Project: Adapt - Achieve: A Space Fantasy Alien Romance (Book 2)

by Jade Waltz

  “So, the Destiny would be no more?”

  “Exactly.”

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  Selena

  Dinner wasn’t as smooth as I hoped it would be, but overall, after a few awkward moments of silence, everyone got along.

  It still shocked me that the Destiny was about to go on its last voyage. It made me sad—the ship that rescued me would no longer exist.

  Everyone thanked Mwe and Oeta for having them over for dinner before exiting his apartment. I straggled behind, needing to speak one more time to the male who helped me gain my freedom.

  “When will I see you again?”

  He tilted his head toward Oeta and wrapped an arm around her, pulling her closer to him as their wings pressed against each other. “I will escort Oeta to Zirene’s ship to say my goodbyes and watch you on your journey.”

  “And after that?”

  His eyes locked onto mine. “I will make time to take the vacation I am owed and visit this Destima of yours.”

  “How will I be able to contact you?”

  He gently shook Oeta. “I will have her give you my contact information. Before you go, I will teach you how to send your mental thread out, which will allow you to reach out to me and hail me whenever you are in the CEG HQ space.”

  “Really?”

  “Selena,” Oeta sighed, grabbing my hand. “It will take a lot of energy from you, which is why my father didn’t want to do it here in front of your crowd. Your nestmates will appreciate if my father taught you in the comforts of your assigned cabin on Zirene’s ship, so you can sleep right after.”

  “But that means I won’t be able to say goodbye to you,” I said to Mwe.

  “Being able to use this basic ability will be worth it,” he said. “It is my gift to you. We will see each other soon enough. You are an important person in the galaxy, Selena.”

  Rolling my eyes, I let out a huff. “That is what everyone keeps saying.”

  “I know, but it is true.” He gave me a gentle smile. “Just because you don’t want to hear it, doesn’t mean it isn’t true. I hope Oeta and your research team come up with a solution. The sooner it happens, the easier it will be for you.”

  “That may be the case,” I sighed, “but it doesn’t mean I like it.”

  “Father, leave her be. Let her spend the Circuli princes' last moments on the space station together. You can continue this boring conversation over the communicator if you must.”

  “You are right, Oeta.” He grimaced. “Selena, I will see you again soon.”

  The lift doors opened, revealing the busy common docks of the Aldawi Empire. Workers rushed by on their hovercrafts to their next job, and ship crew loaded or unloaded their supplies as civilians lingered out of the way of travelers.

  A loud hum filled the air as a strong foreign smell assaulted me. I rubbed my nose on my shoulder, trying to get rid of the horrid scent.

  Both Circuli princes laughed as their appendages gave me a reassuring squeeze along my torso. Since this was my last moment with them, I walked between my newest nestmates, knowing the next five days would be hard on them.

  “You will get used it the more you travel,” Z’fir chuckled.

  “Are you saying you are willing to take me with you as you travel the stars?”

  Z’fir glanced at Zirene, who was watching our exchange.

  “Perhaps, when things settle down, you can go along their rounds once in a while.”

  A loud screech of excitement escaped my lips before I could control myself. I covered my mouth, my face heating from embarrassment as everyone in hearing range stared at me.

  Way to be subtle.

  “I figured you would want to spend time on your moon before going on any adventures,” Zirene said. “You have a lot to develop before things settle down.”

  “Zirene is right. You should focus on relaxing and helping to form your vision for Destima before you go on any journeys,” Odelm voiced.

  I sighed. They were right, but at least I knew I had the option when it was time.

  Glancing at our surroundings, I searched for the Destiny.

  Ships in a variety of shapes and sizes filled the hanger, yet they all had one thing in common—each wielded a purple and silver stripe with large black lettering lining the side.

  “That is their registration stripe. It indicates the ships’ names and what territory they serve,” Xylo explained.

