To my surprise and elation, my royal business only took several hours. I had already returned to the palace and couldn’t wait to surprise Marissa. I just had to wrap a few things up with my royal advisory team who were still with me.

I was in my great throne room when I heard yelling down the hall. Before I had time to react, Marissa barreled into the room, nearly breathing fire as she charged toward me.

I was frozen in shock for a moment, unable to react. She came within inches of my face and screamed into my ears.

“What the fuck, Kadic!” she shouted.

“What is wrong? Tell me, try to calm down.” I tried to place a hand on her shoulder, but she jerked away from me. I could feel the men’s eyes watching me to assess what my reaction would be to a screaming woman.

I was exposed, and she had me dangling by the balls.

“I’m not going to fucking calm down!” The veins in her neck swelled. “How could you lie to me just to keep me on this planet? I’m not your prisoner, you cannot hold me captive!” Her eyes were blurry with tears and she was manic, crazed and wild eyed.

I had to call attention to my advisors, still in the room with me. I turned to them, embarrassed, and tried to explain, “Gentlemen, if you could please excuse me for the moment, I’ll return shortly.”

I gently grabbed Marissa by the arm. She was oblivious to her surroundings in her panic and apparently didn’t even notice the men sitting at the table with me.

I walked her to the study on the opposite end of the hallway. I gently pushed the door closed and locked it so that I could speak with Marissa privately and get to the bottom of this problem.

“Take me back to Earth right now, Kadic.” Her voice was laced with malice and she pulled herself away from my grasp.

“Marissa, I have no idea what you are talking about. How have I deceived you?”

Cynical laughter spilled from her throat. “You lied about the time difference on the two planets!”

I shook my head, wracking my brain to understand. “I thought you knew the time on the planets was different?”

I honestly did.

“Oh wow, another lie! You are getting pretty good at this, Kadic.” She shot me a glare as she threw her arms up in the air in apparent exasperation.

I tried to reach out and touch her as a consoling effort, but she ran to the opposite end of the room.

“Marissa, I’m sorry you are so distressed about the situation. It was not a mindful attempt to deceive you.”

“I’m tired of you playing the innocent victim here,” she spat at me. “Take me home, now!”

I was growing increasingly frustrated. “It’s not that simple.”

“Well then, explain it to a dumbass like myself,” she cried, feigning stupidity.

“The spaceship is not due to return for another six weeks. I’m sorry, I thought you knew that. I thought you knew the time difference between Earth and Alpazon.”

I knew I’d already said that part before, but I was stressed out by her sudden attack and explosion of anger directed exclusively at me. “Don’t forget, Marissa, I’m not the one who lied. Celestial Mates lied.” I added this comment as a way to appease her, but it just made her more furious.

“Don’t try to blame it all on Celestial Mates. You could have brought me home that same day!” She pointed an accusatory finger at me.

“I was under the impression you were having a great time here, we’ve bonded, with some special memories.” Now I was the one feeling used.

Marissa’s face softened. “We have bonded and made special memories, yes. But Kadic, you have got to understand how hard it’s been for me on this planet. I don’t know anyone, I don’t speak the language, and everything is different here.”

Her voice began to crack, ripping open my wounded heart.

“I’m sorry,” I murmured.

“Not to mention, time just keeps ticking away back home as I sit here stuck on a slow moving planet. By the time six weeks has gone by on Alpazon, it will be six days later on Earth. I’m counting every minute here, Kadic.”

Her eyes were pleading with me. Fuck, I was so torn on what to do, but there was nothing I could do about speeding up the spaceship.

“I can’t spend another six weeks here.” She was completely broken down now.

I had so much work to do in my throne room and the men were waiting for me there. I looked to the door and back at Marissa. I wasn’t sure if she was at a point of consolation right now, but I knew I had to fix this.

“Marissa, I know you weren’t paying attention back there, but I have some men waiting for me in my throne room.” I pointed to the door.

“I don’t fucking care.” Marissa crossed her arms.

I tried to explain further, I needed to buy more time. “I’m only standing in for my father and basically acting as king. These men have traveled from the other side of the planet and will become impatient if I make them wait.”

“So?” Marissa raised her eyebrows at me.

I was distressed at that moment, conflicted between my duty as acting king and trying to diligently keep Marissa happy.

“I just need to go finish up my business with them. It will only take a few minutes. They have to leave soon and I have things to discuss with them before they are gone because they only come to this side of the planet once every six months.”

“I’m sorry, I can’t tell time on this planet and have no idea what that means,” she said sarcastically.

I shook my head. “Will you just promise to wait for me so that we can talk this over some more after they have gone?”

“Sure, fine. Whatever.” She looked at the floor.

“Thank you,” I said and ran out of the room, clinging to every precious second.