Scaled Heart: A SciFi Alien Romance (Project: F5 Book 2) Jade Waltz (good books for high schoolers .txt) 📖

you offer to have the cryopods moved here?” Chyox asked, curiosity lacing his voice. “Wouldn’t that be easier for you?”

“First,” I replied, lifting my hand with only my index finger. “If I offered to have the pods relocated, then I would have to drain each one and find a way to move them over here. I am not Kaede, so I don’t understand how to find or use his gadgets. Knowing my luck, I would trigger some hidden weapon and get injured in the process.” Adding my middle finger to my index, I sighed, knowing that my second reason had more to do with my new relationships. “Secondly, by taking you both in as my nestmates, I have opened myself to you. I know once we permanently bond, you will be able to read my every thought until I learn how to shield my mind. I will lose my privacy, so my top-secret missions will be yours to know, too. I figured if the Sovereign denied the team access to the base, I wouldn’t be able to leave you behind at the villa. Everything I see at the base, you see, so we might as well move there once I get a larger bed installed.”

“Makes sense,” Usthu said, taking my hands in his. “But know that anything you path to us, accidentally or on purpose, will be kept within this clan.”

“We will teach you how to shield your thoughts from us while keeping us aware of your presence.” Chyox brushed my hair behind my ear. “Just don’t get frustrated if it takes a while to learn; most of the Circuli population fails to shield its mind from others, especially weaker Circuli.”

“I understand.” I closed my eyes and nodded. “It’s just another thing I will need to get used to.”

“We will work on it together,” Chyox breathed, sending calming sensations through me. “Now, I want you to relax and bathe while Usthu and I rearrange our room.”

Standing in front of my bathroom mirror, I brushed my wet hair, working out the tangles. I had been in here for a while and was starting to get worried about what was taking my nestmates so long to join me.

Was it too soon to ask them to complete our bond? I wasn’t going to reject them, so I saw no reason to wait, especially since they seemed to be excited about working together as a clan.

When would it be appropriate to declare my Primary and Second? Could I do so when I took their mating spores?

At times like this, I wished I knew a nestqueen who could answer all of my questions. Instead, I would have to ask my nestmates directly.

Why not tonight?

Putting my brush away, I tightened the belt of my robe and decided it was time to check on my males. It shouldn’t take this long to move a mattress.

I entered my room, ready to help them with their remaining work. Gasping, I halted, surprised how they had transformed the bedroom.

It looked like they had robbed all the bedrooms on this floor of their bedding and stacked it on top of the two mattresses and pillows arranged against the wall.

Usthu was on his knees, fluffing the last of the pillows as Chyox reorganized the things they had moved to fit the extra mattress.

“What is this?” I covered my mouth, failing to stifle a laugh. “I was wondering if I needed to help you, but it seems like you both had it taken care of.”

Grinning, Usthu rolled onto his back and stretched. “Did you really think we weren’t capable of giving our nestqueen a bed that she deserves?”

I ran over and jumped onto my new bed, the soft mattress enveloping me. Giggling, I crawled over to him as the bedding engulfed my hands.

Usthu’s vines wrapped around my forearms and guided me to him. He hooked his arm around me, crushing me against him as soon as he neared.

“What do you think?”

“It’s different,” I teased. “I’m afraid the bedding may suck me in and never let me go.”

Kissing my forehead, he gave me a wide smile. “Good thing you have us as nestmates. We would come running as soon as we felt you in distress.”

“That is good to know.” Glancing at Chyox, I caught him watching us. “Why don’t you come over here and join us?”

“I didn’t know if I was welcome.” He twisted my bag in his hand as his coloring started to tint a nervous yellow. “And I wanted to finish putting your things away before we gathered you, but it seems we took too long.”

“It’s okay.” I patted the open spot beside me. “Why don’t you let me fix the room tomorrow, and you come to join us in our new bed?”

“If that is what you want.”

“I want you to come here so we can discuss some clan business before bed.”

That got his attention.

He tossed the bag onto my desk and rushed over to sit beside me.

“What ails you?” Chyox combed my hair behind my shoulder. “There is no need for your unease.”

Biting my lip, I flicked my gaze between my two males.

“I was wondering if it was too soon to seal our fates,” I mumbled. “And if I could claim my Favored at the same time.”

Chyox’s violet eyes widened as he stared at me with his mouth agape.

“Are you sure?” Usthu whispered, his hand tracing my side. “We don’t want to pressure you.”

“Yes, I’m positive.” I wiggled upright and pressed my back against the pillow wall. “I told you when I took you both, I would never sever your courting bonds. Why not stop the torture of wondering and prolonging the inevitable, and just commit?”

“We can,” Chyox muttered, swallowing. “But the choice is yours.”

“I understand that, but I don’t want you to make you wait. I heard stories of how Selena’s nestmates handled it; the more time she took, the more their need to be claimed grew. I don’t want that. I would rather skip that step and