Chapter 5

Ophelia

I hurried out of the humongous cruise line ship that brought me to the Melelyn spaceport, homeworld of the Nazhrals. I hated being late, and our vessel docking more than two hours past our scheduled arrival had me totally frantic. Obviously, it had been beyond my control, but I still felt shitty about it.

We’d been doing so great, too, until a bunch of flipping pirates decided to attack us. The panic that spread through the passengers died down in minutes when our ship’s defense squad just swarmed the fools who thought to make bank at our expense. I could see why they would have set their sights on the Behemoth . Aptly named, the humongous cruise liner could host more than nine thousand passengers and had its own fighter fleet and military-grade defense systems.

To say that I’d been rattled would be quite an understatement, not only because of the scare from the attack, but also seeing the pirate vessels get obliterated. By all accounts, none of them survived. Finding out that the attackers had been Nazhrals only made matters worse. As we completed the journey here, more than once, I asked myself if this was a sign from the universe telling me to turn back and hightail it the hell out of there.

But my dumb ass had committed to this, and right now it was doing a spectacular job of getting nowhere fast.

The ship had four different exits. Being somewhat directionally challenged, I merely followed the crowd towards the closest one, figuring the signs outside would tell me where to go to reach the meeting room where Kayog and my future husband waited for me.

And they had a billion signs…

The problem was that not a single one even remotely referred to the meeting rooms. None of them resembled the images I consulted before our arrival. Being visual, I often went through virtual visits of locations I would travel to so as to avoid getting lost.

My stomach knotted as I followed the exit sign along the hallway stretching endlessly before me. More than once, I considered asking the people rushing past me, but my tongue systematically got tied. Being the only off-worlder here, I felt even more overwhelmed by everyone’s massive size, including the females.

After stumbling into a dead end, I turned around and half ran back the opposite way only to hit a sealed door with a biometric lock.

“ Putain de bordel de merde !” I hissed.

I only ever cussed in French—my mother tongue—once I was seriously losing my shit. Naturally, now that I had finally grown enough of a spine to brave the funny stares and ask for help, everyone had conveniently vanished.

How the fuck do so many people just go poof?

I backtracked to the ship, taking a couple of wrong turns along the way before finally spotting two males engaged in an intense conversation. I sheepishly approached them, only to have one glaring at me like I had some serious nerve for invading their personal space.

“Sorry to bother you, but I’m lost. Could you—?”

To my dismay, the jerk simply turned his back on me, his huge, fluffy tail almost slapping me out of the way. I gaped at his back in disbelief before glancing at his companion. The wretch briefly made eye contact with me and bared his teeth in a way that clearly said for me to beat it.

“ Espèces d’enculés! ” I muttered under my breath as I turned around and stomped away.

Feeling utterly discouraged, I blinked back the tears pricking my eyes. I hated feeling this helpless. I hated even more that I didn’t have a direct com to contact Kayog.

“What are you doing here, human?” a booming masculine voice suddenly barked at me.

I yelped, and spun around, nearly dropping my overnight bag in shock. My eyes felt on the verge of popping out of my head at the sight of the massive Nazhral male, his fur dark as sin, and the bluest eyes leveled severely on me. The scar that ran across the arch of his left eye down to his cheek made him look even more intimidating. He had stepped out of a room accessible through what was otherwise an invisible door.

Pressing a palm to my chest to contain the erratic beating of my heart, I licked my lips nervously and took a tentative step towards him.

“I’m sorry. I’m completely lost. I just arrived on the Behemoth and must have taken a wrong exit because I can’t find any directions for meeting room 3B where I am supposed to meet my friends,” I said nervously.

He muttered something under his breath. Despite my translation implant, I couldn’t make out his words. Not that I needed to. It didn’t take a rocket scientist to recognize someone mumbling something about stupid tourists always getting lost.

“You exited on the opposite side. This section is reserved for employees and for high security esteemed guests. You are currently criminally trespassing,” the male said sternly.

“Wait, what?! I’m not trying to trespass. I just want to go to a meeting room. I got lost!” I exclaimed, on the verge of panic. “If you just tell me how to get back to the other side, I’ll be gone in a blink.”

My heart dropped through my body when the pile of muscles started moving towards me. For half a beat, I thought he was going to grab me by the neck and drag me brutally to some dark dungeon where I would never be heard from again. But he just marched past me, stomping his feet—or was it paws?—his bushy tail stiff with aggravation.

