Page 25 of A Delicate Conquest

Why did the very thought send a little electric current of anticipation down her spine?

Hiding her nervousness, Bea leaned forward assertively, propping one elbow on the chair’s armrest. “Am I, really? We’ve only met once before. He made a good impression, but I can’t sum up a person after just meeting them once or twice. Just like we humans, I assume you Kordolians are layered creatures. So, instead of askingmewhat I make of Mavrel, why don’t you tell me all about him? I assume you two know each other well enough.”

“Hm.” The corner of Zharek’s mouth quirked upwards. Why did he find that so amusing? “He is stubborn, but that isn’t out of the ordinary for our kind. Very clever. Very, very good at what he does, which is primarily the design and maintenance of machines. Generally easygoing unless you upset him—as you have witnessed. He’s also efficient and incredibly loyal—once he feels you’re worthy of his loyalty, which he’s clearly decided thatyouare. I won’t delve too deeply into politics, but he’s the third son of House Yrixis. He could have had a life of comfort and ease, but he chose to join the military instead. Something madehim want to escape that life. The same thing that’s in all of us who’ve joined the Darkstar Mercenaries. And so, here we are.”

“Oh.” Taken aback, Bea was silent for a moment. That was a lot to reveal about someone. Mavrel had lived an eventful and incomprehensible life before coming to Earth. If she hadn’t met him in person, she would have been quite intimidated by Zharek’s description. He had done allthat, and he seemed to be rather important in the Kordolian ranks.

And yet, he’d been so gentle with her, so approachable and unassuming.

The fluttering sensation in her chest danced down into the pit of her belly.

What would he make of her simple human existence? She’d worked for Garner Corp for the past three years in front reception, where she was the initial point of contact for the organization. They’d hired her because she was outgoing and confident, and she wasn’t afraid to put her foot down when circumstances called for it.

It wasn’t a particularly challenging job, but it paid the bills and gave her the freedom to pursue her real passions: art and design.

She’d never planned on working for Garner forever.

And then Mavrel had appeared out of nowhere, and she’d been swept up in that insane situation, which had forced her hand.

Just like Clarissa, she’d left the organization without any regrets.

And, as Zharek had said,here we are.

“Explain the Mating Fever to me.” Bea sensed an opening, so she pushed it further. He obviously had his own reasons, and she didn’t trust him, but Zharek was being completely open with her right now.

The Kordolian locked eyes with her, completely serious for once. “It’s a phenomenon that happens once in a Kordolian male’s lifetime. An evolutionary urge that ensures the survival of our species. As I said, it’s a biological reaction—a complex interplay of epigenetics and a rapid cascade of chemical signaling within the body. The triggering of the Mating Fever means that both of you are highly, highly genetically compatible. Think of it as an algorithmic match that accounts for the physical, biological, temperamental, and mental. It’s nature, and there isn’t anything you can do about it. It isn’t just one-sided, either. There’s a powerful reason that you can’t stop thinking about him.”

“Me?” Bea put her hand to her chest. “The Mating Fever affects me, too?”

“It isn’t as obvious as his, but there will be some degree of an effect on you, yes.”

“That’s…”

Ridiculous?

Impossible?

Unbelievable?

But here she was, on an alien space station, sitting across from a horned mad scientist guy who was acting as some sort of mildly unhinged matchmaker, and what he was saying was true.

She couldn’t stop thinking about Mavrel.

“Even so, you have all the advantages here. He’s completely enthralled by you. He’ll do anything to please and satisfy you. And soon, he’ll be accompanying you to the Cultural Event. This time is yours, Beatrice of Earth. Use it wisely. Test him. Enjoy this phase of your life. Soon, you’ll understand what I’ve been telling you.”

I still don’t understand anything at all,she thought, giddy with the possibilities.

For Mavrel certainly was hertype—she didn’t even know she had a type until she’d met him—and she wouldn’t mind having him accompany her to the event at all.

In fact, her heart leaped into her throat with the excitement of it all.

And she couldn’t help but imagine whatthatwould be like…

Getting intimate with such an alien—no,man—who’d dropped into her life like some sort of beautiful mythical creature from the heavens.

Bea’s voice turned a little hoarse. She could barely think straight. “So, what am I supposed to do now?”

“Now? You simply wait. Eventually, he’ll be back, and he’ll be falling over himself to impress you. Forget about what happened earlier between Mavrel and me. Believe me when I tell you that it’s out of character for him—that’s just the Mating Fever affecting him. Let him take you to the event. Enjoy yourself. Sometimes, you just need to let yourself ease into the slipstream of the Universe. Life’s much less fun when you fight so hard against the flow of things.”

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