  “Where is the Destiny?” While the ships were impressive, they were tiny compared to the size I estimated the Destiny should be. Most of the vessels would easily fit inside its terrarium.

  “The larger shuttles have their own section of the hanger. A few are too large to dock, so they need to connect via tunnel hubs,” Zirene explained. “Destiny is docked in the Aldawi’s Royal Docking Lobby alongside Royak’s Hope and my Glorious.”

  He led us to pass along the side of the wall, through a door with guards stationed at the entrance into a highly decorative hallway. A pair of guards scrambled to attention when they first saw us rounding the corner next to a black and purple door with Aldawi’s symbol in silver. The doors opened, revealing the Aldawi’s Royal Docking Lobby, where Zirene and I marked each other.

  It was nearly empty. I assumed it was because all three shuttles were about to leave, so those in the lobby were either stragglers or staying behind.

  Two similarly styled black ships caught my eye outside the glass wall. They were sleek in design and only slightly larger than those in the busy common docks but had the same purple and silver stripe the other ships had.

  They were dwarfed by the silver domed colony ship next to them. I could make out each of the residential floors as it surrounded the terrarium with its large hanger and engines behind it. It was beautiful even though I could see its age with all the patchwork on its sides.

  “That is the Destiny?”

  Multiple confirmations sounded behind me.

  In silence, I studied the ship that brought me here, engraving it in memory.

  “It is time for us to go, Selena,” Z’fir said, his voice gentle.

  “Really?” I asked, glancing at both males.

  “Yes. We need to report to the bridge and make sure everyone is accounted for,” V’dim explained.

  “Can I at least walk you to the docking tunnel doors?”

  They both nodded.

  I wrapped my arms around each male as they led me to the nearest door. Pushing down the sadness threatening to surface, I grabbed Z’fir’s face with both hands. His dark brown scale-like skin looked good against my own bronze hands as I pulled his head down mine.

  “Be safe.” I closed my eyes and kissed him, sending all my thoughts and well wishes to him. He shivered in my hands as I ended the sweet kiss, opening my eyes to see his emerald pupilless ones locked onto mine.

  “Thank you,” he murmured.

  I nodded as I let go of him, and turned toward V’dim, surprised he had moved and was nearly pressed against my back. His turquoise eyes searched mine as I faced him as if asking—wanting—to be kissed too.

  Stepping onto my toes, I gave him a gentle kiss, feeling his coolness on my lips.

  “Return to me.”

  Suddenly, I was sandwiched between both Circuli princes, their appendages wrapping us together as each male pressed against me, holding me close.

  “We will come back to you, Selena.”

  “You are our nestqueen. There is no place we would rather be.”

  “When we reunite, I shall claim you both and ease any torment you may be facing. I will be waiting.”

  They gave me one last squeeze before slowly untangling themselves from me. I watched them as they said their goodbyes to the rest of the group traveling on the Glorious, then entered Destiny’s docking tunnel.

  Before the doors shut, they both glanced back at me, but I refused to cry.

  These males may have been bound to me for political reasons, but that didn’t mean I didn’t care for them. They we
re friends and allies on the Destiny and deserved everything I could do to help them.

  Xylo and Odelm held me in silence as we watched the Destiny slowly disappear while the others boarded the Glorious.

  I felt like a tiny part of me was leaving with them.

  The halls of the Glorious were as sleek as it appeared outside. All the edges had a line of different colored lights that brightened with each step we took. Another set of doors opened, revealing the ship’s bridge.

  A real bridge.

  Three Aldawi males, dressed in dark gray, sat at their stations, facing the open glass wall, focused on their takeoff routine. One desk behind them remained empty with its projected screens displayed. A large throne sat across from it against the wall, facing the whole room.

  Royak and Zirene were speaking with a tan Aldawi male, standing next to the display table in the center of the room. He appeared much older than the other males, graying along his edges and dressed in a silver kilt suit similar to both princes. The three looked up from their charts as Xylo and Odelm led me closer.

