Page 5 of Proslo

“I’m afraid protocol locks all exits once a match occurs until their mate arrives,” Xeranos informed me.

“But that’s kidnapping!” I shouted.

“It’s for your own safety. Early on, one of our brides was seriously injured after panicking and running into a nearby busy road.” Lechand’s tone was gentle and he looked at me with concern. “I’m afraid your phone signal will likewise be blocked, as another previous incident saw a friend contacting Humans First and they attacked the center even though the bride and her mate had already gone.”

“You can’t do this,” I insisted. “You can’t force me to marry some guy I’ve never met.”

Lechand ‘s expression turned to one of dismay.

“You did understand that by applying and completing the match screening process, which you gave a thumbprint to indicate you were in agreement with by way of the first question, that if you were matched, you automatically became legally married?”

I licked my lips. It had said that, yes, and I had ticked the I understand and agree box and added my thumbprint. It had also been clear when I booked my appointment slot online and ticked yes to agreeing to those terms and provided them with a digital signature.

“One in a billion,” I whispered. “The odds were at least one in a billion.”

“And you’re that one! Trust me, toots, you’ve won the lottery,” Xeranos chirped cheerily.

I sank down to the floor and began counting my breaths.

“Perfect match, right?” I laughed weakly.

Lechand smiled at me approvingly. “Guaranteed,” he nodded, coming around the desk to offer me his hand to help pull me up. I took it, wincing as I stood. Getting down onto the floor had felt easy at the time. Getting up? Not so much, my body protesting in a way that reminded me that I was fast approaching the big four oh. “He’s really your chief medical officer?”

“He is. You’re quite lucky. He’ll be the one overseeing your education.”

“And if I don’t want him to? Can another doctor do it?”

“I suppose so.” He gave me a puzzled look.

“Good. I, ah, wouldn’t want any other students or anybody else thinking I was getting preferential treatment.”

“I see. Well, I’m sure after the two of you talk things through about it, following the completion of your mating and your human wedding ceremony and honeymoon, you’ll find what will work best.”

“I’d planned to apply to become a foster parent,” I blurted out.

His face brightened. “That’s wonderful! The process will be much easier now that you’re a Mylos.”

“Do you think he’ll mind? Maybe he’d rather just have a biological child.”

“I think it highly likely that he’d love to do both, but you’ll have to speak with him and discuss it. I’m afraid I only know him by reputation.”

“I can’t go up without Pumpkin,” I told him, changing the subject.

“He’ll arrive with a few males who will go pack your things up. You can both accompany them and retrieve your pet, assuming that’s the name of your cat.”

I nodded vigorously.

“Tell you what. You sit back over there and get comfortable and I’ll make you a calming cup of tea. You can drink it while watching the orientation vid Commander Gundar’s mate had made. It’ll tell you all about the community you’ll find yourself in.”

I let him guide me over to the sofa and the wall behind the stuffed chairs changed to become a screen. This was good, I decided. It wasn’t what I expected, but given my luck or rather lack thereof, I should have expected it, really. And finding out in advance about the place I was going wasn’t a bad idea. Preparation and all that. He left and returned moments later with a cup of what tasted like chamomile tea. I took a sip and let the warmth seep into my bones.

4

PROSLO

“You seemed to have a moment up there,” Kimo said, pulling me aside as everyone began to leave.

I swallowed thickly. “I did,” I admitted. “For some reason, I suddenly remembered the day my father died.”