Page 94 of Right Next Door
“Well, that was certainly informative,” the Imperium said, unmistakable mirth in their robotic voice.
Tsok frowned at them. “I feel like I misstepped somewhere there.”
“Is she not happy to marry you?” Boktare asked, his voice hard and suspicious.
“I thought she was,” Tsok frowned.
“Well, did you ask her?” The High Imperium inquired, still sounding annoyingly amused. Like they knew something Tsok didn’t.
“We were discussing it even just last night. She seemed willing.”
“Yes, but did youask?”
Tsok frowned. “She told me that I don’t need to ask for every little thing.”
“You consider your mating to be a little thing?”
The realization struck. He groaned, sitting back. “That’s why she was mad. She wanted to be asked formally. The proposal for marriage is its own tradition among humans. I was so focused on the wedding part, I completely forgot about that.”
Boktare chuckled at him. “I think you need to learn how to communicate better with your mate.”
Tsok let out a long sigh. “I seem to keep committing offenses against her. She calls me an emotional virgin. I suppose it’s an apt enough description.”
“We should spend more time together,” Boktare laughed. “This wedding planning will be good for you. I’ve been mated for many years. I have a great deal of experience to share in that regard.”
Tsok stood up straight. “You’d be willing to advise me in this?” That was surprising.
Then again, maybe it wasn’t. They might have been standing on opposite sides of an argument, but at the end of the day, they both wanted the same thing – the safety and happiness of their people. Tsok had never had a personal issue with Boktare.
“You must learn to listen to your instincts,” the elder male said with the sort of sage grace only gained through time and experience.
“I specifically cannot,” Tsok countered. “The entire basis of my argument is built on the concept of ignoring my instincts.”
“I don’t mean your rut.” Boktare waved aside his words. “We enter the rut only once in our lives. You think the only instincts you have towards your female are connected to that. You have somany more. So many good instincts inside you to care for her. You merely need learn to listen to them.”
Listen to his instincts…
Now there was a novel idea he’d never tried.
Tsok chuckled, inclining his head. “I bow to your greater wisdom, senior.”
“It just so happens,” the High Imperium started, pleased, “I have an idea for how to make it up to her.”
Chapter 33
Misty
“I’m confused,” Flik admitted as Misty angrily braided the back of his hand. Like a henna tattoo made of fur. She needed to practice with shorter fur, and he was willing to let her go down his hand despite not letting her go all the way up his arm.
“He just assumed I’m going to marry him,” she said, pulling too tight, making him grumble.
“But you were, weren’t you?”
“Of course, I was! That doesn’t mean I want to be taken for granted. Nor do I want a group of politicians in a boardroom to plan my wedding for me. I get it’s supposed to be our cultures combining so they’ll want a say, but I can certainly do that in my planning. It’smywedding, I would like to plan it.”
“Did you tell him that?”
She glared, tightening his braid again. “You’re supposed to be on my side.”
