I Married Amreth (Prime Mating Agency)

Chapter 1

Ciara

I brought another fancy hors-d’oeuvre to my lips as I gazed upon the diverse crowd around me. I couldn’t decide if amusement or disgust dominated within me as I watched them sucking up to each other. Although their behavior was expected, it still boggled my mind that after having achieved such high levels of expertise in their respective fields, they still had to debase themselves in this fashion.

Then again, I couldn’t blame them. Getting an invitation to the Intergalactic Medicine Symposium pretty much qualified as a lifetime achievement in and of itself. The biggest names in the medical and pharmaceutical fields throughout our sector of the galaxy always attended. This constituted the ultimate opportunity for lobbying, jockeying for a prestigious job, securing much needed funding for a new project or research, as well as sweet talking potential donors into becoming your patron.

Personally, I had no time for this shameful but necessary administrative aspect of the medical field. I was just happy to have earned a ticket so that I could meet my hero. As an epidemiologist with the Interstellar Doctors Organization—a galactic entity similar to Earth’s Doctors Without Borders—I always dreamt of being part of the type of life-changing discovery Dr. Elias Jacobs achieved a decade ago.

During a routine research mission, his team was attacked by a wild beast from whom he derived the revolutionary Simian Serum 12—commonly referred to as SS12. That wondrous chemical transmitter not only stopped but also reversed degenerative diseases for multiple sentient species. Things such as dementia, Parkinson’s, and Alzheimer’s were now a thing of the past. And that included their equivalent among most non-human species.

I just hoped for a chance to get even a five-minute one-on-one with Dr. Jacobs. But that would require me to be a bit more aggressive. Most of my colleagues, current and former, were boldly approaching all the people they wanted to interact with. While I wasn’t the skittish or easily intimidated type, I didn’t particularly care for having to elbow my way through the throngs for a bit of attention. Still, it would be dumb of me to let this once in a lifetime opportunity go to waste just because I didn’t feel like coming out of my comfort zone.

Heaving a sigh, I popped another of those overly fancy—but insanely delicious—amuse bouche, chugged down the remaining two sips of my sparkling wine, dropped the empty glass at the corner of the table, and headed towards the other end of the room where the masses were surrounding Jacobs.

It was slow progress, with so many people of diverse species forming clusters of varying sizes. I politely exchanged smiles, nods, and even a few words with acquaintances along the way. But it wasn’t until halfway through that my steps faltered. The golden and maroon feathers of a tall bird-like male caught my attention. I did a double take upon realizing it was the famous Kayog Voln.

He ran the highly reputable Prime Mating Agency. They specialized in finding life partners for primitive aliens. Unlike most other matrimonial agencies, they had a 100% success rate for all the actual matches they performed. The challenge was actually getting matched. Over the years, they got flooded with countless requests. But it wasn’t like they—although I should probably say he —could simply wave a wand to pull out the name of your soulmate. Kayog needed to have met both partners to be able to recognize them as the perfect pair. From my understanding, as an Edal—a rare trait for the people of his species—he could hear the songs of two souls and recognize them as being in harmony.

What the hell is he doing in a medical symposium?!

The question no sooner popped into my mind than the answer revealed itself. One of the many people surrounding him shifted to the side, thus revealing the stunning silhouette of his mate, Linsea Voln. Where he was fully maroon with golden down feathers on his chest and face, with a fluffy, long, white tail, she would compare to a snow owl, with her pristine white feathers and a smattering of dark spots on her chest.

Linsea worked as an ambassador for the United Planets Organization. As such, among the many high-profile cases she got involved in, the Temern female often facilitated collaborations between species when it involved access to rare medical resources, among other things.

I couldn’t help but to stop dead in my tracks to admire the couple. They were holding hands like two young lovers. Every time he would glance at her with his silver eyes, the tenderness—if not adoration—that shone within melted me from the inside out… not to mention stirred a hint of envy. From what I seemed to recall, they met in college and had been married for a little over thirty years.

What wouldn’t I give for someone to look at me the way he did her after such a long time together?

