by Jade Waltz
Silently, I strode to the middle of her room and studied the objects scattered around the space while she used the lavatory. Her bed wasn’t the traditional shape of a nestbed, but its massive size suited us perfectly.
If Usthu gathered the courage to flout our species’ traditions and ask her to be his nestqueen, then we would need a larger bed, or he and I would need to pool our resources and request that Symi install a traditional nestbed in the largest guest room available in the villa.
My nestqueen deserved the best, even if that meant speaking with Sovereign Zirene about building an apartment for her.
She had spent all of these years protecting the galaxy from evil, and now she needed someone to guard her very soul. I would be her mental warrior, helping her battle her insecurities and dark thoughts.
“Time for bed?”
Instantly, I followed our strengthening courting thread to where she stood near the bed, now freshly dressed in a lacey nightgown.
“I’m ready when you are.”
She gave me a shy smile, pulling back the comforter. “What side of the bed do you usually sleep on?” Her cheeks burned pink as she eyed the sheets underneath. “I can sleep on either side.”
“Whatever side you don’t like.”
I wasn’t going to tell her what side I preferred to sleep on. This was her bed, and she was the one who would dictate the sleeping arrangements.
Following her lead, I climbed into bed and cursed myself for failing to anticipate the awkwardness that had settled between us.
As if she had read my mind, Kaica scooted closer and guided my arm to wrap around her. Laying her head on my chest, she wrapped a leg over my waist, dodging the sharp edges of my blades.
The room’s lights turned off as a sense of calm fell upon us.
“Thank you for everything, Kaica,” I whispered to her, speaking mentally for the first time. “I will prove myself worthy of a nestqueen like you.”
Eleven
USTHU
Oeta had told me I needed to allow Chyox to speak with Kaica alone, but she hadn’t explained why. I had feared that if I didn’t apologize before she went to bed, she may never forgive me and I would forever lose the chance to make her my nestqueen. But Oeta had insisted I needed to wait, to allow emotions to settle and try to speak with her first thing in the morning.
So that was what I had decided to do.
I had stayed up all night going over the notes I’d taken when Kaica told us what females enjoyed and how to attract a nestqueen. At the time, I had thought she was fabricating things but Xylo had confirmed that Selena had loved all her private outings with her mates and enjoyed the gifts they had given her.
If it had worked for Xylo and his established nestqueen, then it could work for me.
At least, that was what I kept telling myself, even after I had confirmed my theory with Oeta personally during her night shift in the infirmary. Why would Kaica tell us about courting customs if she didn’t like them herself? She wouldn’t advise us to try something offensive.
Would she?
Kaica wasn’t Wudox, so she wouldn’t recognize a taboo in our culture. For example, she couldn’t know how giving a plant—dead or alive—to a Wudox as a gift could be considered a threat. An unrooted dead plant left at one’s doorstep meant someone wished harm upon the clan. If the same number of plants had been killed as members of the clan, then the message was considered a death threat. A clan receiving such a token had upset someone of great importance, such as a Queen.
This was the reason why I didn’t want to give Kaica cut flowers as a gift, as she had suggested. Instead, I hoped she would appreciate the alternative I had chosen.
I had spoken with Symi as the first sun was beginning to peek above the horizon and she helped me gather everything that I would need. I had requested the villa’s chef make me a tray of sweetened, sliced fruits with dips while Symi and I ventured into the backyard's garden in search of an exotic flower.
I had sent a prayer to the Stars and Fates above before I plucked a seedpod from a shimmering white flower that reminded me of Kaica’s hair. When we returned to the villa, Symi had found a fancy clay pitcher and helped me gather the soil I needed to plant the flower’s seedpod.
With my gifts in hand, I approached the room Symi had told me was Kaica’s and pressed the call button with a vine. The twin suns had dawned but our shifts didn’t start for a few hours. I hoped I had enough time to explain myself and ask her to be mine.
The door slid open, revealing a sleepy Kaica in a black robe.
“May I help you?” She rubbed her eyes, blinking a few times before glancing at my gifts with awake alertness. “Did something happen?”
My mouth dried as it dropped open. I was speechless.
The beginnings of a new courting bond thread lead from her to someone deeper inside her room.
It all made sense now.
Oeta hadn’t wanted me to come here last night because Chyox had arrived first and been claimed as a nestmate.
Defeated, I handed over what I had brought.
“I wanted you to have this as an apology for what happened yesterday.”
“Okay…” She grabbed the pitcher from my hand and inspected it. “What is this?”
“I planted the seed of a flower I found that reminded me of you when it blooms, hoping you would enjoy watching it grow.”
“What a thoughtful gift. Thank you.” She tilted her head, studying me. “But I believe this is quite particular coming from you. Circuli don’t give gifts, nor are males naturally this forward, so tell me exactly why you’re here.”
“It doesn’t matter anymore.”
“It doesn’t?” She gave me a soft smile. “I think it does, but you are afraid to tell me… Which seems to be a common trait among Circuli males.”
I flinched at her offhand comment. It wasn’t my intention to upset her more than I already had.
