“Will he inherit the throne?” Panic seized me at the thought. People, press, responsibilities, and who knew what else would be waiting. I would never be free of voices. Though, if I believed him, I could go back to Earth. Even then, my life was ruined. When I was reported missing, I’d lose my job and apartment. I had no family or friends to fall back on.
I was utterly alone.
“The Crystal chooses the next heir to the throne. His eldest brother Hallonnixmin was chosen several cycles ago. Prince Kalvoxrencol will inherit a seat in the Cohort as three of his four other older brothers will. Upon the completion of your bonding, Prince Kalvoxrencol will leave the first phase of adulthood and be able to take his seat as well as have voting rights.”
A shard of ice prodded my chest. “That’s why he wanted me.”
“I cannot speak to his private motivations, but he appealed to the Crystal for his soulmate, and it gave him you.”
No one had ever wanted me for me. I was a means to an end every damn time.
“Are you finally going to leave this room? I’ve read that humans need variety. This room alone does not offer enough mental stimulation.”
“I don’t want to see him.”
Silence was my answer. When the pervasive quiet continued, I figured NAID had left, but when I looked, I saw her staring at me, lips puckered as if she was sucking on a lemon.
“I will ask him to leave.”
“Can you do that?”
“It’s what you want.” NAID vanished.
Was it too much to hope he’d give me some space?
“He’s awake?” I asked, pacing. I’d done little else in the last week since I’d mated Seth. It was a miracle the moss hadn’t wilted from the pressure of my feet.
“Yes, and he has a request.”
“Which is?” I would give Seth whatever he wanted, anything he wanted, if it would help bridge the crater between us.
“He would like you to leave, so he may exit his room.”
“What?”
“Seth would like some time alone in the shared space.”
I wanted to see him. A week had passed since I had. “I should speak to him.” As I started to override the lock on his bedroom, Icaught a glimpse of reproach on NAID’s face. I paused. NAID did not have emotions.
“You think I should leave him be?” I asked carefully.
“Seth requested for you to leave. Respecting his boundaries is important.”
I was unwilling to leave him, but NAID was correct. Seth was allowed his space, even though I didn’t want to grant it. I wanted to hold him, talk to him, and learn everything about him.
Time and patience.
“I will seek out my oravirven. If he leaves our quarters, inform me.”
“Yes, Prince.”
I watched the door for a few breaths, hoping it would open and reveal my mate, but it remained firmly closed. I straightened my spine and left me and mine’s quarters.
“Prince, it’s yourself. How are you and yours?” Pimtimzol asked as he ripped a dead bloom off a bush.
I sank to the ground beside him in the atrium. Different colored vines stretched to the ceiling. Flowers bloomed on the many vines, filling the room with a light yet pervasive scent. The deep red full and abundant, the light green small and unobtrusive, both quite lovely in their own way.
When I didn’t answer, he looked at me. His pale green scales blended with the plants around him, while the glimpses of red and gold resembled the flowers growing within the atrium. His scales had turned jagged with age and had lost their luster, but his back was straight and his red eyes clear.
