.
“You need to correct this, nestbrother,” Xylo urged. “Your misjudgment has sewn doubt in our nestqueen, and I’m afraid it will create more damage the longer it stews.”
He flicked his gaze to the scholar. “What do you think I should do? As soon as Masmi leaves with our cubs, we are taking off for Nerawn. Even on the older shuttle, we should arrive before dinner.”
“This is all true,” Xylo agreed, his attention drawn by a dark spot in the sky. “It seems our cub-sitter is here.”
They watched as the personal cruiser descended. The pilot showed off by approaching the landing dock at an alarming speed and skidding to a stop just in time. Odelm noticed that even the dockworkers halted to stare at the ship’s sleek beauty. Zirene must adore his sister because the cruiser appeared newer than the official Aldawi flagship. He didn’t know if the gift was an intentional display of power to spite the Sovereign, but from the outside, it was clear who had the more powerful ship.
There was no way Masmi would lose a star battle. Even in a head-on shoot out, their forces outnumbered the officials and guards who had been sent to collect his clan.
The ramp lowered, revealing a single female Aldawi. If Kaede hadn’t warned him about the harsh punishment her sire had inflicted upon her, Odelm would’ve thought she was a warrior showing her battle scars proudly. Despite her status as a full-blooded royal, Zirene’s sister was scarred from head to toe. Without the missing half ear and the jagged claw marks crisscrossing her bare stomach, she would have been a desirable mate, especially since her coloring was a perfect blend of Royak and Zirene, proving she belonged to the royal line.
The Aldawi Sovereign had wanted to make sure she looked too repulsive for any male to mate with her during her heat. Unfortunately for him, the Stars felt differently and had given her two litters of cubs.
Dressed in a fabric similar to the nightgowns Selena loved, she wore a feminine combination of a bikini and a loincloth, with a crisscross top equipped with a caped hood. Odelm remembered that she hailed from a desert planet, where they dealt with the scorching sun and high winds that created sandstorms. It made sense for her to wear thinner clothes that still had enough fabric to cover her mouth from the strong gusts.
The Aldawi princess headed straight for Selena. Odelm felt the urge to push her and their cubs behind him before he caught the bright smile on her face. He had to keep reminding himself that Kaede trusted this female enough to give her their cubs.
Instead of a salute or one of the handshakes that Selena loved so much, Masmi gave Selena an enormous hug, wrapping her arms around his nestqueen and pulling her close against her chest.
“It’s nice to finally meet you in the flesh,” Masmi beamed. “I wish we could meet under happier circumstances, but there’s always next time.”
“I’m glad to meet you too, finally,” Selena replied, patting the princess’s back. As a female Aldawi, Masmi was far taller than Selena, built sleeker than her brothers. “I hope next time we will be able to spend more time together.”
Masmi released her embrace, her striped tail flicking in agitation as she took in the gathered crowd. She pulled back her lips and hissed at the Aldawi flagship one docking spot over.
Odelm flinched. He’d thought Zirene’s hiss had been loud on the space station, but his sister’s was sharper, and its high pitch made his tentacles shiver.
“They better be afraid,” she taunted, still baring her fangs in that direction, her tail jerking crazily. “Forcing a female—no matter what species—to separate from her offspring to protect them is unforgivable.” She wrapped an arm around Selena, pulling her in. “Have no fear, sister. I will rip out the neck of anyone who tries to take your cubs from me. My daughters will, too.”
“Thank you,” Selena breathed. “You don’t know how hard this is for me. First Zirene, and now this?”
“Not to cut this short,” Kaede interjected, stepping between the gathered females and the neighboring ship, “but we need to get going. Unless you want the males you just taunted to figure out what’s happening and pick a fight.”
“You’re right,” Masmi sighed, grabbing Selena’s shoulders and locking her mauve eyes with hers. “Sister, don’t hesitate to page me if you ever want to talk to your cubs. Kaede can get past the palace blocks, and I will answer right away. I’m hoping this will be a short rendezvous so that you can return with Zirene to your normal lives.”
She gave her a quick shake. “Whatever you do, never turn your back on the Sovereign. Avert your gaze, stare at his feet, but don’t lose track of him. He enjoys taunting his prey, but as long as you don’t meet his eyes and show no fear, you should be fine. If my brothers know what’s good for them, they will prevent you from becoming our father’s next toy.”