“I’ve studied your species’ mating practices and the notes I took from your lessons, hoping to show you how sorry I am for the things I’ve done—or in this case, didn’t do—and how much I appreciate you.” Sighing, I looked away to avoid her reaction. “I came here because I wanted to ask you to be my nestqueen… but it seems like I may be too late, so I understand if you reject my advances.”
“I don’t know what to say, nor whether to be confused or flattered.” Suddenly, the fruit tray was lifted out of my hand, pulling my attention back to her. Kaica turned around. “Chyox, can you please take this from me? I need to have a private word with Usthu.”
In a few moments, Chyox appeared, Kaica’s new courting thread leading straight to him. His violet gaze met mine and he nodded as he grabbed the tray from his new nestqueen’s hands.
“May the Stars bless you.”
Before I could reply, Kaica took my hands in hers and led me to the room next door. Releasing her grip, she walked over to the drink dispenser and ordered two green-colored teas. Handing one to me, she sat down on the couch and took a whiff of the steam.
“Let’s discuss this as mature adults and not waste each other’s precious time by denying the truth. I am not angry or upset with you, but I want you to tell me why you want me to be your nestqueen.”
Sitting across from her, I placed the drink on the table, afraid my shaking hands might drop the cup accidentally. I didn’t expect her to be so forward and blunt about this, but I should have anticipated she would want to approach this as two healers would.
“Is it even worth an explanation?” I flicked my gaze toward the wall this room shared with her bedroom. “Aren’t you going to reject me?”
Her lips pursed and she took a sip, studying me with an intense stare as if she hoped the drink would calm her.
“First off, I never said that. I led you in here to talk about our relationship. I was hoping to spare you the embarrassment of speaking in front of Chyox since you both always seem so nervous when talking to me.” She shrugged. “I don’t understand why. I’ve
never threatened either of you with my ‘deadly skills’ to get what I want.” She shook her head and waved me off. “Never mind that. I simply figured you would rather have this discussion in the private comfort of a sitting area than in the hallway where anyone could potentially overhear.”
“So you aren’t rejecting me?”
“As I said, tell me why you want me as your nestqueen. I’ve heard about the permanent connection between a Circuli male and his nestqueen, and some of the things I have been told as of late have alarmed me. I have been hesitant because I didn’t want to be the reason why the courting bond didn’t work out and have any Circuli male have to live a miserable life that Odelm explained to me, forever broken and considered tainted amongst your species peers. Mainly, I would take on the responsibility of knowing that if something happens to me, my males’ lives would be in danger too. We are seeing this now with Selena and her mates.”
“You accepted Chyox, so you must not be entirely opposed to the idea.”
“I believe what is going on between me and Chyox is none of your business. He fully accepted the risk of being my nestmate and I welcome his presence.”
“How can I convince you to accept mine? I’ve done everything you said females liked, including giving you a gift my kind would consider taboo if they heard!”
“Taboo?” She frowned in confusion. “What the Stars are you talking about?”
“The plant—”
“Was a sweet gesture.”
“But to the Circuli, especially the Wudox, giving a plant as a gift is considered a gesture of ill will.”
Leaning forward between her legs, she covered her face with both hands as a burst of roaring laughter filled the air.
“Wait...” she gasped, slapping her knee as water drops—which I had learned were normal for demihumans—formed at the edges of her eyes. “You’re telling me that the whole time I was telling the males in the research team to offer a female a bouquet of flowers, you thought I was trying to trick you?”
“How else could I explain it?” I mumbled, feeling more embarrassed now than I would have felt if we had continued this talk in front of Chyox. At least he would have supported my claim. “You spoke of many bizarre things that I would have never fathomed doing.”
Wiping her eyes, she grabbed my hand as she bit her bottom lip, a gesture Kaica did whenever she thought too hard before speaking.
“No, you are right. I am sorry for laughing at you. It’s just I haven’t laughed that hard in a long time. I can’t remember the last time I laughed so hard, so thank you for that. Though I wish you guys would address your questions about our differences in customs with me.”
Rubbing her thumb over the back of my hand, she tilted her head to the side as her excited green and pleased violet hair cascaded over her shoulder, creating a curtain of striped color that highlighted the scales on her face.
“Let’s start over,” she began, her voice failing to hide the mirth radiating from her. “I am going to ask you a few questions, and I want you to be truthful with me. Becoming your nestqueen is a serious life decision. If—or when—I form a courting bond with you, I will never go back. I’ve seen through Odelm how much the bond alters and warps your whole… being.”
“Ask me anything,” I murmured, gently shaking her hand. “I am willing to tell you anything you need to know.”
“You know about our research and have seen my family’s medical records. You know all demihumans suffer from fertility problems. If we can’t come up with a solution, can you accept that I may not be able to produce offspring?”
“It wouldn’t matter to me if you somehow stopped going into your heat cycle. I’ve already wondered how we will keep you satisfied now, since they happen every moon.”
“Seriously?” she snorted. “Your sole concern is my pleasure and how often I will go into heat?”
“Kaica,” I drawled, allowing her name to hang in the air. “You know Circuli males are biologically wired to do whatever it takes to please our nestqueen. We only mate to reproduce, and it’s an honor to be given the opportunity. Your demihuman ways go against our instincts.”