“Follow!” he snapped without looking at me.

He didn’t have to say it twice. I hastened after him, clutching my overnight bag to my chest. I was half running to keep up, each of his long strides requiring two steps from me. I was slightly out of breath when I finally saw the entrance of the ship.

He walked up to another Nazhral security guard by the ramp. Before the poor soul could say a word, my escort gave him a proper dressing down for allowing a human to traipse around the restricted area. I felt horrible for the poor guard. Once done berating him, he turned to look at me. I nearly melted right where I stood.

“Why are you still here?” he demanded, visibly annoyed.

“You didn’t tell me to proceed,” I said in a small voice. “I would rather not get lost again.”

His whiskers twitched, and the corner of his upper lip quirked up into a snarl. To my dismay, instead of being properly panicked by his exasperation with me, I found myself wondering if Gaelec had whiskers that long or the same type of sharp fangs that poked between the grumpy Nazhral’s lips.

“Proceed, human. Straight ahead,” he said pointing at the inside of the ship. “Follow the blue line on the floor and exit where it says Concourse.”

“Thank you, Sir. You are most kind,” I said politely and with sincere gratitude.

Under different circumstances, I would have burst out laughing at his flabbergasted expression. But I had places to be. I rushed inside the ship and hurried across to the other side under the annoyed glances of the cleaning crew racing to get everything ready for the next boarding and departure.

I easily found the appropriate exit following those simple instructions. Even as I hurried down the ramp, I battled between relief at finally recognizing my surroundings based on the photos I previously saw and cussing out the guidelines that omitted mentioning following the blue line.

Movement ahead drew my attention. To my shock, I recognized Kayog waving at me. Feeling flustered, I waved back before hurrying towards him and the imposing Nazhral standing next to him. Where the Temern was smiling with his usual cheerful disposition, the male I immediately recognized as Gaelec—my soon-to-be husband—might as well have been a stone statue.

“I’m so very sorry,” I said with a nervous laugh as I reached them. “Our ship got delayed, and then I totally got lost by going out the wrong exit. I’m terrible with directions. I’m like a lab rat in a maze.”

Although Kayog chuckled at my attempt at self-deprecating humor, it fell flat with Gaelec. He was staring at me, looking totally unimpressed, borderline horrified. I groaned inwardly, both embarrassed and mortified. This was not the first impression I wanted to give him. I was likely sweaty and flushed from my ordeal.

It was all the more embarrassing that he looked good enough to eat. Despite his undeniably feline traits, that male was sheer perfection. His body was hot as fuck. Every muscle was deliciously defined and covered with the tiniest coat of grayish brown fur in just the right amount. The more generous patch of fur around his chest and neck vaguely reminded me of the collar of a Maine Coon. It looked so soft and fluffy I wanted to sink my fingers into it and scratch and then rub my face all over it. But more fascinating still were the unusual streaks, shaped like lightning, scattered artistically over his body and parts of his fur. He could have passed for the God of Lightning. His mane swished to the side, almost in a retro style hairdo that I found super cute and that had me itching to play with his locks. His lips were sensuously plush, and his whiskers long but barely visible.

I felt tiny as he stared at me with stunning, piercing blue eyes. Wanting to break the ice, I forced a nervous smile, to which he stiffly responded.

This was not going well.

“Don’t worry, my dear Ophelia,” Kayog said in a reassuring tone. “We heard of the unfortunate incident that detained you. As for being directionally challenged, I will have to find a moment to tell you about my countless mishaps over the years. But all that matters is that you are here now.”

I gave him a grateful smile before glancing sheepishly at Gaelec, who continued to silently study me. Bordel ! I needed him to relax a bit. I never considered myself the superficial type, but that male genuinely had me drooling. The thought that he might not like me seriously stung.

“Ophelia, meet your mate, Gaelec Sulwyn. Gaelec, this is your bride, Ophelia Moreau,” Kayog said, seemingly oblivious—or deliberately choosing to ignore—the tension between us.

“Hello, Gaelec. It is a pleasure to meet you,” I said, relieved that my voice sounded a lot steadier than I felt.

“The pleasure is mine, Ophelia,” he replied in a polite tone.

Cue exploding ovaries. Dieu du ciel! The voice on that male was out of this world. My toes curled, and my skin erupted in goosebumps. His pupils narrowed into tiny slits as he looked at the phenomenon on my arms, left bare by the sleeveless maxi dress I was wearing. My cheeks burned with embarrassment as an air of worry descended over his face.

