“It’s annoying.” Or so she assumed, having heard and seen the crabby, crying kids on planes and in airports.
“Your career is more satisfying than creating and nurturing life?”
“It is to me,” she hotly defended. “And seeing as your lifestyle is no different than mine, I don’t think you get to judge.”
“Fair point.” His slight smile shouldn’t have made her tummy flutter. “If you have no interest in a permanent bond, then why facilitate it for others?”
A good question. “I kind of stumbled upon matchmaking by accident, and it turned out I’m good at it.” Ironic for a woman who couldn’t claim she’d ever actually been in love.
“Which must be why the Oracle chose you to give us aid.”
“How does this Oracle know about me? Are the Xanadus spying on us or something?”
“Xamian,” he corrected. “And, yes, we studied your kind. We did so for many of your Earth years before we began mating your females to our warriors. However, the process is time-consuming for the Oracle, not to mention, not all the warriors have vocal ancestors capable of helping facilitate the matches. That is where your expertise is needed.”
“This partnership you keep mentioning, how would that work exactly? I assume you have a list of guys looking for brides.”
The computer replied. “My databank has a file stored with the information on eligible bachelors. Simply advise me as to a preferred output, and I can provide it that you might run it against suitable female profiles.”
“Yeah, it’s going to be slightly more complicated than that,” Colette murmured. “You’re talking about matchmaking blue-skinned aliens. It’s not going to be as easy as posting a headshot and women going nuts asking to get hitched and…” She paused to glance at Cade. “I assume, since I’ve heard nothing of blue dudes on Earth, that the ones who’ve found wives take them back to your home world.”
“They do.”
“So, not only do we need to find women who are open-minded to the concept of dating a completely different species, but they’ll have to uproot their entire lives, leave their family and friends. Will they have a way of communicating and visiting once they go?”
“I’m unsure.” Cade’s brow furrowed. “The Oracle didn’t really delve into some of the finer aspects of this exchange.”
An even more pressing thought hit. “What does the military and government know about your kind? Are they aware you’ve been visiting and taking women? Will they be okay with you being more public about your wife-hunting attempts?”
Cade cleared his throat. “They are currently unaware of our existence; however, the second part of our mission involves informing them of our presence and forging a peaceful alliance with the various leaders, since you do not have a single planetary governing body.”
“Don’t count on every country agreeing.”
“Why would they refuse?”
Had he not studied their politics at all? “Because, for example, if you align with China first, then most likely the United States won’t.”
“They are enemies?”
“Of sorts.” She paused then added, “If you had to pick and choose, I’d probably start with the United States, and not just because I’m American. The USA is considered to be one of the top three global powers. If you can get them to accept your presence, then a slew of other countries will follow suit.”
“Thank you for the advice. Any idea on how we should begin the treaty with this United States government?”
She shrugged. “No idea, but I wouldn’t recommend just showing up in the White House. The president’s security team is likely to shoot you before they let you talk.”
“Sounds like I might let Jaspar handle it then.”
“Who’s Jaspar?”
“My partner on this mission.”
“Is he big and blue too?”
“What other color would he be?” Cade sounded genuinely puzzled.
“So the alien dudes looking for wives are all blue. Anything else they have in common?”
“They’re warriors,” he added.
