“Yes.”
“Can I see it?”
“What would you like to see? There is a live display on the palace currently.”
“From when I arrived, please.”
A woman that had bright red hair and green scales appeared. She was wearing sharp black clothes and stood in front of the palace grounds.
“We received word that Prince Kalvoxrencol’s mate, Seth Harris, has arrived. The landing pad was cleared of all personnel, and the palace has not released any more information on his arrival. Though sources from the Admiral Ven state Seth Harris arrived with a creature from his planet. We couldn’t get an image of the animal, but from witness statements, this rendering was made.”
A picture appeared on the screen that made me laugh. It was a rough cat-shape with far too many legs, like a spider.
“Already, the Vveki Government is demanding for its release. According to the spider legislation, no one is allowed to own spiders. They must reside solely on their home planet or in the reserve on Vveek.”
I skimmed the different coverages until I reached the live feed. The same reporter with green scales stood in front of the palace. “We have received word from an unnamed source within the palace that their royal majesties have not met Seth Harris. This could be a sign that they do not intend to reaffirm the bond.
“Prince Kalvoxrencol has long been established as the problem child of the royal family. It could be that he has not proven himself worthy to keep his mate. At this point, we can only speculate why their royal majesties have not met Seth Harris. It is customary for the meeting to take place the morning after the chosen mate’s arrival, and the reaffirmation to occur in the evening. Our reporters have not caught a glimpse of the human or the royal family arriving at the Grand Sanctuary, so the reaffirmation ceremony has not taken place yet.”
She continued to talk as the camera panned over to the palace, which had a few lights shining from the many windows. Unknowingly, I’d disrupted the traditional way this was done.
Arms came around me, and I jumped. Teeth bit my neck, then a tongue ran over the same place. “What are you watching?”
“News coverage.”
Kal reached around me to turn it off. “Stop.”
“What?”
“Worrying,” he said.
“I’ve never lived like this.”
“Like what?”
My eyes flicked down to the dark screen. “With everyone watching. No one cared about my existence before.”
“It will calm down after we reaffirm our bond. We’ll go to our country home, far away, and no one will bother us.” When I didn’t say anything, he continued, “Please don’t say no now.”
“What?” I tried to look at him, but Kal held me too tight.
“Please don’t ask to go back to Earth. Not now.”
I wiggled until Kal freed me so I could turn around. “Never. I want to be here. With you.”
He smiled, revealing his sharp canines.
“We should sleep. I have to meet your family tomorrow.”
“If you’re ready.”
I would never be ready. “I’m ready.”
“Are you sure?”
“No, but the reporter knew your parents hadn’t met me.”
“They shouldn’t. No one in the palace is allowed to speak to the press, not even us, without clearing it with Jalqyn who is in charge of press relations.”
