“How about that,” Fiona says weakly.
I gnash my teeth as that idiot youngling gets back to his feet. What a show he’s putting on. It’s pathetic, really. I am an older male, and not as silly and frivolous. You do not win a female’s heart by regaling her with tales of your affection, but with deeds.
“Ahem,” says Gazargo, recapturing our attention. “There is a ceremony to complete.”
“I only brought one ring,” Fiona says, her expression strained.
Ah, yes. I read about this. On my way here, I consumed every possible piece of information I could about humans—their culture, their rituals, their world. I knew that coming from Arshur, things would be very different here, and I wanted to be as prepared as possible.
I wonder if this idiot Khesan has taken that kind of time or initiative.
“That is all right,” I say, tucking my hands behind my back. “What if you saved the ring until the thirty-day trial is up and you have made your choice?”
It will be me at the finish line, as she is my heart’s song. I am already greedy to learn every inch of her, to glean everything I can about who she is. I want to explore everything I can by the end of this one Earth month.
Yes, I even learned how long Earth months are, even though back home we count time in days, moon turns, and seasons.
“I guess I could do that,” Fiona says, lowering the ring in her hand. She glances at Gazargo for confirmation.
He sighs and shrugs, clearly growing impatient. “Whatever you like. Now, are all of you ready with your commitments?”
I read about these, too, but what I had rehearsed makes no sense now that I know she’s my mate, my destined. Before, I was promising to grow to love her, to be trustworthy and dedicated until love blossomed between us. Now that I know who she is, though… things have changed. I will need to adjust accordingly.
“I will go first,” Khesan says quickly. He retrieves something from his pocket. So, he did come prepared—but he didn’t memorize it.
I decide to let him say his piece before I do, so that I can make a fool of him when it’s my turn.
His tail twitches behind him as he begins. “I may not know your name yet,” he reads off the tablet, “but I can promise you that I am, as you humans say, ‘all in.’”
Vakha. He studied, too.
“I promise to look after you, and protect you, and defend you from any other males?—”
Fiona’s face is turning pinker and pinker, which I have learned from the Human Fact Sheet is a sign of stress.
“You won’t need to do any of that,” she says quickly, interrupting him.
Khesan blinks at her, and then down at his communicator, trying to remember where he left off. “And defend you… no, we’re cutting that part…” He clears his throat and stands up straight again. “I will honor you, and bring respect to our family name.”
There’s silence, and then Fiona seems to realize that Khesan is finished.
“Oh,” she says in that high voice again. “Those are, um, nice vows. Thank you, Khesan.”
“I will go next,” I say, stepping forward. Fiona’s gaze darts over to me.
“Okay.” She swallows. “Sure.”
“I did not know what to expect upon coming here,” I begin, speaking not from memory, but from my heart. “I did not know that upon arriving, I would be greeted by the most beautiful creature to exist. That I would scent my fated mate.”
Fiona’s eyes widen.
“But beauty is inside and out. And while I find you lovely to look upon, I can’t wait to learn even more of your beauty. Everything that is you, I want to know. So I can truly be the partner you sought when you applied.”
The only sound is a low hiss from Khesan.
“I hope I can become that.” I slowly reach out toward where Fiona stands stock-still, and I lay my palm on her cheek. “And build a life with you.”
Khesan’s hiss grows louder.
