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“And you really think there’s someone for me out there? Someone who would want me.”
“A perfect match is a perfect match. The DNA test is never wrong.”
“And it has never happened that a human female refused to marry the monster she was matched to...”
“Not in my time at the Temple, no. And I have heard nothing like this from my predecessors.”
I took a deep breath and considered his words. What did I have to lose?
“We can take a blood sample right now. I’ll have a servant do it. It’s a simple process. Of course, once we find you a match, there is a fee.”
“I am happy to pay it. I can pay it right now.”
“No need. We first provide the service, and once you are happy with it and you accept the woman that we have found for you, the exchange will be made. These are the rules.”
“I understand. The rules sound fair.”
“So, shall we do it?”
I nodded firmly. “Yes.”
I stood up at the same time as the priest. He left the room, and I didn’t know what to do with myself. I started pacing, hyping myself up in my head. It only took five minutes for the priest to return with a young woman servant. He told me he had another ceremony to officiate, and that he hoped to see me soon.
As the Temple servant drew my blood, I noticed I was feeling better. I’d come here not knowing what I would find and what my conversation with the priest would be. I hadn’t found out anything about myself, and I wasn’t surprised. After all this time, I knew my chances of meeting someone who knew about my species were close to zero. But I found out there was still hope for me. If the priest was certain the test would find me a match, then I owed it to myself to give it a try.
I left the Temple in high spirits. Since I was close to town, I thought of dropping by the bookstore to see if they had anything new, but then changed my mind. Precisely because I was in high spirits, it was better to return home and spend the day dreaming about my future wife. I didn’t need the people in town to remind me how hideous I was, and that if the Temple found me a match, she would probably have the same reaction upon seeing me.
Maybe I could prevent that from happening. Maybe there was a way. Things would be so much easier if only she could see my heart before seeing my face.
Chapter Four
Aura
The letter came in the mail a few days after I sent my blood sample to the Marriage Temple. Mina gave it to me without a word. I went into my room, sat on the bed, and stared at the letter. I couldn’t bring myself to open it, so I didn’t. I didn’t open it on the first day, but on the second day, I felt a little bit braver. It was a simple note that informed me the Temple had found a match for me, but it said nothing about who I was matched with. I’d hoped for more information. It also said to go to the Temple when I was ready, and that when I arrived, they would send word to my soon-to-be husband.
It sounded like there was no pressure, which was good, because I didn’t feel ready. Later, at dinner, I placed the open letter on the table and watched for Mina’s and Joseph’s reactions. Mina sighed, and Joseph reached for her hand.
“If this is what you want to do, Aura, we understand.”
“I don’t,” Mina said, quickly. “Speak for yourself. I don’t understand, and I never will.” She fixed me with her gaze. “You have a home here, with us. Why do you have to go and... and... offer yourself to a monster? A literal monster, Aura! Have you ever seen a monster?”
I frowned. “There are many species on Alia Terra... It’s true they rarely come to our small town...”
“Except for that beast I saw in the bookstore last year! I’ve never gone to the bookstore since. Not that I have money for books...”
I sighed. “I went to the bookstore countless times, and I never saw him,” I said.
The truth was, I never had money for books either, and I only went to browse the shelves. Then I realized it was only making me sad, and I stopped going. A few times, I did go specifically to try to catch a glimpse of the furry beast the townspeople kept talking about. Apparently, he came down from the mountain once a month, and didn’t have a regular schedule or anything like that. Our paths never crossed, so I gave up. Or more like I had other things on my mind. And a monster stalker, I was not.
Plus, I was pretty sure he wasn’t as scary as people said he was.
“I heard there are beautiful monsters too,” I tried. “Like... phoenixes. And dragons. I mean, dragons are big, but handsome when they turn into men.”
Mina’s gaze softened. “I hope with all my heart that your perfect match is a beautiful monster.”
I fiddled with the letter. “They mentioned nothing about him. About his kind or even his name. I don’t know if that’s the protocol.”
“And you’re sure you want to do this.”
