Page 12 of Kailirex

“No, nothing like that. Just…galaxies above! This is going to mess with our production schedule!” I was going to have to delegate more than I had been, for sure. “I’ve got to go,” I repeated. “I’ve been matched.”

“Really? That’s fantastic!” Tithys shouted.

“Don’t worry about a thing, sir. We know what to do and if anything actually needs your attention, we’ll send you a comm message. Go fetch your bride.”

I nodded. Yes, that was what I needed to do. I had a bride waiting for me. On Earth, so I needed to get to the shuttle bay Xeranos texted in the message. So why were my feet seemingly rooted in place? My kunnarskyn chimed again, letting me know I had a voice comm. I answered it, wondering who could possibly be calling me now. Huh. It was a Lieutenant Piloris, from the quartermaster’s office.

“Kailirex here,” I answered crisply, proud of how steady my voice sounded.

“I just received notice that you were matched at the same time I was,” he began.

“Oh, wow,” Tithys breathed.

“It seems our matches are siblings who shared an appointment. I’ll meet you at the shuttle in ten minutes, I’m just about to arrange our new quarters first. Are you aware our mates wish us to share a dwelling?”

“I hadn’t read the file yet,” I confessed.

“Neither have I. Xeranos alerted me to that fact as part of the housing request that came through at the same time. Anyway, that will require some configurations, which will take a few days. I’ll explain more on the trip down.”

Share quarters? I definitely had never considered that as a future possibility, but if that is what they wished, then that is what our brides would have.

“I’m on my way now,” I said, my temporary paralysis gone.

“See you soon.” Piloris ended the comm.

“Invite us to the wedding!” Ritl called out.

Wedding…I hope our brides knew what they wanted and that it wouldn’t require a lot of planning on my part. I hurried through the door before lengthening my stride to eat up the distance along the corridor.

“Already so much to do,” I murmured, but my hearts didn't feel heavy at the extra that had just landed at my feet. I smiled, feeling happy. “I’ve got a mate!” I said aloud, startling a crewman walking past.

“Congratulations,” they smiled at me before continuing on their way.

I reached the elevator. “Shuttle bay 3-C,” I requested once I’d gotten inside. As the doors closed and the elevator began to move it hit me, I was now a mated male! My life had just changed forever. Work would take a back seat to my mate and any young we’d have. I smiled. Today was turning out to be a good one after all.