I Married A Dragon (Prime Mating Agency)(5)

I didn’t have to spell out what worries gnawed at me.

Once more, Linsea looked at me with compassion. “These are all very valid questions. However, I will let my husband answer them for you. He has already discussed the situation with Cedros, and he’s currently negotiating with the Derakeen Council.”

“He’s an ambassador, like you?” I asked, genuinely curious.

She chuckled and shook her head. “Not exactly, although one could say that a lot of his work ends up having important diplomatic and political ramifications, mainly with primitive worlds.”

I narrowed my eyes at her in reaction to her evasive response. But before I could probe her further, she suddenly perked up. Her face taking on a soft, almost timid expression, like that of a blushing bride, had me intrigued.

“Please, excuse me for a minute,” Linsea said, rising to her feet.

My eyes widened as she nervously smoothed her feathers, then exited the room. Burning with curiosity, I leaned over the table and stretched my neck to look into the hallway through the door left halfway open. My heart melted when I saw her extend her hands to a male Temern, about one head taller than she was. He had golden feathers with maroon wings.

A pang of envy coursed through me as he gently took her hands, looking at her like she was the greatest wonder of the universe. He drew her to him, and they gently stroked their beaks against each other’s before embracing. She melted in his arms, her wings flattening against her body while his massive ones wrapped around her. Eyes closed with an expression of pure bliss, the male rested his cheek on top of Linsea’s head. I couldn’t say for certain, but I could have sworn one or both of them was cooing.

With obvious reluctance, the male—who I assumed to be her husband—released her. He caressed her cheek with infinite tenderness, which elicited that same almost timid expression from Linsea. After rubbing beaks with her one last time, he took her hand and led her towards the room I was sitting in.

I swiftly leaned back in my chair, feeling a little guilty for spying on their moment of affection. What I wouldn’t give to share that kind of connection with someone. I’d been single for far too long. It wasn’t like the Enforcers didn’t have plenty of great males of every species to pick from, but none of them stirred me the right way.

“Kaida, please meet my husband, Kayog Voln,” Linsea said as soon as they entered the room. “My love, this is Kaida Daigo, Cedros’s Ejaya.”

“Miss Daigo, it is a pleasure to meet you at last,” Kayog said, his silver eyes sparkling with both kindness and amusement.

My face immediately heated. Although he wasn’t a mind-reader, I strongly suspected he knew I’d spied on them. If he hadn’t seen me, he’d more than likely felt my emotions. The subtle broadening of his smile seemed to confirm my assumptions.

“The pleasure is mine, Mr. Voln,” I said as they both took a seat in the chairs across the table from me.

“I understand you are on a first name basis with my beloved,” Kayog said in a sweet and cheery voice. “May I be so bold as to ask for the same privilege?”

“Sure, I’m also not big on formalities,” I said with a grin, instantly liking him. “But I have to say that it’s quite adorable seeing the two of you working together.”

They both chuckled. Kayog cast an affectionate glance at his mate and caressed her cheek with the back of his hand. He then refocused his attention on me.

“Believe me, Kaida, it is far too rare a pleasure. Our respective careers force us both to travel a lot, often to opposite ends of the galaxy. But we seize every opportunity to be together.”

“Right. Linsea said you aren’t an ambassador like her. May I ask what you do?” I asked.

By the look he gave me, Kayog was not fooled by my less-than-subtle attempt at finding out how the heck he fit into this whole dragon mess.

“I am the founder and lead agent of the Prime Mating Agency,” Kayog said.

My brain froze. “You’re a primitive alien matchmaker?”

I flinched as soon as the words left my mouth. I hadn’t meant to sound derogatory or disrespectful. To my relief, Linsea chuckled while Kayog burst out laughing.

“I certainly am that, among other things,” the Temern said in an amused voice.

I smiled back before quickly sobering. I licked my lips nervously as I carefully chose my words. “Look… uh… I’m not sure how you fit into this entire situation. However, while I’m quite willing to take on the mission Linsea was mentioning earlier, I have absolutely no intention of getting shackled into a marriage of convenience with some stranger.”

“A very understandable and reasonable response,” Kayog conceded, sobering as well. He cast an inquisitive look at his mate. “How far had your discussion gone before I interrupted?”

“Your timing was perfect, Kay. We had just reached your part in this,” Linsea said.

“Excellent,” he replied, turning back to me. “As my Linsea probably mentioned to you, I’ve had discussions with both Cedros and the Derakeen Council. While he’s very open to anything that would be agreeable to you, the Council not so much. They are pretty adamant about you complying with their laws as Cedros is one of their most powerful Shadow Lords. A marriage of convenience was the only temporary commitment they would agree to.”