Page 32 of Mated on Live

“The whole universe knows that,” he waved away her surprise. “But as for our mating? That occurs as slow or as fast as we desire it.”

“What about the royal party?”

Just like that, his eyes sharpened. He was brought back to reality. “Of course, we’re still going to that. I might not get another chance to get into the pod or the palace. But I do still need to take you home. Eventually. We’ll get there, lov’alel. But you want adventure first, right?”

She brightened eagerly. “You bet I do!”

He nodded once. “Good. Then, you’ll like this. We’ll go shopping while we’re there. You’ll wear a traditional Holivair dress. They’ll adore you because you’re new and human. And while they’re distracted, I’ll sneak out and find any evidence or information I can.”

“Yes!” Sophie beamed, excited. “I get to help?”

“Why wouldn’t you help?”

She shrugged. “I guess I just kind of figured that you wouldn’t want me involved.”

“Nonsense, lov’alel.” He leaned in and kissed her forehead. “You are my mate. Which makes you my partner. I will assist you with your videos. You will assist with mine. We will help each other.”

She beamed excitedly. “I can’t wait.”

“Now, are we going to finish our questions for your viewers?”

“Oh!” She jumped, flushing as she remembered everything that had driven them back into her room to begin with. She had cut the Q&A recording short when he had admitted he didn't tell his family about her. But she still had more questions. “Yeah. Let’s go do that.”

She grabbed his hand and pulled him back into the hall. Although the long tube-like structure wasn’t big enough for them to walk abreast, she could still lead him.

“Aren’t round tunnels a waste of space?” She asked, looking back over her shoulder.

Serval cocked his head. “What do you mean?”

“Well, like, if every room and hallway is round, doesn’t that leave a lot of empty space between them? Or is that where the wires and engine or something are?”

“The engine?” He laughed.

She glared at him. “Hey, I don’t know anything about spaceships. Don’t mock me.”

“It’s water.”

“What’s water?”

“The space between the walls and rooms. It’s filled with water.”

Surprised, Sophie came to a halt and turned back to him. “Water? This is all… Your spaceship is filled with water?”

He nodded once.

“Why?”

“So that I can swim, of course.”

She looked at the wall. The yellow light that seemed embedded within the opaque screen. Beyond it was water?

“My ship has Standard connections and controls, but the style is allowee in origin. My entire ship is round. The rooms and tunnels are kept dry, but it’s all suspended in ocean water so that I can swim and maintain my health.”

“Oh, wow,” she mumbled, turning around and trying to see if she could tell that there was water beyond the walls. She just thought they liked round architecture, but it was a deliberate choice so he’d have space to swim in and around all the rooms.

“I’ll take you swimming later,” he promised.

“I can’t really hold my breath as long as you can.”

---