He shook her hand firmly, then gave her a nod. She returned the gesture, and then they sat down next to each other.
“I think we can all agree this evening wasn’t what any of us expected,” King Alyx said with a hint of sarcasm in his tone.
Onyx sat at the table politely, nodding at the servers as they poured wine. He held the cup at the stem and then looked at Gerri directly.
“So why have I been blessed with this surprise?” Onyx asked, feeling a little impatient.
Onyx had been in contact with Gerri about possibly signing up for her matchmaking service but hadn’t expected to hear from her so soon. His family had been pressing him to start looking for a mate…the concept of which he wasn’t exactly the biggest fan.
She took a sip of her wine, placed it down, and then leaned onto her hands. She continued to give him the look of knowing something that he hadn’t even inched toward.
“Love can come at you without warning,” she began, her voice soothing in the dim light of the dining room. “It’s not something we are usually ready for, whether we want to convince ourselves of that or not.”
Onyx swirled his wine around his crystal goblet while King Alyx began eating opposite them. He watched intently, always with that smirk painted across his face.
“I feel like this is building up to something,” Onyx said with a smug look.
Gerri leaned forward farther, her stare never wavering from his gaze.
“I believe I have found someone made for you,” she said. “There is a charity luncheon on Earth in a few weeks, and you need to get yourself there and woo her.”
Onyx was starting to feel irritated.
Why does she expect me to drop my business and go to another planet to meet some woman? And how could she be so sure this woman is the one for me?
“I can’t do that,” Onyx said sternly. “I have too much here to deal with. I don’t have time in even the next few months to take a vacation.”
Gerri sat back in her chair and scoffed. The sound was slightly shocking.
“As I said, you can’t schedule love, Onyx,” Gerri said, giving him a motherly look. “You can’t let someone like this slip through your fingers. Trust me.”
Onyx forced himself to look away from her magnetic glare. He didn’t want to leave his business during such a tumultuous time. He had figured that he could perhaps date here and there, but to leave completely seemed entirely inconvenient.
He gulped his wine, then shook his head slowly.
“I’m sorry, I don’t think this is the right time.”
“Is it ever the right time?” King Alyx interjected, his mouth full of steak. “Not everything is delivered in a neat package, my boy,” Alyx said.
Onyx turned to him, trying to keep his facial expressions open, even though he was feeling very defensive. King Alyx pointed at his chest with the exquisitely crafted fork dripping with slabs of meat.
“Look at Bella and me. She’s human. I wasn’t expecting to meet her at all.”
Anxiety crawled up Onyx’s spine as he drummed his fingers against the table.
Why should I leave now? Why should I leave everything I have worked so fucking hard for? For some woman who may or may not be my mate?
Just as Onyx was about to speak, the door of the dining room swung open. He heard the sound of little feet tapping against the floor, along with a giggle that echoed through the entire giant room.
He felt his heart grow multiple sizes as Alyx and Bella’s son, Randal, ran to Onyx’s feet, wrapping his arms around Onyx’s legs as if they were tree trunks. He was only two years old, but he was already looking like a regal young lad.
“Randal,” Onyx whispered.
The little boy held his arms up in that adorable way, and Onyx obliged. He lifted him to his lap and began bouncing him on his knee.
Bella trailed after him, chuckling at the sight of the dragon shifter holding their small child.
“He’s getting fast,” she muttered.