Synnr's Hope - Kate Rudolph Page 0,9
most. The war could not start soon enough. “I agreed to submit my data to the Matching database, mother. I can’t help that they’ve found no one in the twelve years they’ve been looking. There’s no reason to start marriage proceedings.”
“One does not have anything to do with the other.” She set her glass down with a clink and glanced away.
It was a point scored, but Solan didn’t feel good about it. Not all Matched units got married. Most marriages weren’t between Matches. But things got messy when one spouse found a Match after the vows were read.
But Solan wasn’t going to talk about his father right now.
Or ever.
“I do wish you’d let me monitor potential Matches, at least,” his mother rallied. Neither of them mentioned Solan’s real issue.
“I’m sure I’ll be contacted if something comes up. No need to monitor.” At least, that’s how he thought it worked. There had been a lot of paperwork to sign and he couldn’t remember exactly what he’d agreed to. It had been a long time ago.
“But these things must be checked for their appropriateness. I heard that soldier friend of yours Matched to a human.” She leaned in close to say it quietly, as if they weren’t alone and guaranteed complete privacy.
“Emily is a lovely girl,” Solan said, refusing to stoop to his mother’s implication. “I’m sure you’ll meet her at her Matching ceremony. I’ve invited them to use our estate.”
She pursed her lips, but quickly recovered to a smile. “Of course. How kind of you.”
It was an open secret that the Synnr aristocracy were little better than Apsyns when it came to interactions with non-Zulir. They’d insist that they wouldn’t stoop to the Apsyns’ outright hatred, and they’d never kidnap humans to use for medical experiments. And, of course, they wouldn’t allow them to be traded as slaves.
But Match with one?
Perhaps it was better to remain unmatched.
Not that Solan agreed. Not really. A Match was a Match. The humans he’d met were all perfectly acceptable. More than acceptable. He thought of Lena, her dark hair, her protective nature, the way she was born to fight. If she were Zulir she’d be one amazing Match.
But he couldn’t imagine inflicting his world on her... or any human. They’d have to fight for acceptance every step of the way. They’d be snubbed by the more conservative families. And it would spill over onto his siblings. She’d grow to hate him eventually.
That was why he couldn’t have a human.
Not that he was looking for one.
And why had he thought of Lena?
“If I’m ever Matched, the only compatibility that matters would be between me and my Match. But there’s no way to force it, so why dwell?” Given the gleam in his mother’s eye, she would have forced it if she could. Solan was thankful they’d managed to destroy all the Apsyn research about Matches. Someone could have done a lot of damage with it.
The rest of their lunch was uneventful and Solan was thankful to be dismissed. He found Micia in the entryway looking down at her communicator with a smile on her face.
“Message from Keni?” he asked with a grin.
His sister’s gaze snapped up to meet his, eyes wide and crackling with her spark. “What? Why?” She shoved her communicator into her pocket quickly, as if she was afraid Solan would snatch it from her and read the message.
Oh yeah, they’d be married soon enough. There was no stopping it now.
He gave his sister a hug and headed for the door.
“Wait!” she called after him. “There was someone at the gatehouse waiting for you. Some human. Um... Leda?”
“Lena?” He whipped around and felt his spark flare to life.
His sister shrugged. “Maybe. How many humans do you know?”
“More than you, brat.” He pulled out his own communicator and let the gatehouse know Lena was welcome at his quarters.
But why would she come here?
He couldn’t wait to find out.
CHAPTER FOUR
SOLAN WAS LOADED.
Lena looked beyond the gatehouse and caught sight of a mansion even bigger than the one Crowze lived in.
Freaking loaded.
She reached into her pocket and traced her finger over the paper she’d brought with her. Maybe this was a bad idea. He wasn’t going to want anything to do with her.
No.
She stiffened her spine and stood up as straight as she could. She wasn’t going to run away before she’d even started. The paper in her pocket told her she had a right to be there, and she wasn’t going to give up on Solan