“What’s happening? Are you unwell?” Gaelec asked with concern.

I shook my head and rubbed my palm over my forearm. “No, everything is fine. This is a natural phenomenon with humans,” I said sheepishly. I cleared my throat and gave him a shy look. “We call it goosebumps. It normally happens in reaction to something pleasant. Beautiful music will often do that for us. In this instance, it was your voice. It’s quite stunning.”

He gaped at me, speechless. I felt the heat on my cheeks cranking up another notch, and I shifted on my feet, not knowing what to do with myself. His shock gave way to the most incredible air of timidity that I never expected to see on such an imposing male. He seemed flattered, touched even by my clumsy but honest compliment.

“Thank you, Ophelia,” he said at last, regaining his composure. “I’m glad the sound of my voice pleases you.”

Both of his feline ears twitched as he spoke those words, turning slightly forward as if to better listen to his own words. The sudden urge to scratch him behind the ear struck me hard. I once again groaned inwardly at my ridiculous reactions. I tended to have no filter, which occasionally got me in trouble.

“Well, if you are both ready, we can proceed to the meeting room where Isobel awaits us to conclude your union,” Kayog said, sounding particularly pleased.

I wouldn’t go so far as to say that I was pleased, too. But that little glimpse of Gaelec’s softer side intrigued me. Maybe we could patch up this bad start.

I happily followed the two males through too many corridors until we reached meeting room 3B. It wasn’t that I was clueless when it came to following directions, but more that I suffered some sort of sensory overload when surrounded by big crowds and all the disturbing flashing signs, monitors, and other displays that they constantly crowded public places with. My eyes no longer knew where to look and struggled to process all of it. So my brain just went into protective mode and started blocking out certain things, flat out ignoring they were there.

While I genuinely loved roughing it out in the outdoors, this issue also played a large role in me not being too keen on life in the big cities.

As we closed the distance to our destination, Gaelec took the lead to go open the door for us. With a will of their own, my eyes flicked to the long, poofy tail that trailed behind him. It had that same beautiful grayish-brown color with more of those white, lightning streaks.

I wonder if its size is proportional to…

I gasped, shocked by my own highly inappropriate thought. To my relief, a feminine voice announcing the imminent departure of some random flight helped bury the sound, sparing me from having to explain to my companion how I had traumatized myself by entertaining lurid musings about Gaelec.

To be honest, I obviously wondered about what Nazhrals were packing down there. Considering that the PMA expected newlywed couples to consummate their wedding the first night, it was only natural that I would educate myself as to what I could expect. To my dismay, some research confirmed one of my concerns regarding his naughty bits. Like a feline, Nazhrals had spikes on their peens. It wasn’t triangular-shaped like a cat’s but was fairly similar to a human’s. However, right below the head, one third of the upper part of the shaft was slightly recessed and covered in a few rows of spikes all around the circumference.

I couldn’t deny that it freaked me out a bit.

At least, everything I read about it reassured me as to the fact that they weren’t sharp or hard and therefore wouldn’t inflict any type of damage. Still, I would remain a little apprehensive about the whole deal until I got to experience it first-hand… pun intended.

As soon as Gaelec opened the door, Kayog gestured for me to enter first. Horror washed over me when our eyes locked and I finally noticed the mischievous glimmer in his eyes and slight smirk at the corner of his beak. Mortified, I realized that, although he couldn’t read minds, he had at least perceived some sense of the emotions coursing through me as I ogled my future mate. I averted my eyes and hurried inside while fighting the urge to kick that bratty Temern.

A medium-sized room with white walls and dark floors greeted me. A large oval table With enough seats for eight took up most of the space. Atop a console propped against the left wall of the room, a few basic pieces of meeting equipment could be found including a desktop holographic projector and a 3D printer. A single impressive vidscreen filled up most of the back wall.

But it was the slender, older human female sitting at the head of the table that retained my attention. Isobel Biondi had become a semi-permanent fixture by Kayog’s side. In many photos and videos about the services offered by the agency, she could be seen presiding over weddings. Per the Prime Mating Agency’s rules, both partners had to be legally wed according to their respective cultures’ laws and customs, and in accordance with the United Planets Organizations guidelines for the union to be registered in the Galactic Hall of Records. Without that legally binding contract, the partners could not claim the benefits and protections they provided.