Despite the stiffness of his beak, he was warmly smiling at Demetra Stamos. I didn’t need to be within range to know she was telling him about her romantic woes. The poor woman had been married and divorced more times than I could count. Unfortunately, she was one of those who tended to be in love with the idea of love more than with their actual partner. For her, being single for even a day meant that somehow, she failed as a woman. It saddened me to the extent that Demetra was otherwise a beautiful, extremely smart, and delightful person. She just kept settling for the wrong guy. A compliment and a seductive smile sufficed for her to be swept off her feet.

Hopefully, Kayog can give her the happily ever after she desperately seeks.

Just as I was going to turn away and resume my arduous journey towards Dr. Jacobs, Kayog suddenly frowned. His smile faded, and he jerked his head to peer at something towards the back of the room to his right. His frown deepened as he stared intently in that same direction. Curious as to what prompted this odd reaction, I followed his gaze.

It took me a moment to realize what had caught his attention with so many bodies moving about. A woman I didn’t know was leaning against the wall for support, her brow creased. She took in a couple of deep breaths then straightened, casting discreet glances around her as if to make sure she hadn’t brought any attention to herself. I narrowed my eyes at her, looking for any signs that she might require an intervention. Although she outwardly looked fine now, one look at Kayog indicated that his concern had increased.

As if in response to that thought, the Temern excused himself to his mate and Demetra and made a beeline for the woman. Without thinking, I followed. The swarm of people made my progress challenging. But I no longer focused on Kayog. Beads of sweat were appearing on the woman’s forehead as she once more winced. Understanding she had something likely too serious to just wait out, the woman headed towards the exit.

Having attended many of these large events where a variety of alien foods were served, I’d grown used to at least a handful of people getting sick and feeling embarrassed about it after eating something they shouldn’t have. But where else would you get such an opportunity to sample as diverse a selection of off-world cuisine?

The woman exited the room a good minute before either Kayog or I managed to reach the door of the massive reception hall used for the event. Just as he was about to step outside, the Temern suddenly jerked his head to the left to look at me over his shoulder. For some stupid reason, my stomach dropped, as if I’d been caught red handed committing a crime or stalking. He locked eyes with me, tension visible in his.

“Are you a doctor?” he asked as a greeting.

“Yes,” I replied.

“Good. Follow me. This woman is unwell.”

Without waiting for my response, he turned around and rushed outside the room. He wasn’t running, but his long strides had me half jogging to keep up. His massive wings partially blocked my view as we exited into the large promenade of the humongous vessel the event was taking place in. From here, we could look at the four stories above us as well as glimpse at the three more below. Each level had its own balcony which grew narrower the higher up you went, giving almost the illusion of the promenade being an amphitheater. Various sets of elevators at each end, and in the middle of each side provided a quick way to the other floors. However, majestic staircases also provided a more casual access.

I finally spotted the woman a short way ahead. She appeared wobbly on her feet. I couldn’t tell whether she had intended to go to one of the hygiene rooms, back to her quarters, or to the Infirmary. Whatever her plan, she clearly wasn’t going to make it.

With everyone busy inside, none of the handful of people loitering on the promenade appeared to notice her distress. A soft gasp escaped me when, with two powerful flaps of his wings, Kayog suddenly lunged forward. Barely a couple of seconds later, the woman collapsed. Swooping in, the Temern caught her right before she would hit the ground. I ran towards them, my movements impeded by the formfitting evening gown I was wearing as well as my high heels.

That didn’t stop me from typing a few instructions on my bracer to activate my medical scanner. The Temern turned around to face me just as I was reaching them. He didn’t say a word, content to hold her like a bride while I ran my scanner over her. The woman was moaning in pain, more beads of sweat dampening her forehead.

“Looks like she’s having an anaphylactic reaction,” I said, glimpsing at the scan results populating the holographic screen that projected off my bracer. “We need to get her to the med bay at once.”

I glanced at the elevators located about fifty meters away even as I spoke those words. “I will fly up. It will be much faster than waiting for the lift,” Kayog said.

“Good idea. I’ll meet you up there,” I replied with a nod.

With one powerful flap, the Temern soared and quickly flew up to the top balcony, four floors higher. As I raced to the elevators, I couldn’t help but admire his strength and the grace of his movements. From my understanding, Kayog was in his early sixties. And yet he looked no older than someone in his early to mid-forties. This was in no small part due to his incredible fitness level.

