“That’s alright. I keep breathers on board. Just in case I have guests and there’s a leak into the dry parts of the ship. Or if it’s all flooded and it exceeds my ability to stay under.”
“So, does that mean everything here works underwater?”
“Of course. My ship is designed for deep space or deep sea. I am allowee, of both the land and the waves. My technology would naturally be suited for both.
“That is so cool,” Sophie beamed. “We’re adding that to the Q&A. I don’t care that no one asked. And then you can show me how you access the water. My sweeties would absolutely love to see something cool like that.”
He chuckled as she turned, leading him back towards the rec room where they had set up their cameras. She was going to have to edit out her storming off and that last question, but the rest of the interview was still good. As was what they recorded when they returned. Sliding right back into the questions like they hadn’t just had a life changing interlude.
It didn't really hit her until they finished, and she was saying her sign out.
Serval had been triggered. She had her mate. She was a mated woman.
And her adventure was just beginning.
Chapter 12
Serval
“SERVAL! I heard you got a mate!”
Wincing back, Serval immediately regretted answering the comm. Korvii’s loud, obnoxious voice nearly broke his speakers. He didn't know why he still answered comms from the annoying male. There was probably something wrong with him.
Sophie was off editing her videos for the day. They had dropped out of their subspace swing yesterday, allowing Serval to send his video to Nox. Within the mark, the interview was posted and, immediately, people had devoured it eagerly. Not just because fans of his were interested in seeing his mate, but because humans were popular. Both for their rarity and their inherent beauty.
Serval had been answering messages and coordinating with his contact on Holivair. They were going shopping in the same pod he was investigating, making themselves very public. There was no reason for anyone to think he was on the trail of a story here. Thanks to his fame, Serval was often invited out among celebrities and royals. He had many friends and contacts across the galaxy and, if he genuinely wanted to spend a relaxing day somewhere fabulous, he easily could. It would also make a good cover for being there.
They hadn’t yet reached orbit around Holivair, but they were closing in. While working, Korvii’s name came across his comm, and he just answered it. He wanted to gloat that, already, Korvii wasn’t the only one mated, and his mate would be helping him too. Not to mention, she would look even better on camera than Hela did.
However, he didn't get the chance. Korvii immediately took over the conversation.
“I caught your segment,” Korvii laughed, his three eyes glowing with amusement. “Nox finally got you with your fluff piece, eh? You were overdue for one. I thought you were going to be covering that princess’ birthday party, but your own mate? I got to admit, I lost on that one. I couldn’t make my mate a news story.”
Serval smirked. “Of course not. My mate is far superior. Worthy of being broadcast to the universe. Much more interesting than your female.”
Korvii laughed, head thrown back, fangs glinting in the light. “Interesting? More sexual, maybe. But my Hela is more beautiful, more powerful, and more useful.”
“By no measure is your female more beautiful than mine,” Serval scoffed. “If we had a poll right now, everyone would pick Sophie, and you know it.”
Korvii leaned in, smirking at him. “Sophie, eh? So that’s her name. The only reason she’d win a beauty contest is because the male half of the audience would be voting with their cocks. Anyone could tell that my Hela is far prettier. Your female is only curved. My Hela is strong and muscular with a gorgeously toned physique and a stunning face. Yours is cute, at best.”
Serval’s olules wiggled in their ribbon, eager to strike out at Korvii for daring to suggest that anyone could be lovelier than Sophie. And he was certain that Korvii would find their sting far less pleasant than his mate did.
But since he couldn’t sting through a screen, he sneered instead, crossing his arms over his chest. “Sophie is far prettier than Hela. And I’ll concede that your mate would be stronger, but mine is far more pleasurable. I can’t deny your nature any more than you can deny hers. Humans are inherently sexual. She will do things that your Hela would never be able to accomplish.”
Korvii scoffed. “What? Be conquered without breaking a sweat? Please. She’s pretty. She’s sexual. I’ll give her that. But she’s useless. You’re going to get one interesting story out of her. Maybe two when you breed her, and you get to present the first allowee hybrid. But after that? Nothing. My Hela is going to be helping me on all my stories.”
Serval laughed. “So confidently wrong you are, Korvii. I’m chasing a story on Holivair right now. And Sophie is going to be invaluable in my information gathering.”
Korvii snorted in derision. “How? Is she going to distract everyone with her human wiles?”
Serval gritted his teeth. Affronted and annoyed. A reaction that Korvii didn't miss as his eyes widened with mirth and he let out a loud, obnoxious hoot of amusement.
“She is! You’re going to use her sexuality as a distraction! Oh, yes, Serval. What a great help your mate is going to be. Shake her pretty ass at your targets until they forget to focus. How many times do you think that will work, eh? And how disrespectful from you!”
“Excuse me?”
“You’re really going to demean your female like that? By parading her around as some sensual object of distraction? Ha! I would never disrespect my female in such a way!”