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“Um, sir. Humans are not like other females.” I look at him.
“Go on.” I am intrigued by this information.
“Well, sir, what I have learned from the human females I have worked with in the past and with my own mate: Humans do not like being ordered about.” I figured that out. “They will resist strong attempts at authoritarian behavior from males. What we consider discipline. Often they will act like they are acquiescing while they are subverting your authority or worse manipulating you. But they tend to be open or, at least, working for our benefit.” I hear the wisdom in his words. “My mate even thinks the criminal funding the Misagians is a female. It seems that, in their history, they had females who drew great power by hiding behind their males and manipulating them from behind the scenes.”
“That makes sense, I hadn’t thought of that,” I respond. “You are truly fortunate to have such a wise mate with the good sense to agree to mating with a worthy male such as yourself.” He chuckles.
“Sir, I had to convince her to be my mate. In fact, I had to agree to get reassigned to an on planet duty, after this mission is complete.” My shock must have been visible as he nodded. “She was very insistent that she wouldn’t allow me to claim her unless I agreed to ‘be home every night’. Her first mate, her husband, was a military officer and died while on a mission in a war zone. She didn’t want to go through that again.”
“I see.” Very reasonable.
“Captain…Tet… you need to talk to your mate...woo her,” he explains. “You can’t just say ‘I am your mate and you will do what I say.’ I feel that you will find that Kelsey will do everything contrary to your wants and needs until she is courted,” Yes…this is true…I will consider this, “and wants to be an asset for you. The more you and Tan bluster, the more she is going to ignore you.”
“Why would the gods curse us with such a mate?” I chuckle at this, “Tan isn’t going to be happy about this. He really likes order, predictability, and our mate is anything but predictable.”
“Well, sir, maybe the gods felt you and your brother need to loosen up a bit.” He is on the edge of insubordination, but I think I know where his thought processes are leading, “I find that with Maryellen, it is important to talk to her, listen to her, and learn how she thinks. It made it easy for me to make decisions that are good for both of us, not just my career and my life. I have been given the greatest gift. Is it convenient, no. However, she makes me very happy and we haven’t actually mated.”
“You haven’t claimed her yet!” I say, concerned.
“Sir, I told you, I needed to get her to want to be with me.” He takes a breath, “Also, I am a father now. We have a youngling to worry about. Which is why I am here. The females will not allow me to sleep in the same room as my mate unless you perform a marry ceremony.”
“What is a ‘marry ceremony’?” I ask.
“It is a Earth custom and they say I can not be with my mate unless I have marry ceremony with her.” he explains, “They said that even though we do not have a religious leader on board, there is a precedence for ship’s captain to do such a ritual.”
“But I do not know how to do this marry ceremony.” I am nervous about what this ceremony means.
“Do you think you could ask your mate?” He suggests, “It might be a way to start conversations about humans with her.” Yes, this is a good idea. I will ask Kelsey to explain this marry ceremony.
“I will do this.” I agree, “When will this ceremony take place?”
“After third shift meal?” He asks, “I really do not want to spend anymore time away from my mate as I am forced to.”
“Should we not make a bit more than a simple ceremony?” I suggest, “Maybe a bit of a party will satisfy the females and make them see that the males of the Patience will be good mates for them.” I smile at the captain’s optimism.
“It could not hurt, Sir.” He smiles, rises from his seat, and places his hand to his chest before departing my quarters. He has given me a lot to think on. I have already witnessed how Kelsey handles orders. I will need to take time and figure out how to get her to accept her new life.
Tet, where are you two. I need Kelsey.
Be there in a few minutes. I will need to drag her away from her friends.
I heave a big sigh at the thought of what my brother and I will need to do in order to get this human claimed and mated. While I am frustrated, I also have a strange sense of rightness. Like the Universe has a plan for us and it will work out.
Chapter Nine
Kelsey
Tan and I returned to their quarters...I guess, our quarters. Tet is on the lounger with his hand to his brow, as if his thoughts are troubling him. When he looks up and sees us it is like a cloud is lifted from his face.
I am so glad you are here, my heart, he says in my mind.
“How can I help you?” I am just not used to this speaking in the mind thing yet nor having this male look to me for help. They just like ordering me around.
We do not order you around. They both do that think speak thing.
“Yes, yes, you both do,” I tell them bluntly. “What is it you need from me? And can you just talk to me out loud?”
“Um, yes, my heart.” I do like that endearment. Tet gets a slight smile.