That male was buff, although with the slender body of a swimmer rather than the bulky one of a bodybuilder. It shouldn’t surprise me as he had been a jock in his teens.

As expected, the lift took far too long to arrive and get me to my destination. You would think such a luxury cruise ship would have much faster elevators. However, it had been a deliberate design to make them slower so that people could enjoy the view of the promenade and the relaxing orchestral music within. Patrons on these vessels were expected to be laid back, not rushing like one would in a shopping mall. But this also made for a frustrating experience when in a rush.

Thankfully, the staff elevators had no such speed restrictions.

Although it had only been a couple of minutes, I finally reached the top floor after what felt like an eternity. I ran to the Infirmary to find Kayog standing alone in the waiting area by the reception.

“She’s inside with Dr. Alicent,” Kayog replied to my unspoken question.

“Oh, excellent!” I said with relief. “Alicent is an excellent doctor. That poor woman is in good hands. Thank you for being so swift. It must be amazing to be able to sense things the way you do. As a doctor, it would be the greatest gift.”

He chuckled and gave me an indulgent smile. “It is indeed quite practical. People so often convince themselves that they’re fine when they in fact are not. But while I have that gift, you’re not lacking either. You were quite sensitive to the situation as well.”

I waved a dismissive hand. “I’m merely observant. And even then, without you drawing my attention to her, I probably wouldn’t have noticed.”

“Fair enough,” he conceded. “However, many others noticed my reaction, but only you and my mate wanted to help. It says a lot about your character. You’re caring, which is a wonderful trait to have in your profession. But it doesn’t surprise me. Your soul is quite beautiful.”

My cheeks heated as his words deeply moved me. Although masters in the art of diplomacy, Temerns weren’t known to be flatterers. He wouldn’t say something so kind unless he truly meant it, which made it even more special.

I was struggling to find an appropriate response without making a fool out of myself when the door to the examination rooms opened.

“Ciara! What a pleasant surprise!” Alicent said, her blue eyes sparkling as smile lines wrinkled their corners. “Am I to understand you are the doctor who swiftly assessed a potential allergic reaction?”

I nodded.

“Well, you were right on the money. The alien seafood in the hors-d’oeuvre did not agree with her,” the older lady said with an overly exaggerated air of discouragement.

I snorted. “A classic. Do you need any help?”

Alicent shook her head, her curly black locks streaked with gray bouncing around her wizened face.

“I’m good. You go have fun. And thanks for bringing her so swiftly. She would have had a very unpleasant time getting here on her own,” Alicent said, smiling in turn at the Temern and me.

“Our pleasure,” Kayog replied.

We waved goodbye and headed out of the infirmary with a nod to the nurse who also acted as the receptionist.

“The Intergalactic Medicine Symposium seems like quite the change of scenery for you,” I said teasingly as we walked towards the elevators.

He raised a feathery eyebrow as he gave me a sideways glance with a hint of amusement. “What would make you say that?”

“Aren’t you the famous Kayog Voln, the Matchmaking God of the galaxy?”

He threw his head back and burst out laughing. It was full, throaty, and powerful in a way that was incredibly contagious. I found myself chuckling as well.

“Matchmaking God… That has a very nice ring to it. My beloved Linsea will not approve of you stroking my considerable ego on that matter,” he said teasingly. “But you have an unfair advantage over me.”

“Oh? And what is that?” I asked as he pressed the button for the elevator to bring us back down to the main floor where the symposium was taking place.

“You know who I am, but I only overheard your name when the doctor greeted you,” he said with a dramatic air of being wounded.

I couldn’t help but chuckle again while shaking my head at him. I had heard of his playful and mischievous personality, but I never expected he would be this delightful in person.

“Apologies,” I replied in the same overly dramatic fashion while pressing a palm to my chest. “Forgive my epic rudeness, Master Voln. My name is Ciara Stark, medical doctor with an epidemiology specialization, and a proud member of the Interstellar Doctors Organization for the past fourteen years.”

“Fantastic! I’m impressed. Well, Dr. Stark, would it be too bold of me to address you by your first name?”

I grinned. “Not at all, Kayog. These events may be a bit stuffy, but I’m far more laidback.”

