My body refuses to stay upright so I head home. When I arrive at the palace, I hurry upstairs to my bedroom without alerting my mates. As much as I want to spend time with them, and wish I could focus on their needs, I'm exhausted.

The hum of discovery buzzes in my brain. I can't let up for even a minute. My brother’s and Taylon’s excitement over the discovery are amplifying my own.

I know I shouldn't get ahead of myself. My failures in the past have taught me that it is best to wait for verification before becoming too excited about anything.

One thing my experiments have taught me is that the variation in quantities of components can play a huge difference in the reaction of the combined elements. When I receive the human genetic material, I may not land on the correct quantities right away. It will require patience and perseverance on my part.

As I crawl into my bed, still fully clothed, I think of the sets of experiments I will run when I receive my genetic samples from Sysko. My mind is busy with numbers, data, and genetic sequences as it finally shuts down and I drift off into a dreamless sleep.

I wake with a start sometime later, not sure where I am or how long I've been out. My mind immediately settles on the discovery of the day before, and I jump out of bed. My legs are still stiff with sleep as I stumble toward the washroom.

I remember with a rush of emotion that I made love with Donte for the first time yesterday. Then I remember the deal I made with the rest of my mates.

After showering and choosing a simple yellow dress and black flats, I hurry out of the palace. It's still early and mist clings to the white sandy beaches of the Sea of Light. I let out an icy breath that mists in the morning air and climb onto my single person speeder.

At the lab, I check the computer simulations I started before I left for the library of Remotis. The readouts from my first simulations, splicing generic human DNA sequences, is promising. I spend the next several hours programing multiple variations of the experiment. I also begin a simulation on the human transformation process, as outlined in the Tales of the Ancients.

“You look like you could use a cup of black tea,” I hear Flume say behind me.

I look over my shoulder as he hands me the cup of tea. I accept it gratefully and take a long sip of the hot liquid. Letting out a sigh of satisfaction, I thank him.

“Let me take you out for a morning meal,” he says.

He offers me his elbow, and I slide my fingers into the crook of his arm. I can feel his long powerful muscles under my fingertips. We walk into the open air, and the sun shines on my pale blue skin. I quickly construct pair of nanotech sunglasses and slide them over my eyes.

“There's a café around the corner from the Academy,” Flume says. “I thought we could go there.”

We walk across the campus to Café Rigo, one of my favorite places in the city Borai. As we take a seat under a gauzy umbrella in a round iron table on the patio, a server emerges from the café and stands beside our table.

“Today’s special is sea eggs over easy with gow cheese custard sauce.”

“Ooh, I’ll have that.”

“I'll have the same,” says Flume.

The server enters our order into his tablet and returns inside. I gaze at Flume over the table, and he reaches out to hold my hand.

“I wish to help you with your mission.”

“I don't need help with my work. But I do need your help with the other males. I have so very much to do, and I can't deal with them being so aggressive and obnoxious. Could you get through to Uri to stop being intimidating and insulting to Reese and Mika. And get them all to stop squabbling. I heard from Quintin there’s been more than a dozen brawls in the back field since I left for the library.”

“That's a tall order, My Queen,” he says with a snicker.

“I know,” I say, rolling my eyes.

“But something I can take care of,” he assures me.

The server brings our meal and a pot of black tea. I dig into my meal. The sea eggs and custard is exquisite.

“Thank you for bringing me here. This used to be one of my favorite places to study when I was in school.”

“I wanted to take you somewhere you’d feel at home. Having five mates must be challenging for you. I wanted to give you a breather from all that,” he says. His gaze penetrates me as if he can see into my soul.

“I am glad you are here to help me.”

“I'm honored to do what I can for you, My Lady,” he says. “I’ve seen the worst of the galaxy. Being with you gives me a whole new life.”

“I know you were special forces military,” I say with a gulp.

“I was behind enemy lines in the Archon Empire for quite some time. Deep undercover, involved in criminal elements within cyborg territory. The things that I saw there haunt me. But now I am home and have been given a second chance with you, my mate, my Queen. My life with you is a great pleasure, no matter how biting the pain.”

My heart flips in my chest at his words. Flume has always been kind to me, but he is sometimes distant and brooding in the presence of the others. It has been hard for me to get to know him. I feel like he's showing me inside of himself for the first time.

After our morning meal, we retire to a luxury inn for visiting professors, lecturers, and students. The accommodations are gorgeous, modern, clean and well kept. I walk onto the balcony overlooking the Sea of Light and gaze out at the water.

“You don't have to do this if you don’t want to,” Flume says, coming up behind me on the balcony.

He kisses the back of my neck and sensation spikes down my spine. I let out a long, gasping sigh at the feeling of his lips on my skin. His tongue slides along the back of my neck and down my shoulder. After my experience with Donte, I know what to expect. But every time Flume touches me or kisses me, it’s like fireworks explode from his lips and radiate through my entire body.