Page 29 of I Married Amreth

I refocused on the scientists just as they finished their tests. Based on their body language, they hadn’t found anything suspicious or that could aid their research. Ciara gestured to the Kreelar hunters, indicating that they could take the meat away. She then faced me while her companions turned towards the lab only to stop dead in their tracks as they finally noticed me.

“An Obosian!” Ernst whispered with shock, quickly replaced by excitement.

He swiftly approached me, followed by the two women. I remained still as he closed the distance between us.

“My Lord, we’re so glad to see you. Where are the others?” he asked, peering over my shoulder.

“I came here alone. There’s no one else, only me,” I replied in a calm voice. “And you can simply call me Amreth.”

In theory, he should indeed address me as Lord Amreth as I was of noble descent. Many of my peers were sticklers for hierarchy. I didn’t particularly care. And under the circumstances, those stiff protocols didn’t seem appropriate. The approving glimmer in my mate’s eyes did something delightful to me. I hadn’t done it to impress her, but I welcomed anything that could help smitten her towards me.

He blinked with confusion. “Alone? Whatever for?”

With a will of their own, my eyes flicked towards Ciara. I caught myself right before I would have told him that I came to rescue my mate. While true, it didn’t feel appropriate for me to expose the nature of our bond without her consent. Althoughshe had acknowledged knowing of our connection, she was yet to express any eagerness to see it through.

“He came for me,” Ciara responded in my stead, stunning all of us.

“For you?” Ernst and Mehreen echoed simultaneously.

The most adorable timid expression flashed over my woman’s face even as she tried to look nonchalant.

“Guys, please meet Amreth Vahna, a Warden on Molvi, who also happens to be my soulmate. Kayog matched us right before the Gladius was attacked.”

The way her companions’ mouths dropped, and their eyes nearly popped out of their heads would have been hilarious if I had not been too busy preening to have thus been publicly claimed. Ciara didn’t strike me as the type who loved to boast. To me, that she openly revealed this to the others broadcast that she was committed enough about us working out that she had no qualms sharing it.

“Kayog? The Temern matchmaker?!” Mehreen exclaimed.

Ciara nodded.

“Holy cow! I didn’t know you sought out his services,” she added.

My mate snorted and shook her head. “I didn’t. We met on the ship and started talking after assisting a woman who was feeling a little under the weather. And next thing you know, boom, he told me he knew my soulmate.”

“But… But when did you two get to talk before we got abducted?!” Ernst challenged.

“We didn’t,” Amreth replied in a factual manner. “Once it was confirmed that Ciara was among the missing, Kayog contacted me.”

“And so you decided to come rescue her?!” Mehreen asked, an air of pure awe descending over her features.

“Of course. What kind of male would I be if I did not?”

My mate burst out laughing, while Ernst rolled his eyes with false despair when Mehreen pressed both her palms to her chest and stared at me with an air of wonder.

“Be still my heart! That’s so freaking romantic. Please tell me you have a single brother!”

It was my turn to burst out laughing. “I do,” I replied with a nod.

“I demand a formal introduction,” Mehreen said before shamelessly batting her eyelashes.

“Woman, rein yourself in, and stop flirting with my man,” Ciara said with false severity.

That, too, did funny things to me. It was silly how much pleasure I derived from her possessive display of me, however playful as this current situation was.

“Spoil sport,” Mehreen replied with an exaggerated pout. “Anyway, the name is Mehreen, and he is Ernst.”

“He already knows and has read all our files on his way here. Now let’s go eat. We can catch him up on the parts I haven’t gotten around to.”

We all fell into step following her lead. It was starting to become apparent to me that the two scientists deferred to my woman’s authority. She led us into one of the houses adjacent to the lab. To my surprise, the interior had been set up as a meeting room next to a dining area. The table was already laden with a generous amount of food. To my dismay as we took our seats, I noticed the substantial percentage of fruits and vegetables with only a small portion of meat and some dry breads.

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