  “What is a female doing on my bridge?” the older male hissed as his amber eyes hardened.

  Halting in our tracks, Xylo and Odelm unwrapped their appendages in a defensive stance in front of me.

  Zirene and Royak growled in reply, their stances aggressive as they turned toward the older male.

  “That female is my Seedbearer and mate, Captain. Selena is welcome anywhere on this ship. If you have a problem with that, you can get your nearly retired frax off my ship,” Zirene snarled.

  The captain’s body trembled, his face wincing in pain as he gripped the table.

  “But she—”

  “I warned all of you about who I was picking up before we left and gave you the option to transfer. None of you did.” Zirene snarled, eyeing the others in the room. “This isn’t up for debate. Accept it and respect her or leave.”

  The three workers saluted and nodded as the captain straightened, his tail flipping aggressively. The older male turned toward Royak, avoiding Zirene’s stare.

  “Surely, you agree with me, Sire. Prince Zirene is out of line.”

  Royak chuckled. “No, you are. I agree with him.”

  Frustration settled at the realization he didn’t have an ally in the room.

  “I believe you both are making a grave mistake.”

  “No, you are,” Royak replied.

  “Agent Kaede, please escort this unwanted captain off my ship. He isn’t to be allowed in my fleet or Prince Royak’s. Transfer his status to the available restricted military roster, and perhaps, our brother will take him.”

  Kaede shimmered into existence behind the captain with one of his pistols drawn.

  “Lead on,” he barked.

  The captain saluted. “You know where I will be once you realize your mistake.”

  “The only mistake I made was allowing you on my ship with your history. Change is happening; don’t get lost in the past. If you can’t handle that, then retire.”

  The room watched as Kaede escorted the male, unfazed by what had happened.

  Was Kaede so feared by the CEG that the captain didn’t try to resist? Or had the captain’s stale beliefs finally caught up with him?

  Xylo and Odelm kept their defensive stance until the pair went through the doors. I reached out and gripped one of their appendages, connecting to them through our golden threads.

  “It’s okay, loves. He is gone and won’t be able to hurt me.”

  “Loves?” they both responded at the same time, their voices confused.

  “Yes, loves.” I pulled the males closer to me, forcing them to relax beside me as they wrapped their appendages around my wrists and the rest returned to their defensive position. “I wanted to test a nickname, a title for you both to see how it sounded. I love you both, yet calling you my nestmates while it’s the same title both princes share… feels unfair to you.”

  “I thought you didn’t want to have Favored… or to play favorites. Naming us loves will do that,” Xylo explained.

  “I thought it would be my way to say I love you—to both of you—but with fewer words…”

  “No… stop, Selena. I like it. If that is what you want to call me, go ahead.” He pulled me closer to him as if he was trying to protect me from Xylo.

  “You are right.” Xylo leaned closer to me, filling the newly open space between us. “I am sorry. Forgive me.”

  “Do we need to find a nickname for you?” Odelm asked, searching my gaze as he brushed my hair away from my face.

  The offer was sweet—but was it necessary? No, not really. I was theirs as they were mine, and that was what mattered.

  “I am sorry you had to witness that, Selena. I had hoped he would have learned to keep his opinions to himself until he retired, but it seems that was not the case.” Zirene turned and addressed the trio of workers staring at us. “If I were you, I would learn from his mistakes, or you will be looking for work elsewhere with him soon enough.”

  The three nodded and scrambled back to their stations.

  His apology brought me to the present as both Aldawi princes studied me. Was he worried because of my silent exchange?

  “And with that, I will take my leave,” Royak announced. “I will make my rounds, then board the Hope for my own star system.” He stuck out his paw to Zirene, and he grabbed it. They smiled and shook their enclosed paws and pulled each other into a hug. “I will miss you, brother. It has been fun. Let me know when you want to do something like this again.”

