Page 76 of Cosmic Soul

“It’s probably a good thing we didn’t fuck in here. Everyone would have smelled it,” Caleb said, and I laughed.

Everyone turned toward me—I rarely laughed. I didn’t relate what my mate said, because it would bring up a round of unnecessary questions. Unable to stop it, the memory of us in our bed with Caleb ordering me to pleasure myself invaded my thoughts and heated my blood.

Dontilvynsan cleared his throat, and I jolted, immediately regretting my thoughts.

“Please don’t have sex in my office,” Dontilvynsan said in his usual monotone voice.

“What?” Kalvoxrencol demanded, while Serlotminden laughed uproariously.

“I like your Caleb,” Serlotminden said. “Anyone willing to fuck in here is worth being with.”

“How do you…” Kalvoxrencol started to ask, but Seth elbowed him, bright red.

“We should get back to the matter of the strange vessel,” Monqilcolnen said, and I had the odd impulse to hug him for the redirection.

“Indeed,” Dontilvynsan said. “Caleb, what’s your plan?”

“You’ll take me in a shuttle beneath the vessel and I will go inside,” he suggested, like he was planning a walk in a garden.

Ice clogged my veins. “No,” I snarled, turning toward him, not even bothering to relate his plans to the others because it didn’t matter. Caleb would never do this. I refused to let him.

“Interesting,” Dontilvynsan said before telling everyone Caleb’s reckless idea. “That might work.”

“No,” I growled, standing in front of my mate to shield him from my brothers.

“Zoltilvoxfyn,” Kalvoxrencol started, but I cut him off with a sharp wave.

“My mate is not doing this. We have no idea what’s inside the vessel, let alone knowing what the vacuum of space will do to him. Caleb is remaining here.”

Cold fingers trailed over my back, stronger than ever. His touch was growing stronger while his spirit was growing weaker. Eyes closed, I savored it. I didn’t know how much longer I would have this, and I would never recover from losing Caleb.

“It’s my choice, Sunshine,” Caleb said.

I turned around. “Please do not do this, Caleb.”

Caleb cupped my cheeks before immediately groaning, which made me swallow. His reactions were hard for me not to respond to. “Sorry,” he whispered, biting his lip. “Still not used to feeling you.”

“Stay.”

His thumb slid over my cheekbone. “I want to help.”

“You don’t know what this will do to you.”

“I do,” he replied. “I have gone into space before. I’ve done it, more than once. I’ve jumped from ship to ship before. I can do this.”

“Caleb, you’re weakening. I cannot lose you.”

Going on his toes, he said, “Trust me. I have no intention of ever leaving you.”

Intentions or not, Caleb could be taken from me. “Mate,” I began, planning on forcing him to stay, but he placed his fingers on my lips, sending a shiver down my spine.

“My choice. I am not helpless. I can do this, Sunshine.”

I had lost this fight. Caleb would do it with or without me, but he would have an easier, not to mention safer, time with me present. “Fine.”

He pushed his forehead into my shoulder, rubbing, though he disappeared into my scales. Without a body, Caleb couldn’t properly scent mark me, not that humans did that, but I loved it nonetheless.

I faced my brothers and Monqilcolnen, who all watched me. They’d only heard my side of it, except Dontilvynsan.

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