Closing my eyes, I do as she asks, picturing that future: Khesan in his belt and collar, dancing and dancing. Fiona curled up in my lap during a movie. My two mates, together with me forever.
After a few minutes have passed, she opens her eyes and smiles at each of us. “I’m not going to give up,” she says. “I won’t.”
I nod, though I don’t know if even her optimism can change our fate. The gods must not understand much about humans to have arranged this.
That night, after pleasuring both my mates until they cry out, I tell them how much I love them. Then I sleep with one of them under each arm, dreading what tomorrow brings.
We are up early to go to the spaceport. I pack my belongings and bring them up to the top of the stairs so I am ready. Fiona pauses when she sees them, and her brows lower.
“Shathar, what is this?”
I sigh because we have already visited the topic. “I am just being prepared.”
But I don’t like it when her eyes go glassy again.
“No,” she says. “We’re not bringing your bags.”
“I would rather return home with my?—”
“No!” Fiona runs to me and throws her arms around me. “I’m not letting you go home, Shathar!”
I don’t know if it will be a matter of letting, but perhaps she can ship my things back to Arshur. So I pat her back and say, “Alright. I will leave them here.”
“Good. Because you’re coming home with us.”
I have never seen her so adamant, so I keep my objections to myself as we all get in the car and head for the spaceport.
We find a spot to park in the massive lot, and Fiona still has a sour look on her face as Khesan and I get out. She storms on ahead, and Khesan shoots me a bewildered expression as we follow her. I suppose we are not waiting for Amara, Roth’kar, and Marguerite to arrive, who are our witnesses.
Inside, the spaceport is just as massive and loud as it was the last time we were here. How things have changed since then. Khesan takes my hand in his, and as we walk, he leans down close to my ear.
“I will trade with you,” he says, loud enough for me to hear over the engines but only me. “You ought to stay. If the matchmaker truly demands that one of us go, I will have the easiest time returning to Arshur. You sold your business, Shathar. You gave up everything. My family is wealthy and will be happy to have me back.”
I shake my head. “But you are young?—”
“No. You will stay.”
I grit my teeth but say nothing in response. We will see when the time comes. I know my role, and it is to ensure my two mates have happiness.
Finally, we reach the room at the far end of the spaceport where we all met once upon a time. Inside, the little Frahma appears to be playing a game on his tablet.
“Oh, this Candy Crush,” he says to himself as we enter. Then he notices us and hastily puts it away. “Ahem. Hello. Good to see the, uh, three of you again.” He cocks his head. “I expected we would have heard from you by now.”
I cross my arms. “We have made it work.”
“Good. Then you’ve decided who you would like to marry, Fiona?” He takes out a different tablet. “We can sign the final paperwork.”
That’s when Fiona breaks free of us. She runs to the wrinkly little alien matchmaker and stops right in front of him.
“Please,” she says, clasping her hands together. “Please, I want… I want both of them. Please don’t make me send someone home!”
He stares at her. Then the door opens, and Amara pokes her head in.
“Is it time?” she asks, then sees Fiona. “Oh. Sorry. We can come back.”
“No, no,” says the matchmaker, gesturing for them to come in. “Get seated, why don’t you?”
Amara, Roth’kar, and Marguerite all file into the little room and find chairs.