  Zirene chuckled as he pulled away and patted Royak on his shoulder.

  “I hate to disappoint you, but I don’t want to go through this ever again.”

  “Agreed. Let’s skip the Assembly part.”

  By the time Zirene led us to our cabin, the cubs were already in bed. Mwe and Oeta were sitting on a couch in our lounge, waiting for me while everyone else was in their own assigned private cabins.

  “Shouldn’t you be somewhere else, Chamber Master?” Zirene hissed.

  “Don’t worry, Prince Zirene. I will be on my way after I teach Selena as I promised her.” He stood and stretched his wings. “Then, I will go back to defending CEG and the space station from injustice.”

  “Zirene, please,” I begged. “Just let him teach me, then we can be on our way.”

  He glanced between Mwe and me, tail flipping wildly behind him.

  “Fine,” he hissed. “I will be on the bridge.” He eyed Mwe. “Let me know when you are off my ship.” He turned and left my cabin in a hurry, as if he couldn’t stand being in the same room as Mwe.

  “It is because we did not see eye to eye on how to handle the Yaarkins when they first arrived in our galaxy. We have come to terms, but he feels threatened around other males similar in power—other than his littermate, Royak.”

  “I hate when you do that,” I mumbled.

  “We cannot help it,” Oeta said. “I am sure the Circuli princes can explain it better if you ask them.”

  “Where their constant connections are limited to the net they have with their crewmen, ours touch every intelligent being within our range. We can shield them or accept them—with my job, I often forget to shield myself from others when I am not working.”

  “It is true,” Xylo said. “It’s harder to shield ourselves for long periods of time… which is why the princes have been able to control themselves fairly well around you as they fight their natural biological urges to coax you into completing the bond.” He faced me, brushing my hair back as he stared deeply into my eyes. “Selena, your soul is beautiful, and your mind is amazing. Not only does it protect you, it protects those who are tied with you.”

  “But I am just—”

  “A blessing from the Stars,” Odelm murmured as he pressed against my back.

  “Change won’t happen overnight. Do not let that captain or any other dimwit tell you differently. They are stuck in the past—which is the reason the Yaarkins were capable of do
ing as much damage as they did,” Mwe explained.

  “I wasn’t strong enough—”

  “You will be. If not, you will at least be able to prevent them from harming you.”

  Closing my eyes, I leaned into his hand, letting out a deep sigh.

  “Let’s do this,” I smirked at Mwe. “Before Zirene comes back and has Kaede lead you off the ship too.”

  As Oeta led us past the cubs’ room, I paused and peered in from their doorway, watching as they slept curled up together. Knowing they were safe and sound, I carefully closed their door and turned to Mwe, Oeta, Xylo, and Odelm, watching me with smiles on their faces.

  “What?”

  “Your cubs are being taken care of, Selena. You have nothing to worry about,” Oeta whispered.

  “I just wanted…”

  “They are fine. You can spend more time with them once we settle on Destima,” Xylo breathed.

  “This way, Selena.”

  I followed Oeta into the room next door. It was small and housed a black bed large enough for six, leaned up against the far wall. A chest and a couch were the only other furniture pieces.

  “So, how do we do this?”

  “We have little time left, so I will need you to lie on your bed. Your nestmates can join you with the lack of space in here,” Mwe directed.

  The three of us hurriedly followed his directions. They both faced me, wrapping their appendages around me, giving me their comfort and support.

  “Okay, Selena. Close your eyes and calm your thoughts,” Mwe directed. Once I did, he continued, “You are a shielder, which means until someone touches your mental shields with their mental thread, you will most likely not be able to reach out to them. This is because your walls naturally remember those unique signatures of the mental threads you allowed inside your shield. Your walls will only accept those familiar to you. At least, that is how the few other shielder species’ minds work,” he hummed. “Have you ever been able to see mental threads? Before or after you joined with any of your nestmates?”