With me being human, this first union would follow Earth’s traditions. However, as Nazhrals didn’t have official wedding ceremonies, I wasn’t quite certain how that part would be handled.

Kayog proceeded to make quick introductions between the priestess and me—since she already met Gaelec—then immediately moved on to the wedding. Considering how many cases he handled all over the galaxy, I suspected the substantial delay due to the pirate attack and my stupid self getting lost significantly derailed his busy schedule.

The priestess directed us to move to the front of the large window, setting the pleasant view of the Plaza below as a backdrop.

“Please stand face to face and hold each other’s hands,” Isobel said.

We did as instructed. He suddenly felt even more massive, especially seeing how my hands got swallowed in his much bigger ones. They were soft and warm, aside from the strange feeling of the rougher patches at the tip of his fingers. I immediately cast out the highly inappropriate thought that tried to worm its way inside my mind again as to how that texture would feel in unmentionable places.

Bordel! When did I become such a horn ball?

“We are gathered here to celebrate the union of this woman, Ophelia Moreau, and this Nazhral male, Gaelec Sulwyn, in the sacred bond of marriage. Such union must be entered into freely, with honest intentions, a genuine commitment, and not for financial gains or deceptive purposes,” the priestess said in a gentle but solemn voice. “Ophelia Moreau, do you freely and willingly take this Nazhral male, Gaelec Sulwyn, to be your lawfully wedded husband, for better or for worse, through good times and hardships, in sickness and in health, until death do you part?”

“I do,” I said, surprised by the sincerity with which I spoke those words.

For a reason I couldn’t explain, and despite his lukewarm reaction towards me, I felt a powerful connection with this Gaelec. That Kayog affirmed that we were soulmates only strengthened that feeling. I would do everything in my power for this union to work, for better or for worse.

“Gaelec Sulwyn, do you freely take this woman, Ophelia Moreau, to be your lawfully wedded wife, for better or for worse, through good times and hardships, in sickness and in health, until death do you part?”

“I do,” he replied with a determination that did funny things to me.

You didn’t need to be a rocket scientist to realize he had some serious reservations about me. I didn’t give him the best first impression. Yet, something in his demeanor told me that he was ready and willing to brush that aside and put the necessary effort to make this work. I couldn’t ask for more.

“Kayog Voln, do you bear witness that this human female, Ophelia Moreau, and this Nazhral male, Gaelec Sulwyn, freely committed to be legally married to each other in accordance with human and galactic laws?”

“I do,” Kayog said with an enthusiasm that almost had me snorting.

I couldn’t remember ever meeting anyone who eternally seemed to be in as high spirits as this Temern was. And his happiness was contagious.

“By the power vested in me by the Clerical College of Earth and the United Planets Organization, I declare you husband and wife. Gaelec Sulwyn, you may kiss the bride,” Priestess Biondi said.

I lifted my face towards him expectantly, a timid smile settling on my lips as my stomach fluttered with anticipation. However, his hesitant look took me aback. Kayog clearing his throat reclaimed our attention.

“As I understand it, kissing is not naturally practiced by Nazhrals,” the Temern said factually. “It is a common act between humans to mark a range of emotions from affection to passion.”

“Yes, Master Voln. I am aware of what a kiss is,” Gaelec said, gently interrupting him. “I did some research about human culture so that I would not be completely clueless when it came to understanding the needs and expectations of my future mate.”

“Oh! Excellent!” Kayog said approvingly.

That pleased me tremendously, and I made no effort to hide how touched I was that he would make such efforts. He turned his attention back to me and gave me an uncertain look that I found incredibly adorable.

“That said, I have never kissed anyone before. So I hope you will forgive my clumsiness on that front,” he said, a sliver of nervousness seeping into his voice.

Putain! It was so cute!

“Don’t worry. We’re going to have the rest of our lives for you to practice,” I blurted out, right before my face turned crimson.

Kayog’s barely repressed snort had me giggling nervously. Looking unsure how to respond, Gaelec settled for an awkward smile then clumsily leaned forward to press his lips against mine.

It was brief. Much too brief. Sadly, I couldn’t even evaluate how pleasant it might have been, because his nose and whiskers began twitching almost immediately, prompting him to pull away. For half a beat, he looked on the verge of sneezing as his nose continued to twitch for a couple of seconds.

“Sorry, it tickled,” he said sheepishly when I just stood there staring at him, confused.

