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“This offer will not be around for long. She will find another match. She’s seeking a whole male of her own. We had to offer her incentives before she agreed to meet you.”

“If you have struggled that hard to get her even to consider me, you could still be wasting your time. She can still refuse me.”

“We’ve been persuasive. She’s open to coupling but has asked to meet face-to-face to determine the extent of your frailty and if it’s something she is willing to burden herself with.”

This wasn’t what he wanted. Faron’s thoughts went to Kendra. They shouldn’t be interested in each other. He had no clue as to her genetic suitability or how well-matched they were. But something about her called to him, blurring his logical thoughts.

“Let me think about it.”

“There’s no time to think. You must act now. Accept this coupling, and you can move forward in your life as an active member of this family.”

“It is so sudden.”

“It’s the logical thing to do. Why hesitate?”

Faron’s head ached with indecision. Bartlek was right. The practical thing to do was to agree to this matching. He could go home, join with this female, and as long as he kept producing healthy offspring, his fragility would be overlooked. His father might even accept him back to work with him. He could have everything he’d yearned for since his accident.

But what of Kendra? She’d never considered him lacking or mocked him as happened when he encountered a Tolong woman. They were open in their derision of him. That would never change. Kendra had done the opposite. She’d stuck up for him and raged upon learning how harshly his father had treated him.

His heart sped at the thought of having Kendra by his side. He couldn’t remember a time anyone had looked out for him. It felt good. Hell, better than good, it was amazing. He would not find that with this Tolong female. She would spend her days avoiding him and making bitter comments. It sounded as if she was not keen on their coupling. She’d resent him, and Faron would spend the rest of his days with a female who barely tolerated him. Could he couple with somebody like that?

“Brother, this is your only opportunity to come back to us. I told Father I was wasting my time looking for somebody suitable, but he decided to give you a chance. This is it. If you turn down this female, you are turning your back on your family.”

Bartlek spoke the truth. Faron had been weakened by his injury. This was a chance for him. A chance to get back everything he’d lost.

“Do you agree to this meeting?” his brother asked.

“I do.” Faron’s heart felt heavy as he spoke. Numbness ran through him as he watched details come through on his port screen.

“I’ve sent you her genetic history and details of her family. Review those as soon as you can. We will arrange a meeting, and you will join together.”

Faron nodded. “As you see fit.”

“Oh, and one more thing, brother. Forget this ridiculous fraternization you have with the human. Remove that dance paint and focus on your future with this female. You cannot waste any more time on a human.” Bartlek cut the comm link.

Faron stared at the blank screen. Bartlek was right. Spending time with Kendra had not done him any good. He’d allowed his emotions to take over for the briefest of times and look where it had landed him. He was about to dance for a human. He’d been planning to partake in a courtship ritual to claim her as his own.

What had he been thinking? That was the whole problem. Spending time with Kendra had made him feel, not think. He’d allowed his unexpected desire to cloud his senses and almost missed an opportunity to match with a Tolong female. He’d given up on the idea, and the possibility of it being true frightened him. An opportunity to be back with his family. An opportunity to make his parents happy.

The numbness he felt still remained as he wiped off the body paint, changed into a jumpsuit, and stuffed his dance thong into his pocket. Kendra would never know what he’d planned. At least, he hadn’t completed the courtship dance and convinced her to be with him and then had to reject her. He would not have enjoyed seeing her hurt.

Faron would meet Kendra and explain they could no longer see each other. Then he’d start his new life back home. He had to end this emotional nonsense with Kendra once and for all.

The fact this logical step hurt so much should not bother him.

Chapter 13

Kendra paced backward and forward. She couldn’t believe she was nervous about meeting Faron again. She’d been too stunned to protest when Diadora had said she was to spend the whole day with him and had mutely nodded, accepting she couldn’t get out of this.

There was no point in arguing with Diadora. When she decided on something, you were only wasting your breath if you tried to change her mind.

But a whole day with Faron! And it would be filmed again.

Every time they’d been together, they’d ended up kissing. It wouldn’t be like that this time. This was work. She had her work game face on and wasn’t going to slip.

Kendra checked the time and frowned. Faron was late. Maybe he’d gotten cold feet and wasn’t interested in spending time with her. She ignored the ache in her stomach. She didn’t care. They meant nothing to each other. The only reason she was worried was that Diadora would yell at her if this went wrong.

Ivy strolled over, and her gaze ran over Kendra. “You could have made an effort.”