“Is that different here?” Cora’s face fell a little. “On Earth, most women take their husband’s family name when they marry. It’s just a thing we do.”
I made a mental note to discuss that with her later, and introduced her to the soldiers I’d chosen for her.
“This is Zoddi,” I said, gesturing to the older of the two. “He’s been part of our organization for over a decade. Up until now, he’s been on my team, working under Nerus.”
“It’s an honor to serve you, Miss…” he paused, raising an eyebrow at me.
“Cora,” my mate interjected. “Please call me Cora.”
“Cora,” Zoddi said, grinning. “It’s an honor.”
I narrowed my eyes at him and moved on to the second, and youngest. “Xokat hasn’t been with us as long,” I said. “Only two years, but I had a hand in his training, and I know he’ll protect you just as well.”
Xokat stood at attention, his forehead beaded with sweat. “Miss Cora, I promise I won’t let you down.”
Cora laughed. “Wow. Um. I’m sure you’ll be great at… whatever you’re going to be doing for me.”
“They’re your security team,Aneah,” I explained. “When you leave my estate or the cruiser, at least one of them will be with you at all times.”
“Well, we’ll have to be fast friends, then,” she said to her team. “I’m happy to meet you both.”
After the introductions, I took her home, introduced her to Takka, my head of staff, and gave her a tour of the house. Her team brought her things to her suite from the cruiser, but before I could offer to help her settle in, Nerus was already muttering in my ear about Zacal wanting a word.
Sighing, I approached Cora in her room. “I’m sorry to do this,” I said, “but Zacal needs me. Will you be alright here for a while? You can rest, and I’ll be back in time for dinner.”
Her shoulders slumped, but she nodded. “Okay. You said we’re going somewhere for dinner?”
I nodded. “We have an engagement. I asked a friend of mine to order a few things for you to wear. You’ll find them in your changing room. Tomorrow I’ll take you to pick out some things for yourself.”
“I’d like that,” she said, giving me a small smile.Ibarwas strange, giving me this tender female. I was bound to ruin her. And yet, I’d seen a spark in her more than once that hinted at a kindred spirit waiting to be revealed. Maybe I wasmeantto ruin her.
“You look like shit,” Nerus observed as we left. “Mated life not treating you well?”
I grimaced. “She’s going to kill me,” I said.
He laughed. “That sweet little thing?”
I glanced around, making sure we were alone. “She wanted me to sleep in the bed with her, but she hasn’t asked me to mate her.”
Nerus grunted in sympathy. “And she’s yourAneah? You’re sure now?”
“Oh, I’m sure,” I said with a humorless laugh. “If I don’t look any better tomorrow, start planning my funeral, because I’m going to die if I can’t fuck her soon. Nearly three months since I found her, Nerus!”
He clapped me on the back as we neared Zacal’s estate. “She’s yourAneah. She’ll ask for it sooner rather than later. Most males aren’t so lucky. A mate who isn’tIbarchosen might only ask for you once or twice a year.”
I groaned because he was probably right.Ibarbrought us together, and that never meant a passionless match. I’d give her all the time she needed. In the meantime, I’d suffer like I’d never suffered before, and be ready to make sure the experience was one she wanted to repeat often.
“I don’t want to take her to this dinner tonight,” I said through my teeth.
“Good luck getting out of it,” Nerus chuckled. “The Cendaquans are already grumbling about getting second best. They’re worried you’ll have your own heirs, cutting Evik and his heirs out.”
“Evik have heirs?” I scoffed. But he was right. I had to take her, make an appearance, and make it known that Cora was myIbarchosen mate. But I didn’t have to like it.
I spent the afternoon fighting fires. First, promising Zacal I would make my mating and marriage to Cora the hottest news on Venastea by the end of the week, then meeting with Te’ve to discuss the trouble he had with the Agollan fruit vendor. And then, I had to introduce the Agollan fruit vendor to my beloved cekets out on the reef. That took forever since I’d kept the bastard frozen in my cruiser cargo the whole way from Muria, and we had to wait for him to thaw and come around. I didn’t like having him on board with Cora, but Te’ve would never have gotten him out of the Transport Station after the vendor reported him to customs. It was the guy’s own fault he got frozen. In the end, he saw the error of his ways, and we let him hop a cargo vessel back to Muria with one less tentacle and a better understanding of how to do business with Ahlon Exports.
By the time I made it back to the estate, I was running late. Our reservations would hold, but my need to see Cora again wouldn’t. Now that I’d had her in my arms, I didn’t know how I’d get through a full day’s work ever again without running home to her and leaving everything to Nerus. I’d be taking fewer lunch meetings going forward. Why do business over midday meals when I could come home and have my fill of zibe nectar? I just had to get her invitation, and then I’d show my little mate what she’d been denying herself.
I headed straight for her rooms, yelling for Takka.
