“It is indeed.”
“And you’ve no desire to narrow it down to something more specific.”
“You are correct, Cosmo.” Her eyes moved to the horizon, which spread out like an eternally perfect day. “So why are you pleased to be here? Why is it so important for you to find a mate?”
“You expect me to answer when you are being evasive.”
“I am not being evasive. I am telling you directly that I’ve no interest in answering some of your queries. My past, my thoughts, they are not relevant to you.”
“And how do you counter my claim that your questions are irrelevant to me?”
“By reminding you that I care very much about Naomi. You believing me is not necessary, but I care about her. I also care about the stability of the kingdom. We’ve been through enough unrest over the last few decades.”
“Ah.” The response was met by a few seconds of silence. “You are quite the enigma, Maya. I do not envy any person who tries to woo you.”
“I would give up all of my abilities to never be bothered by another person taking that kind of interest in me.”
He turned and looked at her again. “If that is true, then you have my sympathies. A lonely life is a fate worse than death.”
“No. I know of several that are much worse. Loneliness I can handle.”
“It is a shame,” Cosmo said, then resumed looking out the window. “As you seem to have realized, I have no interest in your kingdom. It has always been your kingdom that was interested in mine, and we are very pleased that it has been so long since the last attempt to overthrow us.”
“Only a fool would try to incorporate so much chaos into the hierarchy.”
“And yet they try.”
“I pray that our new king has more brains than the last few rulers.”
“I sincerely hope it is the case because my family has enough to handle without another invasion or intrusion. But to your question,” he put his hands behind his back, in a stance that mirrored Maya’s position, “my family is as chaotic as the rumors suggest. My parents rule, but it is only tradition that keeps the kingdom together. When I met Apollo, I had no idea what stability was, and over the years, I have come to find peace in it. My interest in short relationships and fleeting pleasures waned as I realized they contributed nothing to my happiness or sense of peace. Eventually, I realized that I craved someone to help ground me and to make my life brighter.”
“It sounds like you want someone who will make your life better. But what do you have to offer?”
“All I have is myself, which I know you find to be paltry and unworthy of Naomi. But I swear to you that if she will have me, I will do everything in my power to give her the life she deserves. Even if that ends up being a severe inconvenience to you.”
Maya looked over at him. “Do you mean to the business? Or to my ability to criticize her?”
He turned to return her gaze. Then his eyes dropped to her mouth. “Is that a hint of a smile I see on your dour face, Maya?”
“Perhaps it is, Cosmo. Answer the question.”
He seemed to be holding back a laugh. “I will only interfere in your business if it becomes detrimental to my mate’s health. As for your ability to criticize her, I will only allow it if her head gets too big and she needs a bit of a lashing outside of the bedroom.”
Maya let out a grunt and rolled her eyes.
Finally, Cosmo laughed. “You asked, and I gave you an honest answer. Don’t shoot the messenger.”
“I most certainly can shoot the messenger when he is also the perpetrator.”
Cosmo laughed again. “You know, you aren’t half bad, Maya. It makes me think, under the right circumstances, you could actually be a decent person.”
“I would never presume to assume that title. My sole desire is to excel in my job.”
“A job that, interestingly, revolves around romance and making people happy.” He smiled wide when she gave him a wry look. “Hey, it isn’t lost on me how much your actions and words don’t align. I’m not the one making you say or do anything. Thank gods for that too.”
Maya couldn’t help laughing a little. “You aren’t half bad yourself, Cosmo.”
“I try to be a minimally decent person. And now for a question that I hope you will answer seriously.”
