Tek flipped Mary onto her back and covered her, tasting her breasts. He kissed their undersides before sliding his tongue around her puckered nipples. A thrill of delight stabbed him as she guided his hand to the slick folds of flesh between her legs.

“Wow. You don’t need a lot of recovery time, do you?”

He arched a brow. “Recovery time for what?”

Ah. His Mary tasted sweeter than the fruit of the Yalla tree, which only bloomed once in its entire life cycle. She was as precious as the starfire gems found in the snow-capped mountains of Arabec. Her body was lusher than verdant islands of H’entair.

Her fierce desire to protect, her kind heart, her radiant beauty—Mary was everything he’d hoped for in his mate and so much more. He wanted so much to prove that they belonged together. Not because Geru deemed them a match, but because they could love one another deeply and form an unbreakable life-bond. He wanted to show her how much she meant to him already, how important she was to him, and to his world.

“Please,” she said, her voice hoarse with need. “I want you inside me.”

Elation mixed with lust and desperation threatened to overwhelm Tek. What Mary asked for was everything he wanted. “Yes, my love.” Tek entered her, hard and fast, and sheathed his cock until the tip touched the entrance to her womb.

Her hands were everywhere—his thighs, buttocks, back, shoulders—sweeping across the bulging muscles in the arms that held her, cupping the square jaw, trailing the strong cords in his neck. Mary shuddered and writhed, bucking against him, her body begging for his domination.

“Yes, yes,” she whispered. “I feel you inside me. So good. Don’t stop.”

“I want you more than anything…than anyone,” he said. He increased the power in his thrusts, moving against her, pumping into Mary with a fierce possession.

She gasped, her body quickening to his.

“Come for me, beloved,” he said, his voice hoarse with passion. “Come with me.”

“Yes.” She clawed at his back, her hips meeting his as he sank deep inside her, their groins locked as their mutual climaxes exploded. “Yes!”

They held onto each other as they both tipped into ecstasy.

“Good childbearing hips,” said the wizened old lady. She looked older than time, her silvery gray hair coiled on her head, her rheumy eyes examining Mary like livestock, and her stooped form reminding Mary of the wicked witch in Snow White. If the blue robed crone offered Mary an apple, it was going to be a hard pass. The old lady, who’d been introduced as the all-knowing Oracle, leaned on a polished staff. A blue stone gleamed from its circular top.

“Can we move on with this inspection?” Mary asked impatiently. Naked and cold, she shivered as she stood in the small chamber. Why the hell was she doing this? Because she’d gotten to ghrata with Tek, and now she was actually considering the idea of staying on Kratania, that’s why. She didn’t have family, her friends were few, and she spent most nights watching TV and eating ice cream. A beautiful prince from another world wanted to marry her and one day rule an entire planet together.

Was it really a choice?

Not to mention her feelings for him. They’d grown exponentially since she’d gotten here, or maybe she’d just let down her walls when Tek had made love to her. A lifetime with him? Was it possible?

As the Oracle made her fourth circuit around Mary, she patted her ass. “Got some meat on your bones, don’t you?” She cackled as she peered up at Mary. “You give our crown prince something to hold onto when he’s plowing you.”

Mary’s jaw dropped, and she stared at the wise woman, unable to believe those words had just crossed such grandmotherly lips.

The Oracle struck her staff onto the marble floor, and the sound echoed throughout the circular room. “Are you worthy of our Crown Prince?” she intoned.

Mary opened her mouth, but no words came out.

The woman leaned forward and whispered, “The answer is yes.”

Swallowing the knot in her throat, Mary managed to squeak out a “Yes.”

“Good.”

Blue light issued from the staff’s unusual stone and encircled Mary. She felt heated tingles zip through her body. After the light and sensations dissipated, she felt utterly at peace. She suddenly knew that she was exactly where she belonged.

“The Prophecy Stone of Kratania has confirmed my vision,” said the Oracle. She tapped the top of the staff. “This union is blessed by Geru.” The Oracle gestured at Mary to follow her. “Come with me.”

They left the little room and entered a cozy living space. In the hearth burned a lovely fire, and the floor was littered with huge, fluffy pillows. On a tray positioned before the fireplace sat a tea service and tiny sandwiches.

“Here is your robe.”

Finally! Some freaking clothing.

Mary put on the gold robe and held her breath for a second as she waited for it to do something exciting, like the copper towel from the spa. When it did nothing but warm her body, she let out a noisy exhalation.

“Are you unwell?” the Oracle asked.

“Nope, just bracing myself for surprises.”

“You are interesting, earthling.” The woman squatted onto a pillow positioned on one side of the tray.

Mary took the other pillow and looked at the goodies. “You have no idea.” Her stomach growled. She hadn’t had a thing to eat since lunch…which seemed like a year ago.

“Go on, my princess,” said the Oracle. “Eat.”

“You don’t have to invite me twice.” She grabbed a couple of sandwiches and bit into the first one. “Mmm mmm.” She closed her eyes for a moment to savor the bite. It was creamy and tasted like peppered cucumber. The second one was sweet and crunchy like it was filled with tartly, candied gherkins.

“Is that all there is to this business?” Mary plucked another sandwich from the tray. “You pronounce me worthy of Tek and we’re done?”

“No,” said the Oracle, chuckling. “Tomorrow, Prince Tek will present you to the Court and announce you as his harataya. As is our custom, any female can challenge your claim to the throne.”

Mary nearly choked. “You mean I have to fight other women?”

“In my life as an Oracle, a thousand and three years now, no female has ever challenged Geru’s pick for Queen. It is a mere formality.”

Feeling slightly better about the situation, Mary tried a tiny square cake. It tasted like a sugared pear. Not bad. Of course, a drizzle of chocolate would’ve have made it even better. “What happens after that?”

“You perform the marriage rites.”

“Dare I ask what they involve?”

The Oracle chose a bright orange petit four and popped it into her mouth. After she chewed the treat, she looked at Mary. “You and Tek will bond before the King, Queen, and the Royal Court. After you are pledged to each other, you must retire to Tek’s chamber and perform your first sexual act as a married couple before the Guild.”

“Before the Guild does what?”

“I don’t know what you mean?”

“You said we will have sex before the Guild...” Mary waved her hands around. “Before the Guild does what?”

The old woman’s mouth turned down into a frown. “You really are an interesting child.”

“I’m beginning to suspect that you use the word ‘interesting’ when what you really mean is stupid.”

The Oracle sighed. “I mean no offense, your highness. Before. As in, in front of. In other words, you’ll have an audience the first time you do the dirty with the prince,” the Oracle said coarsely. “The Guild is made up of five powerful psychics. They will confirm your first sexual act as a married couple and make sure that his seed has been planted in you.”

“What?”

“Tek is primed to get his mate pregnant from day one and only heirs produced within the marriage are legitimate.” The old woman peered at her. “It is your duty to provide your husband with plenty of sons.”

“Is that all?” A note of sarcasm crept into the question.

The Oracle nodded. “Don’t worry, you’ll do fine.”

No, I will not do fine. Mary was in trouble. As much as she wanted Tek, all these expectations were scary. She wasn’t from this world, but she was going to rule it? And she was going have an alien’s baby before she even had a chance to adjust to being the alien’s wife. The delicious food soured in her stomach. She pressed a hand against her roiling tummy.

“I’ve never been wrong about a Queen.” The Oracle poured a cup of tea and handed it to Mary. “You are strong in mind, spirit and heart. You are the perfect match for our prince.”

“Yeah,” said Mary, clenching the teacup. “Perfect.” If by perfect, the Oracle meant, a woman who was going to run far, far away first chance she got.