I snorted, and Kayog wrapped his right hand around his beak in that typical fashion bird folk often did to repress their laughter or to express mortification. A sideways glance at the priestess indicated that she, too, was biting the insides of her cheeks to keep from smiling.

“It’s okay,” I said reassuringly. “You did pretty good for a first time.”

Although unconvinced, he gave me a grateful smile. Still, it bummed me out a bit. I loved kissing. But my gut said he was thoroughly unimpressed by this first experience.

“Before we take our leave as we have another appointment elsewhere, let me remind you of the very basic rules new couples are expected to follow,” Kayog said in a friendly tone. “Normally, you would have a Nazhral wedding according to your customs today as well. But as your people do not have formal rituals for bonded mates, that requirement is waived. The human wedding will suffice for the Galactic Hall of Records.”

Despite being relieved to have him clarify this aspect, it still saddened me that we wouldn’t be married according to their culture. For some silly reason, it felt as if I was making a bigger commitment than he was. But then, it would make no sense for him to invent some sort of ritual just for things to be even.

“As I mentioned to you before,” Kayog continued in the same factual manner, “you are expected to consummate your union tonight. I know many find that a huge pressure, especially since you’ve only just met. But trust me, it does wonders to help bring the couple together faster Instead of dragging the tension and uncertainty of that first night for days and weeks.”

This time, I couldn’t help shifting on my feet. As I’d been celibate for a while, I was more than ready to get back in the saddle on that front. That my new husband was extremely lickable didn’t hurt. But as I wasn’t the type to get down and dirty on the first date, I expected plenty more awkwardness once we got around to it. However, the subtle but undeniable way Gaelec’s back slightly stiffened at that seriously stung.

Granted, he had a bigger burden. If he couldn’t get it up for me, we would have a serious problem. Was he even half as attracted to me as I was to him?

He merely gave Kayog a stiff nod, and I quietly imitated him.

“You are both expected to give this union a genuine try for six months. If at the end of the trial period, either one of you truly believe it cannot work between you, then the PMA will handle the dissolution as well as handle your relocation wherever you wish to go, Ophelia—not that it will be necessary,” he added smugly, making us both smile.

To my relief, Kayog didn’t bring up the part about me being able to leave the marriage before the end of the trial period if Gaelec fell back into a life of crime. The PMA contract already outlined a series of events and behaviors that would automatically make the contract null and void, especially anything related to violence or that would put one of the partners in physical, mental, or legal jeopardy.

“Last but not least, as per tradition, the Prime Mating Agency will give you a wedding gift. However, there will be a slight delay before you receive it,” Kayog said in a mysterious tone. “But expected in the next few weeks.”

“Oh, it’s not necessary,” I said with a smile.

“I know, but I promise you will be happy about it. And with this, I bid you both farewell and all the happiness in the world.”

We exchanged our last goodbyes and watched them exit the room. I peered at Gaelec to find him staring at me. It wasn’t intimidating. He looked like someone who just got home after a shopping spree and now wondered what the heck to do with all that stuff they shouldn’t have bought in the first place.

“Well, we should head back to the village. Your belongings will have been loaded in the shuttle by now,” he said in a polite tone.

“Okay,” I replied in a subdued voice.

We walked in an awkward silence back to the docking bay and straight to the section where all the small and personal shuttles were parked. He made a beeline for a dark-grey, four-passenger vessel with a respectable amount of storage at the back. Although well-maintained, it wasn’t a high-tech or recent model. As Kayog mentioned he’d been released from prison less than three weeks ago, I assumed he bought or rented a used model to be able to move around.

“That’s a very nice shuttle,” I said as we settled inside to break the silence.

“It’s not mine,” Gaelec replied, sounding slightly apologetic while taking flight. “It is collectively owned by the Pride. Our people do not travel all that much away from the village, so it’s not really required. Or at least, we couldn’t justify everyone having their own.”

“I see,” I said with a frown, my curiosity piqued. “But don’t you visit other Prides?”

He snorted and gave me an amused look. “As a male? No, never. That is unless you are trying to join them, or you want to get hunted down.”

“Oh wow!” I exclaimed, stunned. “I couldn’t find much information on the life of Prides. Most of the articles and videos about your people focused on life in the main cities.”

He nodded. “City life and Pride life are extremely different. We are more comparable to your human tribes than your industrialized countries and cities. You will not find off-worlders living among us. They come to work or do business in the cities.”

