And perhaps the worst problem of all: Ganrax has ruined me for all other men. I’m beyond aware that on that point he’s right. I’ll never in my life feel the kind of odd fated connection I feel toward him. If I walk away, I will live a sad unfulfilled lonely life.

What infuriates me is that he’s not giving me a choice. Though it is possible none of this is his fault. He’s as much a victim of Fate as I am. He had no idea who would be his mate until I stepped into the club. He didn’t pick me. Fate picked me. He’s just following Her orders.

Is that even a thing? It’s preposterous and frustrating. I can’t stand the idea that my freewill has been taken from me. Except, I also remind myself that I did make a choice. I chose to come to Club Zoom. I knew the risks, and I chose to ignore them. That’s on me.

Suddenly I have questions. “How long have you been here at Club Zoom?” I murmur, not lifting my gaze.

“Five nights.”

“How long would you have stayed if you hadn’t met me tonight?”

“Until you came to the club, Little one. That’s how it works. We’re not permitted to leave the club and wander around in society. Our size would draw too much attention. Our safety could not be guaranteed. Your species has weapons that could lead to our death. In addition, your government and others on this planet are not understanding of our assertion that our mates are chosen by a higher presence. They ignore that fact and permit this symbiotic relationship for the betterment of your waning planet.”

I know what he’s speaking of. I’m aware that there are ten locations like this one on Earth. The governments agreed to this arrangement out of self-preservation. Without the expertise of the Eleadians, Earth will cease to exist. Decades of poor choices have led to the increasing destruction of the planet. In exchange for help from the superior knowledge of the Eleadians, these powerful aliens have been permitted to set up ten clubs across the globe where they follow strict guidelines in order to find women.

“I’m not buying it either,” I mutter.

“I know it’s hard to wrap your head around, Little one, but you do feel it. You can deny it for as long as you’d like, but in your soul, you know I’m right. You know you’re just as much mine as I am yours.”

Shit. He’s right. I splash the water, not caring that it lands all over him and the counter and probably the floor. “But you cheat. You have that stupid needle in your mouth.”

Ganrax doesn’t flinch. “You know that’s not true, either, Baby girl,” he says in his infuriatingly calm tone. “You were there when I stepped onto the dance floor. You felt me coming and knew you were mine before you ever turned around. My quill only helps. Our fate had already been sealed.”

Shit, shit, shit. He’s right again.

“If you’ll look at me, I’ll share another fact with you so we can proceed.”

I’m running out of arguments, but that doesn’t make me less angry. Mostly I’m angry with myself. I made this decision to come to Club Zoom to satisfy my stupid curiosity. I was also cocky about it, being sassy with John, the bouncer at the entrance, while simultaneously proclaiming that my life wasn’t all that interesting, and so be it if I were to get chosen. “I’m cold,” I whisper. Goosebumps have risen all over my arms, chest, and shoulders. I’m starting to shiver.

“Look at Papi while I talk to you, then I’ll let the water out and refill it as warm as you’d like.”

“What if I get hypothermia?” I grumble. I really sound like a toddler.

He chuckles. “You won’t get hypothermia. I promise. The water in the basin isn’t going to get to a temperature lower than the room itself. This isn’t the Arctic Circle, Baby girl.”

Damn him. Why is he so smart and always right? It’s maddening.

“Why do I have to look at you? Just tell me what you want to say.”

“You have to look at me because I asked you to do so. I wouldn’t be a very good Papi if I let you manipulate me into changing my orders.”

I drop my shoulders, grumbling. I’ve never been so defiant in my life, probably not even when I was a toddler.

Another minute ticks by that feels like an hour because I’m shivering. Finally I realize I have no other options, so I tip my head back, but I do so with a scowl.

He smiles at me as if I’ve pleased him greatly. “There’s my good girl. I knew she was in there somewhere.”

I narrow my gaze further. “Don’t patronize me. Say what you have to say.”

He shows no sign of being affected by my disagreeable words. Instead, he strokes my arms with his thumbs. He’s been holding my biceps this entire time. “The quill behind my front teeth has several functions.”

For some reason, this unexpected declaration makes me shudder. I don’t think I want to hear more, but I have no choice.

“As you know, it can inject a serum that acts like an aphrodisiac, making you feel amorous. In addition, it can be used to inject a painkiller, which will be convenient if you ever get injured.”

I gasp. “Seriously?”

“Yes. If you broke a bone, I could quickly stop the pain and even inject as much as you might need for the doctor to reset it. Same with stitches or even just a bruise. Though I will point out that Eleadian males are extremely overprotective, so we don’t often let our mates get into situations where they might get injured. Nevertheless, accidents can happen even in our own backyard.”

“I guess you don’t need many doctors then if no one gets injured,” I respond in the sassiest voice I’ve ever heard come from my lips.

“On the contrary, part of our overprotective nature means we take our Little girls to the doctor with far more frequency than humans. We believe in preventative medicine. You will be healthier than you’ve ever been as you acclimate to my planet.”

I groan. Great. Doctors. My favorite. Too bad my internal sarcasm doesn’t ooze out of me. Or maybe it does. Probably so considering he’s chuckling.

“My quill has one more effective use.”

“I don’t think I want to hear this.”

Another chuckle. “Probably not, but you’re going to, and let me point out that your sassy sour demeanor is adorable and in no way turning me against you.” He lifts a brow.

Asshole. I don’t dare say that out loud, especially since he’s already indicated he intends to spank me for cussing, and whatever he decides is law because he’s far too big and powerful for me to defy.

“My serum can also be used to calm you. I can inject you with varying degrees of it if needed. I could give you a tiny amount to help lower your heart rate when you’re scared or angry. I could give you a bit more to force you to relax deeper. It will act like a muscle relaxant and prevent you from being able to fight me. I can also give you enough to totally make you unconscious so you sleep.”

I gasp. “That’s over the top, Ganrax.”

He lifts his brows, saying nothing.

I sigh. “Fine, Papi. Whatever.”

“There’s my sassy girl. I will use the serum when we enter the transport vessel so that you’ll sleep all the way home.”

This time I stop breathing. “Why?”

“It takes six months to get to Eleadia, Little one, and your human body needs to be in stasis for the trip. You wouldn’t survive otherwise.”

My voice rises. “Six months?”

“Yes. You won’t even know it. When you wake up, it will seem like you just slept through the night.”

“Will you be asleep, too?”

“Nope. I’ll be taking care of you.”

I’m stunned. I never thought about this fact.

“Now, I’ll give you a choice because I know how much you like choices.”