“Good morning,” the old woman said. A smile stretched on her thin, almost non-existent, lips.
“Hello,” I said as I began to shiver.
“I am the Admiral Ven’s Network of Artificial Intelligence for Drakcol or NAID for short.”
“This is your normal appearance?” I asked, taking in her grandmother-like face.
“No,” she said with a shake of her head, which was beyond odd because she didn’t have a neck. “This is Edith Smith, age ninety-two. From Bakersfield, California. My consciousness has read and watched all humanity has to offer. It has been an interesting addition to my knowledge. In the end, I chose this appearance out of the billions on your planet because I believed it would have a soothing effect. I can choose another if that is preferable.”
I shook my head. While I didn’t necessarily find the old woman comforting, NAID could’ve conjured much worse. “What do you want?”
“I want you to eat. You’ve slept for thirty-nine hours. Prince Kalvoxrencol has paced outside your door for seventy-two point five percent of that time and has asked for two hundred and forty-four updates. Your inability to adapt is affecting the prince’s mein, which impedes my functions.”
“How?”
“His constant need for updates. In addition, his desperate need for information on human health. All are consuming more of my processes, hindering the ship’s other functions.”
“Shouldn’t you be able to do everything?” While I wouldn’t consider myself an expert on anything sci-fi, having fallen asleep in the last movie I’d watched, I would’ve assumed she could do everything at once.
“No, I am not functioning at full capacity. I require updates.”
“What?” I asked, chuckling.
“Prince Kalvoxrencol demanded we leave immediately after the Crystal connected the two of you. Their royal majesties refused. I was still being uploaded on the Admiral Ven, as the ship was nearing the final stages of completion.
“Eventually, their majesties relented, and we left before I reached my full capacity or was connected to the main hub of NAID.” Her voice sounded old, but she had little to no inflection.
“He fought to get me?”
No one had ever wanted me that badly. Of course, he didn’t actually know me.And he fucking kidnapped me, I reminded myself fiercely. I refused to fall into a bad Stockholm syndrome romance. The dude was a kidnapper.
“You are now his.”
I scowled. “I don’t belong to anyone.”
“American.”
“Excuse me?”
“I believe that is the correct response to an overly individualistic expression,” she replied. “Was I incorrect?”
Hysterical laughter bubbled up my throat, and I forced it down to say, “I own myself.”
“I did not say he owned you. Seth Harris, you are a being unto yourself. But you belong to Prince Kalvoxrencol. He is your mate or husband in human terms, and you are his soulmate.”
“Does that mean he belongs to me?” I asked, shoving a hand through my hair.
“Yes.”
My heart oddly thumped. I ignored it. “What do you want me to do?”
“Feed yourself and your Lucy.”
Lucy. I’d fed her before falling asleep but not since. I immediately grabbed a can of cat food, and Lucy raced over, tail vibrating in happiness.
“Lucy will need more food.”
Her head bobbed, which made her curls bounce. “I have studied all the veterinary texts and have begun to translate them for Dr. Qinlin. She will create a safe food plan for her and you. Though, by my estimates, you will be perfectly safe to consume (untranslated word) food.”