“So, you don’t resent that you’ll never have a chance to reproduce?”
“I am without a nestqueen now, aren’t I?” I chuckled. “It’s not like I can spread my seed to any willing female I encounter.”
“That’s true,” she giggled, her laughter fading as her face sobered. “But why would you want me to be your nestqueen if I’m so different from Circuli females and even my own kind?”
“Honestly…” I sighed, locking my eyes with hers. “You have an allure I can’t explain. Something about you demands my attention whenever you enter the room. At first, I thought my curiosity might be getting the best of me; I wanted to know more about your personality and your species. The more time I spent working alongside you, the more I wondered why I had never searched for a nestqueen like you. Over time, I realized it wouldn’t satisfy me to find someone like you when, in reality, all I wanted was you.
“I want to know how your mind works, what you think about when you bite your lip, and just how dangerous your mind is compared to your blade work.
“You may be a special agent summoned to aid your siblings in top-secret missions, but let me be your support while you are on your long missions and when you return home. While Chyox can ease our emotions and soothe you, I want to chase your dark thoughts away. Allow me to join your clan, and I will be the best nestbrother and nestmate you could ever ask for. I do not need to be Favored; I just want you to be my nestqueen, nothing else.”
Suddenly, her lips were on mine.
Dropping my hand, she gripped my face and straddled me as my back slammed against the back of the couch. My vines came alive, unraveling to wrap around her body and prevent her from falling backward. Lost in the sensations radiating from her, my hands moved along her sides with a mind of their own.
A moan escaped her as she nibbled along my lips. I gasped, for I had never felt someone attempt to eat my mouth.
Had my moss triggered an urge within her to have me for her next meal? I knew my pollen was an aphrodisiac to nestqueens, but I had never thought it would make her this aggressive.
Her tongue took advantage of my confusion to dive in, curling around my own.
Closing my eyes, I relaxed, gave in to her demands, and allowed her to do with me as she deemed fit.
Moaning, she ground her hips onto my waist petals as her nails dug into my face. I accepted the slight pain. She was claiming me as her nestmate and I would endure any claw marks if they were all it took to become hers.
My hands found her ass cheeks as a pop filled my mind.
Instantly, the rush of her thoughts swirled through to me as our light-blue courting bond solidified, attaching my violet mental shield to her light-blue one.
Pulling away, I pressed my forehead to hers and stared into her wondrous eyes.
“Thank you, Kaica,” I pathed, using our connection for the first time. “You honor me.”
Twelve
KAICA
Walking into the infirmary with an appendage wrapped around each wrist, I was surprised how uplifted and special I felt.
Was this giddiness the product of my nestmate bonds or the experience of something foreign and new?
No wonder Selena enjoyed having her nestmates’ appendages loosely entangled around her limbs, giving her light touches in passing.
The subtlety of the gesture expressed more than words could. As if they were saying, We are here for you.
They wanted me for who I was, disregarding my demihuman nature, my color-changing hair, and the scales along my sides. My past experiences only added to my allure.
“Congratulations on your bonding,” Z’fir said, giving us a sad smile that didn’t meet his dimmed eyes. “I am happy to see you three settle your differences.”
“Even though I didn’t expect you to come together, it is nice to start the day with joyful news,” V’d
im added, sitting beside his nestbrother.
I was surprised to see the infirmary’s lobby filled with the villa’s entire medical staff, the princes, and our patients’ fathers all crammed into the sitting area. I had never seen the spacious room filled up before, at least not on my watch.
We were the last ones to arrive. An uncomfortable feeling started to form at the bottom of my stomach when I took in everyone’s expressions. Had I forgotten something important that was supposed to happen today?
“What’s the occasion?” I asked, searching the occupants’ faces for an answer.
“We are here to determine Odelm and Xylo’s future,” Oeta replied, with her arms crossed as she leaned against the door frame. “And how we should move forward.”
“What are you suggesting we do?”
“We have three options. Either we leave them in their current condition or we use two of the cryopods that the Sovereign has provided for us.”
“And the third option?”
Oeta sighed, turning her attention to the six males sitting in pairs on the lobby’s couches.
“It has been suggested that we could try using two of the orbs Kaede once used to heal Selena,” Z’fir replied. “Agent Qraniebi explained the miracle recovery he witnessed before Kaede was forced to send her away.”
“We are hoping that perhaps we could replicate that miracle with careful consideration,” V’dim added. “If we could heal their wounds, then maybe they will have a better chance of fighting the decay as we wait for Selena’s return.”
“And who’s in favor of this?” I hissed, surveying the room. “Which one of you came up with this asinine idea?”
Both of Odelm’s fathers squirmed under my heated glare, unable to look me directly in my eyes.
“So, tell me why the two of you, with no medical background, are willing to risk your son’s already precarious health?”
“Selena’s necklace created a stir among the rare collectors on the space station. We’ve heard rumors about their power, which were confirmed by the stories the princes told us about what the gems are used for throughout Destima. If it worked for Selena, then it has to work for them too.”