“Thank the Maker!” he replied with an exaggerated relief that made me smile further. “My Linsea constantly rolls her eyes at me for my lack of decorum in these types of settings.”

I gave him a sympathetic look, even though I knew he was grossly misrepresenting how badly he misbehaved. Although brief, the period during which I observed him with his mate showed he perfectly handled himself in these stuck-up environments.

“I can only imagine. What I have a harder time picturing is how a matchmaker and an ambassador ended up getting married. I never thought such a pairing would work, and yet you two look absolutely perfect together,” I mused aloud.

His face melted with that same tenderness he displayed the few times I caught him glancing at his wife.

“We’re indeed perfect for each other. She’s my soulmate. And this pairing is quite useful. Every time I accompany my beloved to these types of events, I get to meet countless people, which further helps me find the right match. And that usually occurs in the most unexpected places.”

I nodded as the lift came to a stop. “That makes sense,” I said while stepping out of the cabin.

“But what of you, Ciara?” he asked as we walked back towards the gathering hall at a leisurely stroll. “I do not see a ring on your finger. But feel free to tell me to mind my own business.”

I shrugged. “It’s okay. My life is nothing like the type of stories you’ve probably heard a billion times before. There’s no ring because I threw it in his face before kicking him to the curb once I found out he was stealing my research.”

“Oh no!” Kayog exclaimed with a genuine air of sympathy.

For some silly reason, that touched me. I gave him a resigned smile.

“Sadly yes. Collin also worked with the Interstellar Doctors Organization. Like me, he specialized in epidemiology. We worked on a couple of projects together and started dating. I like to pride myself in being a smart woman, but I was so freaking blind. He never loved me. The entire time, he was using me to prepare the type of article that would open many doors for him .”

“Ambition can be a cancer in many relationships,” Kayog replied with an apologetic expression.

“Right, except it was completely dumb in our case since I’ve never been the ambitious type. All the idiot had to do was to ask for my help, and I would have given it freely. I didn’t need the glory. He would have been entirely welcome to it,” I said, the old anger resurfacing.

“I’m sorry. You certainly deserved better. Was that recent?” he asked, in a gentle, almost paternal fashion.

I smiled reassuringly and shook my head. “No. It all went down a few years ago.”

He hesitated and appeared to carefully choose his words as he came to a stop near the railing at the edge of the promenade looking down onto the lower floors. I stopped as well and eyed him with curiosity.

“Do you still have feelings for him?”

I snorted and looked at him as if he had lost his mind. “Good God, no! I’m definitely not pining for that asshole. The feelings I still have for him are a strong urge to punch him in the throat. But no, I’m beyond over him. I was devastated when it happened, but I’m glad it did. I dodged a major bullet. Next time, I’m steering clear of anyone who is also in the medical field and who has big ambitions.”

He cocked his head in that odd way birds often did as he eyed me with great intensity. “No medical field… Hmm. And what else would you like or not like in a potential mate?”

I chuckled, suddenly realizing that he was doing his thing of assessing every person he met as a potential candidate for him to matchmake. Although I’d been single for a while, I wasn’t actively on the market to find a mate. That said, now that I had the Matchmaking God’s full attention, I suddenly found myself caught up in the game and wondering if he actually could find my soulmate.

“Well, since you’re asking, I would want someone who is Collin’s opposite when it comes to values. He would need to be honest, with solid morals, generous, selfless, and in this relationship for me, not what he can get out of me.”

The Temern nodded, his beak stretching in as wide a smile as its stiffness allowed. “Someone trustworthy and highly principled like an Obosian?”

“Oh, God!” I said, fanning myself in an overly dramatic fashion. “You should know better than to tease a woman with the prospect of marriage to one of those fine specimens,” I added, casting a not-so-subtle look at one of the two Obosian guards patrolling the promenade. “Too bad they won’t give us the time of day.”

It was his turn to chuckle. “I do get an insane number of requests from human females to be paired with one of these impressive males. So does that mean you would love to be matched with an Obosian?”

“Of course! What a silly question to ask,” I said, giving him a playfully chastising look.

“Excellent! Because your soulmate happens to be one!” Kayog exclaimed enthusiastically.

My brain froze, and I gaped at him, wondering if he was pulling my leg.

