Page 53 of Cosmic Soul

“Perhaps,” he started, voice husky, “we should go to your room before our date and have that conversation.”

“I agree.”

“Zoltilvoxfyn,” a cheerful voice called, and I swallowed a snarl. Serlotminden. I acknowledged him with a flick of my tail before facing the workstation to hide my raging erection.

Serlotminden was four cycles older than I was. He and our other brother, Dontilvynsan, had left right after Kalvoxrencol reaffirmed his mating to Seth. Unlike Dontilvynsan who had military duties to attend to, Serlotminden came and went as he pleased when he was between diplomatic assignments and shuttle races, and apparently, he’d come back.

“We’ll finish later,” Caleb murmured in my ear, and I fought a protest. I throbbed in need of him, but at the same time, I wasn’t prepared to tell Serlotminden about Caleb and me.

“How was your latest race?” I asked, claws clicking on my screen, though I paid no attention to what I was doing.

“Ninth,” he replied, touseling my hair. “Not too bad.”

Much like me, Serlotminden had pure-white hair, though his was shaved on one side. He shared the green eyes of our mother, and the wide forehead and strong chin of our father. His scales were dark purple while slips of white and gold skin peekedaround them. His tapered ears were threaded with gold chains and a single ring pierced his bottom lip.

“Why are all of you so attractive?” Caleb asked from my side, and I frowned, chest rumbling with a possessive growl. He whispered against my ear, “You’re the most gorgeous, though.”

I swallowed.

“Zoltilvoxfyn?” Serlotminden asked.

I jerked. “My apologies.”

“Not a problem. Kalvoxrencol told me you had a human spirit with you.” Serlotminden waved in a general direction of the garden, not even near where Caleb hovered by my side. “Hello, human. I am Serlotminden. Third prince, the attractive one, shuttle racer, and the great romantic of the royal family.”

I scoffed, but Caleb laughed. “He’s funny.”

Unhappily I related what Caleb said, and Serlotminden preened like a bird in mating season. Kalvoxrencol and Serlotminden both had had many romances over the cycles—the most of any of us. Kalvoxrencol, though, wasn’t as annoying in his antics when he pursued someone, unlike Serlotminden.

“I’m Caleb. Human, wandering soul, and the most clumsy person you will ever meet.”

Serlotminden grinned. “I like you.”

“The feeling is mutual,” my mate replied with an equally wide grin.

I fought a frown, but I was unsuccessful.

Serlotminden asked, “Are you well?”

“Perfectly fine,” I replied through gritted teeth.

“You’re lying,” Caleb said, brushing my hair. “What’s wrong? Sunshine, are you sick? Do you need to go to the doctor? We should—”

“What’s going on?” Serlotminden asked, unknowingly talking over Caleb. “Are you having a bad day? Shall we do something together? I can take you flying in my shuttle.” He gripped myshoulder while his tail wrapped around mine. “We can grab Kalvoxrencol and Seth. It would be fun.”

My lips opened to say no, but Caleb bounced by my side, brushing Serlotminden and making him shiver. “That would be so fun.”

“The spirit is standing a lot closer than I thought,” Serlotminden remarked, rubbing his arm.

“Caleb,” I corrected. “His name is Caleb.”

Serlotminden gave me his throat. “You are correct. My mistake, Caleb.”

“Not a big deal.” Caleb asked me, “Can we go?”

Resigned, I said, “Caleb and I would love to go.”

“Can he? I thought most spirits didn’t wander very far.”

---