Tek led Mary to the couch and sat next to her. He wanted so badly to kiss her, but he would not. She was finally open to the idea of him not being of earthly origins, which meant, she would be his. After all, she had agreed that he could prove he was “alien” she would “ghrata the night away” with him. He’d agreed to her bargain, and on his world, one’s word was one’s bond.

Which meant, the Oracle had been right—Geru had given him another chance with his mate. One of these days, he would stop doubting the Oracle, but it was hard to believe he would finally get the happiness he sought for so long.

Mary cleared her throat and gave him a tentative glance. “So, you’re from…where again?”

“Kratania,” he said. He took her hand and kissed her fingertips, confused when she pulled her hand back. He could smell her desire for him, and he’d proven his worth as a mate, along with proving he wasn’t a human. Why was she playing coy?

Mary chewed her lower lip for a moment, and it was the cutest thing Tek had ever seen. He wanted to ask if he could nibble the lip as well, but he held his tongue and waited for her to respond.

Finally, Mary met his gaze. “Never heard of it.”

Tek smiled. “Of course not, my harataya. It’s not located in your galaxy. But we’ve known of Earth for generations. Some of our people have re-settled here.”

“Like…Ancient Aliens? You know, it has that guy with the wild hair and wilder theories?”

Tek frowned. Sometimes the way Mary spoke made him believe she was larsu, or what the earthlings called “touched in the head.” Even so, he wanted her, regardless of whether her mental facilities were damaged. He would make sure she got the help she needed.

Mary waved her hand. “Never mind. This is what I get for watching the History Channel instead of the Science Channel. I don’t know much about space and time and wormholes. Unless you count marathoning Deep Space Nine.”

Tek breathed a sigh of relief. His mate wasn’t crazy. She just watched too much television. A medium he’d avoided after seeing the trauma shows. Mary’s nervousness was obvious, especially in the way she was communicating. Tek wanted to put her at ease. “I am sure my world is like nothing you’ve seen on TV. The only thing more beautiful than Kratania is you.”

Mary blushed and inhaled deeply. “I keep wanting to deny you are who you say you are, but since I just used a portal to travel instantaneously and you found Carlotta with your sense of smell, I won’t debate that you are, in fact, an alien. Why are you here?”

“I have already told you, I am here for you. As a royal and the next in line to rule our planet, I went to the Oracle and asked for Geru’s guidance. You were revealed as my mate. You are the one meant for me, Mary. And I for you.”

“Uh, we don’t have a jay-roo here. So I wasn’t informed about mating with a royal alien.”

“Not jay-roo. Jeh-rue.”

“Got it.”

Tek studied her expression. She looked dazed and seemed to have lost color in her cheeks. “I have burdened you with too much.” He took her hand into his. “Will you come to Kratania with me? Just for a few days. I want you to see my planet and meet my family.”

“You want me to meet your parents? We haven’t even been on a first date!”

“Do you require a date to travel home with me?” Tek checked his wrist unit, disguised as an Apple watch, and looked at the Earth’s calendar. “Today is the sixteenth. So, this is our first date. No, yesterday was our first date,” he corrected. After all, the Earth days ended at midnight. “So this is our second date.” He looked at her, pleased with his clever assessment.

Mary, though, looked chagrined. “That’s not what I meant—you know, it doesn’t matter. Where do we go from here?”

Tek held her gaze. Why was she being so resistant? He’d held up his side of the bargain. By his estimation, she should be more amenable to coming home with him and taking her place as his mate. “As we discussed,” he said. “Ghrata.”

“Look, this whole ghrata thing. We don’t have that on Earth. I can’t just leave my planet and go visit another world. I have a life here. Responsibilities. A job.”

“It is the weekend,” said Tek. “So, you are free for the next couple of days.”

“That’s not the point,” she said softly. “I’m sorry, Tek. This is too unreal.” She stood up. “I really do appreciate your help with Carlotta. And I do hope you find your true mate. But I promise you that it’s not me. Your Geru got it wrong.”

Tek knew in his very heart that if Mary saw his world and spent time with him there, he could show her that they were meant to be. He could not let her go. Besides, a deal was a deal. How could she know if she’d made a good bargain if she didn’t at least give him and Kratania a chance?

He rose to his feet. He reached into his shirt to touch the stone. “I am sorry, too. I hope you will forgive me.”

“There’s nothing to—“

“Gauher.” Sleep.

Green mist hissed out from the stone and entered Mary’s mouth. Her eyes went wide, and then closed as she went limp.

He caught her easily and swung her up into his arms. Then he pressed the stone once more. “Shema.”