What if they ask really embarrassing sexual questions? What can I say?
A better question might be what could she avoid saying, Em thought grimly. And how were she and Rarev going to be able to keep up the fiction that they were a couple if the Rigellens asked them point blank about their relationship?
Em had no idea—she just hoped they could manage somehow, seeing as how the fate of the entire Earth depended on their performance in these trials.
Don’t think about it, she told herself. Don’t let yourself dwell on the consequences of failure—concentrate on winning instead.
“Well—when do you think they’ll get started?” she murmured to Rarev. They were face to face, as he was sitting directly across from her, their knees almost touching. She nodded to the Rigellen judges, who were huddled at one end of the room, conversing with each other.
He shook his head.
“Don’t know. Soon I hope—I’d prefer to get this over with.”
“Me too,” Em admitted, glad that he felt the same.
Rarev leaned forward and took her hands in his.
“Just remember, Emilia—whatever happens, we’re in this together,” he murmured. “I know we’ve had our differences, but we’re a team now and we can do this.” He squeezed her hands and Em squeezed back, feeling comforted by his big, solid presence as well as his confidence.
“Thank you,” she murmured. “Oh—I think they’re starting. Look—they’re going over to the dome where the hyper-sexual couple is. Er, Torrid and Tabuu, I mean,” she added, blushing a bit. “I, um, that’s how I’ve been thinking of them in my head,” she explained.
Rarev nodded.
“It’s an apt description. Listen, I wonder if we’ll be able to hear what they’re saying?”
“They said we would—but how, when we’re all surrounded by these domes?” Em asked doubtfully.
But just at that moment, there was a soft click somewhere above her head and she could hear the voice of the Mining Director speaking to Lord Torrid and Lady Tabuu.
“Now then,” he said importantly. “First of all, are the two of you really an established couple?”
Em got a sick feeling in the pit of her stomach. If that was the first question they asked everyone, she was afraid that she and Rarev would be knocked out of the competition at once! But she said nothing, waiting to hear what Torrid and Tabuu would say.
There was a bit of delay as Torrid—who had been leaning over and sucking all four of his wife’s nipples in turn—straightened up and smiled at the judges.
“Assuredly yes,” he said, smiling. “Lady Tabuu and I were matched as children—which is the way of our people. We have been together for years.”
“I see.” The Mining Director nodded gravely. “And—this is the important question—do you truly love and desire each other?”
“Need you ask?” Lady Tabuu moaned, as her husband reached out and pinched all four of her nipples at once with all four of his hands. “We cannot get enough of each other. We would make love from morning ‘til night if we could!”
“And often do,” Lord Torrid added, smiling. “Our people chose us to come to these Trials because of our deep and abiding devotion for each other,” he added. “We are what is known as a True Match—which is to say, our desire for each other never slackens.”
“Very good.” The Mining Director nodded. “And would your people be good partners for the Rigellens?”
“We believe so,” Lord Torrid said. “We use only sustainable, environmentally neutral mining methods. We would extract what we want without hurting your planet.”
“I see. Good. Yes, very good.” The Mining Director and all of the judges were nodding now. “All right then, carry on pleasuring each other,” the Director said. “I believe we have everything we need from the two of you. You most definitely pass the Trial of Truth.”
“Thank you,” Lord Torrid said politely, and then he leaned forward and pressed his face to Lady Tabuu’s chest. With a low groan, he began rubbing his cheeks against all four of her breasts, as though he couldn’t get enough of them.
“Do you think they’re going to ask every couple the same questions?” Em murmured.
Rarev shook his head.
“Don’t know. I suppose we’ll find out.” His deep voice was grim and Em knew he was thinking the same things she was—how could they possibly pass this trial if they had to tell the absolute truth about their fake relationship?
The judges had moved on by now to the squid-like Om’bobla and his mermaid wife, Channa.
“Now then,” the Director said to them. “Are the two of you truly a couple?”
“Yes,” they said in unison and Channa added, “For fifteen cycles and no end in sight,” in a rather flat voice—at least Em thought so. The look on her pretty face wasn’t very happy either, she thought.
“And do you truly desire and love each other?” the Director of Mining asked.