He hesitated and cast a sideways glance at me, a frown marring his forehead. “Although we possess every basic comforts one requires, we do not have all the conveniences of a city or some of the more advanced technologies. You might find life in a Pride to be difficult.”

I smiled and shook my head with confidence. “Nah! I’m not worried about that. In case Kayog didn’t mention it to you, I’m used to rougher conditions. I lived with many tribes over the years and love learning and adapting to new cultures. In truth, big cities feel too overwhelming and cold to me. Everyone is a stranger, just rushing left and right instead of enjoying the moment. There’s something wonderful about the sense of closeness and community found in smaller tribes.”

To my surprise, instead of appeasing him, my words appeared to trouble him further. And then it struck me.

“You mentioned that no off-worlders live with the Prides. Is that your way of saying that my presence might be a problem?” I asked carefully.

My heart sank when he once again hesitated and seemed to search for his words before answering.

“Every member of a Pride is expected to contribute in some way and pull their own weight. Females are our primary hunters. You...”

“I can’t fight my way out of a wet paper bag,” I concluded for him in a self-derisive tone when his voice trailed off. “But I’m sure that I can contribute in other ways. I’m a hard worker and a quick learner. I may not be able to hunt, but I can help process the meat and the skins or assist with any other trade, including farming.”

He gave me a strained smile meant to be reassuring that failed miserably. That didn’t bode well.

“Hopefully, we will find something appropriate for you,” Gaelec said in a soothing tone. “Otherwise, I will make sure to contribute enough for the both of us.”

“Thank you,” I replied in a soft voice before allowing my gaze to roam over the beautiful landscape sprawling before us.

If not for the two moons hanging low in the clear blue sky, this place could have easily passed for a tropical forest on Earth. Although some of the tall trees looked as if they indeed came from Earth, the shape of the leaves on some other ones as well as the darker color of the bark made it clear we were on a different world. A part of me was excited at discovering this new planet, and all the wonders of its wilderness. But another was increasingly sensing that making my marriage to Gaelec work would be a bigger challenge than I expected, and not purely because of the two of us.

I discreetly studied his handsome profile and the short fur around his chin that almost acted like a beard. Once again, my fingers itched to sink into their softness and properly sample how it would feel. But it was the lingering concern on his face that he still tried to hide that bothered me.

“How disappointed are you with me?” I blurted out.

He stiffened at the same time I flinched inwardly. My wretched mouth had no filter. As much as I didn’t regret putting the question out there, I could have handled it a bit more smoothly.

He frowned and looked at me with genuine confusion. For some reason, that made me feel a bit better.

“Why would I be disappointed? I do not know you well enough yet to establish such a thing.”

I nodded. “Right, but you certainly had some expectations or hopes. It’s obvious that I’m not what you wanted. Don’t worry, it’s all right for you to be honest. I prefer that.”

His frown deepened. But the absence of shame or guilt on his features appeased me far more than a strong denial might have. Most people would be embarrassed to admit they had terrible thoughts about someone else. That he didn’t seem guilty hinted that maybe he didn’t have such a bad opinion of me just yet.

“No, Ophelia. I cannot say that I’m disappointed. The fact is that I don’t know you. Only time will tell,” he said gently but firmly. “What I am is concerned. I worry as to how you could possibly fit in with us. Based on the incident at the spaceport, you do not seem to have adequate situational awareness or orientation skills. As a human, you lack natural self-defense skills, and you do not possess the speed and strength that are important for survival. Our females are strong. You’re not.”

I nodded again as I weighed his arguments. “Everything you have stated is fair. But do not underestimate humans’ ability to adapt. What we lack in natural abilities, we compensate for with technology. I may break my hand trying to punch someone, but give me a blaster instead, and good luck avoiding getting shot. I am one badass shooter.”

He chuckled, his eyes sparkling with amusement as he probably tried to imagine me shooting the hell out of someone. I loved how it softened his features. My husband was truly an attractive male.

“It is good to hear. And I will help however I can to make it easier for you,” he replied.

I beamed at him. “You’re sweet.”

He snorted as if I said something completely outrageous. Considering the rough life he led over the past decade, I could see how being referred to as ‘sweet’ would sound ridiculous to him. And yet, he truly seemed sweet under his guarded and a little distant demeanor. My gut told me that as we got closer and knew each other better, this softer side of him would emerge more and more. I was just grateful his incarceration hadn’t made him bitter or aggressive.

His amusement suddenly faded, and he gave me an assessing look that immediately had all my senses on high alert.

