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“Why weren’t you—” Sarus began, but did not finish the question because he did not want the obligation of giving Horas an answer in kind. The other male’s nostrils flared, but he did not pursue the topic. Instead, Sarus asked, “Have you received a response from the crown?”
“Only that the king’s advisors are looking into the matter,” Horas replied. He changed the subject. “I do not wish to finish the games.”
Appalled and confused, Sarus asked, “Are you forfeiting?”
The older male’s eyes narrowed. “Of course not. I want to mate our bride before reporting to the embassy. If we present ourselves as already mated, then she will legally belong to us and we will forgo the foolishness of these distasteful games.”
Sarus liked the idea.
Evangeline reached down to scratch Poppet between the ears and set the improvised cat toy aside. She looked at the two males, her intuition tingling. “What have you two been discussing?”
“You overheard what we said?” Horas inquired in a mild tone as he leaned back, displaying impressive musculature that the woman had a hard time not focusing on.
“You were rumbling. That’s enough to tell me that you were talking about something you didn’t want me to overhear. Now spit it out.”
Horas turned his head toward the fireplace, gurgled, and spat. The wood on the hearth caught fire when his spittle hit it. Evangeline gasped in shock. She collected herself and said, “That’s not what I meant.”
“What did you mean, little flame?”
She ignored the moniker and answered, “Just tell me. I’m an adult, remember? A fully functional, intelligent person who has reached the age of maturity.”
“We wish to mate you,” he answered to see how the bald statement would be received.
“I know that; you’ve made that perfectly clear,” she retorted.
“Today,” Horas clarified.
Evangeline shot to her feet and took a couple of steps backward. “And do I get a say in this?”
“We would like you to agree,” Horas said.
She frowned. “And if I don’t?”
“Then you risk being given to Engineer Arrenji shih Tezk,” he replied.
“You risk much,” Sarus muttered at the low auditory pitch humans could not discern.
“Trust me,” Horas replied at the same low pitch.
“Why now, all of a sudden?” Evangeline demanded.
Sarus favored her with a close-lipped smile so as not to frighten her with his bared teeth. “The new ambassador wishes to resume the games.”
“Are you trying to frighten her?” Horas muttered.
Evangeline shook her head. She stooped down and picked up the cat, cuddling it close to her chest. “Look, guys, there’s got to be a better way …”
“Do you trust us not to hurt you?” Horas asked.
After a long pause, Evangeline nodded, then said, “I do. But that’s because you want me to agree to marry you.”
“We do want you as our mate, and your government will not allow you to return to Earth. The ambassador will see you mated to an Ahn’hudi male, regardless of your preferences. You would not be the first,” Sarus said.
Her eyes narrowed and her pink lips pressed into a thin line of disapproval.
Horas added, “We are honorable males, little flame. You will want for nothing as our mate.”
“Will Iwantfor freedom?” she snapped.
