CHAPTER 12
“What does being mated mean, exactly?” I asked as I eyed the King suspiciously.
“It is a lifelong bond,” he replied. “Mates can sense one another, their strong emotions. There is a pull between them all their lives. It is sacred to us as a people.”
“What if I don’t want to be mated?” I asked. “You know I didn’t ask for this.”
The King paused. “You have to understand this has never happened before. The female initiates the mating ritual, and if the male accepts and completes the mating, the bond forms. You did not intend to initiate the ritual, but my son did intend to accept. I am told that he feels the bond.”
“Well, I don’t feel any bond, and I want a divorce,” I snapped. For the first time in weeks, I felt something other than apathy. I had been dragged through enough, and I was tired of being pushed around. If I was going to be stuck on this miserable planet, it would be on my terms.
The King bristled, and his eyes glowed red.
He seemed to expand in power, and I realized I had made a serious error.
He was the ruler of this planet and not to be trifled with.
I had forgotten that I was essentially at his mercy.
He paused and shook like a dog after a bath.
The crest on his head settled as he calmed himself.
“I understand the term divorce from our interactions with other alien beings, but that is not a procedure that exists here.
I do not know of any way to dissolve a mating bond.
Again, this is new territory for us as well.
I kept my thoughts on that to myself, determined to show a little more caution, given I would be homeless without the King’s goodwill. “So what happens now?” I asked.
“You have essentially mated into the royal family. I did not wish to push you at first, given your…difficult introduction to our society, but all members of our family have certain duties to our people. I will move you to the cottage as you wish, so you have your own territory, unencumbered by reminders of your ordeal. In exchange for the provision of all your needs, I will expect you to attend training in Ptexari court protocol at the palace. You will be instructed in our history and culture. And you will attend various events as a representative of the royal family.”
I did not want to do this. I wanted to go to the new cottage and be left alone. But I recognized I was completely dependent on the King. He could turn me out, and there would be no telling what happened to me then.
“I believe you need purpose, Andrea of Earth,” he pushed. “You tell me that your people are susceptible to maladies of the mind. Your mind has not been occupied, so it instead tortures you and forces you to relive your worst moments. I believe these duties will be beneficial to you.”
I sighed. He was probably right. Nothing good had come of me lying about, crying in bed for the past weeks.
The nightmares kept me up, and the endless days staring at the wall just made me listless and reminded me of how lonely I was.
This was the first real conversation I’d had since the day I arrived.
My fingers traced over the pink line on my forearm.
“Ok,” I said softly. “I agree.”
“Excellent,” he said. “Now, daughter, I must leave. Pack anything you wish to take with you. My guards will take you whenever you are ready.”
“Ok,” I said. The servants had left clothing for me in the drawers of my room, so I would take some of that. Other than that, I wanted nothing from this place. I’d be ready to leave in under ten minutes.