“Toy?” Xylo asked, stepping up to place a hand on Selena’s back. “What do you mean, ‘toy?’”
Odelm followed Masmi’s glance at the flagship, checking to see if anyone was coming to collect them. Satisfied, she regarded the clan’s Primary. “My sire likes playing mind games with his guests, especially those who are escorted to the palace. He summoned your clan even after Zirene complied, which means he has something planned. Showing up without the cubs will only anger him.”
“I refuse to allow him to corrupt my cubs, Masmi,” Selena seethed as she watched the three cubs playing with Pavryn. “I don’t care how powerful he is; they’ve been through enough.”
“I know, sister.” She squeezed her shoulders and stepped away. “I know.”
“It’s time for them to leave for Liskta, Selena,” Kaede announced. “Say your goodbyes. The sooner they leave Destima, the safer they will be.”
Sucking in a breath, she nodded.
Odelm watched as she knelt on the ground and called over her cubs. The three instantly climbed off Pavryn and ran over to their mother on all fours, tackling her into a hug.
A strong wave of emotions bombarded Odelm, forcing him to take a step back.
Grief. Sadness. Determination.
Was this how it felt to have children? Had Selena carried this fear and separation anxiety within her for all this time?
It was a strange feeling, something he’d only gotten a glimpse of at the space station. At this moment, Selena’s overwhelming motherly love drove him to protect the cubs the way he protected her.
Circuli didn’t indulge in such strong protectiveness for their children. Favored nestmates blessed with successfully impregnating their nestqueen didn’t care about the offspring as much as holding the title of father. Circuli nestqueens only carried their eggs for three days before laying them in a hatchery. After that, most of the community didn’t come back to claim their offspring. A few, with prestigious businesses or connected to royalty, would come back a year later to claim their children and maintain their privileged bloodlines.
Just as nestqueens didn’t care about males who weren’t Favored, the clan didn’t care about any offspring they created during a mating cycle. It was all about reproduction, not the protection of the ones they conceived.
“I want you three to promise me something,” Selena said in a soothing voice.
“Yes, Ma?” Meti answered, tilting her head.
“The three of you are going to go with Mentor Pavryn and stay at your aunt Masmi’s house for a while.” She licked he
r lips, trying to calm down. Odelm assisted by sending waves of serenity through their bond in hopes of helping her remain calm. “Your Clan Fathers and I need to go bring your sire home, and while we take care of that, we need you to be good for Pavryn and Masmi. Can you do that for me?”
Nocrez nodded, his head flopping uncontrollably, oversized compared to the rest of his body. The cubs’ growth spurt had resulted in some oddly proportioned body parts as the rest tried to keep up.
Neazzos rubbed Selena’s cape against his cheek. “Pavryn promised us some new hunting grounds.”
Selena raised an eyebrow at the male, who raised his paws in defense.
“I told them that we’re going on a hunting adventure since I can’t take them fishing as I promised.”
Selena rolled her eyes and nodded at her son, smiling. “Yes, dear. You three get to go hunting in new territory on Masmi’s planet. I’m expecting you to bring back lots of food for me, okay?”
Meti leaped and hugged Selena. “I will get the biggest and best prey for you!”
“No, I will!” the twins replied in unison. “We will!”
Meti glared at her twin brothers with amethyst eyes like her sire’s. “I always win because I’m the best!”
“But there are two of us!” Nocrez replied.
Neazzos dropped Selena’s cape, his bushy-ended tail swaying wildly. “What do we get if we win?”
Selena shot Masmi a panicked look, who bent over and smiled. “If you win, you get some of my famous candy. Maybe you’ll get to try my new flavor before Kaede does!”
“Candy?” Xylo asked in shock. “Really?”
Masmi shrugged. “Cubs love candy. You can tell because Kaede can’t get enough of it.”
“It’s not my fault your candy is addicting,” Kaede protested. “Plus, who else will tell you the truth about how they taste?”
Nocrez walked over to Masmi and yanked on her cape. “When can we get candy?”
Masmi looked to Selena, who closed her eyes and nodded. “You can get candy as soon as you say goodbye to your mother and we reach my planet. Then I can show you how we make it!”