“Are you serious?!”

He nodded. “While you were helping me with that poor woman, I realized that your soul felt familiar. I wanted to talk to you to confirm my suspicions. And there is no doubt in my mind that you are Lord Amreth Vahna’s soulmate. He is a Warden on Molvi, and a most wonderful male.”

“Are you for real?!” I insisted, my mind reeling at such a prospect.

“Yes, Ciara. This is real. I can be quite the mischievous brat when I set my mind to it. But when it comes to pairing soulmates, I never play, and I’m never wrong. You and Lord Amreth were made for each other. Of this, I am certain.”

“Oh, my God!” I whispered, pressing my palms to my cheeks.

An Obosian… My soulmate was one of those hot as fuck Hell Lords!

Kayog grinned. “Am I sensing that you approve?”

“Well duh?!” I replied, as if he had said something dumb.

He burst out laughing. “I’m glad to hear it. Sadly, now isn’t the time to discuss. My beloved is waiting. But in the morning, before we depart, you and I should talk further.”

I nodded enthusiastically. “Absolutely!”

“Good. Why don’t you come with me? I’ll introduce you to my Linsea.”

“I would love to,” I said as we headed back towards the large doors of the gathering hall.

I couldn’t help but stretch my neck to get another glimpse at one of the Obosian guards, my fertile imagination going wild wondering what mine looked like. I was especially curious about the piercings their people were so fond of. I immediately clamped down on those naughty thoughts for fear the Temern’s empathic abilities would rat me out.

“By the way, you should be aware that the Prime Mating Agency will not handle your pairing,” he explained carefully. “As neither of you belong to a primitive species, we cannot get involved in an official capacity. However, I will make the introductions between you as a friend.”

“Thank you,” I said with genuine gratitude as we made our way to his beautiful mate.

“There you are!” Linsea said with a slightly disapproving tone—although I didn’t miss the underlying playfulness. “I was starting to feel abandoned.”

“Never, my love. Ever!” Kayog said, drawing her into his embrace before gently rubbing his beak against hers.

The love that radiated between them felt like a living entity. This time, the wave of envy that wanted to surge within me was quickly squashed by an overwhelming sense of anticipation. Would I, too, have something this powerful with my Amreth?

“My Linsea, I bring a new friend. Please meet Ciara Stark,” Kayog said, after releasing his mate. “Ciara, please meet the love of my life, Linsea Voln.”

“It is a pleasure to meet you, Ciara,” Linsea said in a friendly voice that felt like being wrapped in a warm blanket.

“The pleasure is all mine, in more ways than one,” I said with a similar tone.

“Should that reassure me that my mate wasn’t up to any mischief?” she asked teasingly.

Kayog scoffed as if she had said something offensive. “I’m always up to mischief… and to matchmaking…”

“To matchmaking?” Linsea echoed, her eyes widening.

He nodded with a smug expression while I gave her a timid smile, suddenly feeling self-conscious for no good reason.

“Absolutely. I forgot to add that Ciara also happens to be Lord Amreth’s soulmate.”

“No!” Linsea exclaimed, pressing both her palms to her chest with an air of incredulous happiness. “That is the most wondrous news! Amreth is such an amazing and selfless male. Not to mention very easy on the eyes!”

“Hey!” Kayog exclaimed with false outrage.

Linsea and I both burst out laughing. She playfully elbowed him while giving him a dismissive look. “Oh, hush, husband. Anyone with eyes can see how handsome he is. Even you have said as much.”

“Right, but I’m a male, and a pathetically insecure one at that,” he said in a pouty tone.

She snorted. “Your ego is too immense for you to even begin to understand what being insecure could be like. And yet, I love you regardless.”

“Because I’m lovable, huggable, and insanely adorable,” he said smugly, wrapping a wing around her to draw her closer to him.

His mate facepalmed while I laughed. They were both ridiculously adorable. I opened my mouth to say as much when a loud explosion rocked the ship.

Fearful screams filled the room as the alarm went off and blinking yellow lights started flashing around the edges of the high ceiling.

“The ship is under attack,” said the soothing voice of the ship’s artificial intelligence through the com. “Emergency lockdown activated. All civilians, please shelter in place.”