“And what of you, Ophelia? How disappointed are you with me?” he asked.

The sudden timidity seeping into his voice as he asked that question threw me for a loop. There truly was something adorable about that man, and I couldn’t wait to see more of it. However, my wretched mouth once again decided to run away with me.

“Disappointed by you?! Not at all! You’re super hot!”

I flinched, and heat crept up my cheeks even as the words spilled out of my mouth. Gaelec blinked with an air of confusion.

“Hot?” he echoed.

I couldn’t help but chuckle when he pressed the back of his hand to his cheek as if to check if he was feverish.

“Hot is a term humans use to refer to someone who is very attractive,” I explained sheepishly.

His jaw dropped. He gaped at me for a few seconds before realizing he was doing it and closed his mouth with an audible sound before shifting in his pilot seat. That he seemed so completely stunned that I would find him handsome made me wonder how much of the same insecurities I was feeling about how he perceived me he also worried about my thoughts regarding him.

Throwing all caution to the wind, I decided to go all out.

“Even though you’re not human, your body is absolutely amazing. Men would kill to have a muscular chest and chiseled abs like yours. Your face is very handsome, and your eyes are stunning. I was worried about how I would feel about fur, but yours is so lustrous and fluffy, especially the one below your neck and around your chest, it’s just gorgeous. And then there’s those white streaks almost like lightning on your body and your tail. It makes you look like a God of Thunder.”

By the time I stopped talking, that paler skin on his face had darkened. He was gaping at me again and started shifting uneasily, looking increasingly self-conscious and yet flattered.

“I… I… err… Thank you, Ophelia. Those are very kind words. Males like me with those white streaks are called Stelligs. It is a rare trait among my people. It appears later in life, towards the end of our teenage years. We tend to be bigger, stronger, and faster than the average male,” he declared shyly.

“That’s awesome!” I said enthusiastically. “And it looks really nice.”

He cleared his throat and averted his eyes in the cutest fashion while his mind was still racing. Gaelec opened and closed his mouth a couple of times before glancing back at me.

“You are also attractive,” he said sheepishly.

I burst out laughing and gave him an indulgent look. “It’s okay, Gaelec. You don’t have to lie to make me feel better.”

Despite the gentle way in which I spoke those words, he frowned, looking slightly offended.

“I do not lie, Ophelia. To be honest, until Kayog contacted me about you a few days ago, I never thought of humans in that way. But now, I can say that your features are quite harmonious. The green shade of your eyes is stunning. Your hair looks very soft, and I like the way the sun catches in it. It almost looks like it’s ablaze. I cannot wait to see it directly outside and not filtered through the windshield. And then you have all those face spots that are truly charming.”

The warm fuzzy feeling that had been swelling through me at each of his words came to a screeching halt upon hearing that last sentence.

“Face spots?!” I repeated, disbelievingly.

I burst out laughing. My freckles had been called many things, but face spots were a first. He peered at me in confusion, uncertain as to whether he inadvertently said something wrong.

“These things are called freckles,” I said, still chuckling. “And they’re annoying as hell. The worst part is that they’re not just on my face. I have those damn things everywhere, even on my lips, chest, and arms,” I grumbled waving at them on my exposed forearm.

“On your lips?” he repeated with curiosity while glancing at my mouth.

I nodded. “You can’t see them because my lip gloss does wonders at hiding those wretched things. But if I stay under the sun too long, and without proper sunscreen, aside from the fact that I will burn, even more freckles will come out. It’s like I’m pockmarked,” I concluded in an overly dramatic fashion.

Instead of the amused response I expected from him, Gaelec frowned at me with a disapproving expression.

“Do not say that. Your… freckles… are not wretched things. To me, they look like our Luen Constellation. It is only visible in the winter or in early summer mornings.”

My eyes widened. “Luen? Isn’t it the sea of red stars?!” I exclaimed.

He nodded with an approving smile that I should know of it. “Yes. Luen is a sign of good luck and is considered a blessing of the Gods. The more stars are visible, and the greater the blessing. You are touched by a higher power. Embrace your stars. They are beautiful.”

My chest constricted as my hand found its way to my face with a will of its own.

“Wow! That’s the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me,” I whispered as I gazed at him.

He smiled, visibly pleased, the soft glimmer in his eyes melting me from the inside out. In that instant, I realized that I made the right choice listening to Kayog. I didn’t know this male, but we were going to make it work.

He was my soulmate.