“The fact that you’re thinking of going to Earth would probably scare the crap out of Gerri. That might be what gets her over here. Either way, I'll remind her she doesn’t want you down there. You'll scare the humans.”
Alyx glanced down at his body. “Not my fault I’m big.”
Karel barked a laugh. “Oh no, my friend, you’re not merely big. You’re huge. I don't think they're used to seeing almost seven feet of pure muscle with hair like yours.”
Alyx glanced at the image of Earth. Maybe he should go there and see if his lion was attracted to any of the humans. “Comes with the territory. I'm a lion.”
“You're more than just a lion. You’re the king. Unfortunately, being king also means you're hardheaded and not willing to compromise, but you will for Gerri. She's coming, and you're going to need to make sure she helps you.”
He did need the matchmaker’s help. Fuck! A relative of his mother’s best friend, Geraldine had a gift. She could sense in ways no one else could who would be the right match for shifters. When they met, it was usually a done deal. Her last trip to Aurora had gotten at least fifty couples mated, and all it had taken was the fall festival to get them all together. That had been the time she offered to help him find a queen. He’d laughed at her and said finding the right woman would be a piece of cake.
“It’s not so easy to find the right woman,” he mumbled the same words Gerri had said to him.
“What exactly are you looking for? Maybe I can help Gerri search for your woman.”
He doubted it. If he hadn’t met her in all his travels and events, then she was probably not anywhere on the planet. “All I want is someone who will be with me. A woman who is not afraid of taking charge. If she has to get her hands dirty, then so be it. Anything could happen in our kingdom. You know our allies are our friends, but farther south things are rocky. We don’t go down there enough. The tribes in the Ice Mountains dislike pretty much everyone.”
“So what you're saying is you want someone ready to fight? She definitely can't be afraid of you.” Karel gave a long-suffering sigh. “You are very growly, but you're still a good guy.”#p#分页标题#e#
“Thanks. I think.”
“No thanks needed, Alyx. You really are a good guy. Stop stressing. We’re going to find you the right woman. I know we are.” He pressed a button on Alyx’s desk, and a map of the southern Ice Mountains popped up. “I’m worried about them.”
Alyx nodded, still pacing his office. “There has been talk that without a solid family, I’m an easy target. Not to mention all I have are my female cousins. Very few want to take over. They don’t want to handle fights or men debating with each other over watering holes. They find it tedious and boring.”
Karel glanced at the first rays of the setting golden sun. “Well, there's very little we can do about that. Getting you mated can make sure you’re established. Your family will be solid, and there's not going to be any question of who's in charge. The Ice Mountain Pack is angry. You gave the Tiger Nation a piece of land that belonged to them, and now they see you as an enemy.”
Alyx always listened to his instincts. He sensed the danger for months now, had his guards on alert and kept everyone watching the Ice Mountains. He should never have declined Gerri’s help. The lion inside him pushed to get out. He sensed danger as well. Fuck it. If it came down to it, he’d call and apologize to the mean old woman if that got her to come. There was no going around it. She had to help him.
“Nadeeya keeps asking about your mate of choice,” Karel said, zooming into the Ice Mountains. Alyx couldn’t figure out how those wolves lived under year-round snowy conditions. It was crazy.
“She keeps offering to help me find someone,” Alyx grumbled. “Even went as far as offering herself if I run out of time.”
Karel made a face of disgust. “Okay, so I know a lot of tribes go as far as mating with family members, but I thought we’d evolved past that.”
Yeah, no kidding. The idea of his own cousin, who was like a sister to him, killed any sexual thoughts. “We have. It’s why I told her to forget about it. I’ll find my own mate.”
“If it’s getting like that, then I’m gonna beg Gerri to get her ass here.”
Alyx would have to call. Dammit! He hated it, but it looked like he’d have to apologize.
FOUR
Bella bounced on her heels in excitement. She’d had asked her best friend, Charlotte, to take care of her little cat while she was gone. According to Gerri, the trip would be short in Aurora time, but in Earth time she’d be gone for weeks, possibly months.