Chapter 11: Going Along With his Wife's Wishes

She distracted herself from the conversation and asked the question that was plaguing her. "Why aren't there any windows?" 

She just had to ask. 

"The planet is mostly rocky and cold. While Zotheans are immune to the conditions, other species find it hard to survive in such harsh conditions," he explained. "The city is built inside the mountains so that we are insulated from the cold outside."

She tried to picture something from Interstellar and failed. "How cold is it outside?" she asked curiously. 

"It averages from minus fourteen degrees Celcius to minus sixty degrees Celcius."

Ellis nodded. So the weather conditions were like Antarctica on Earth. She imaged the Zotheans walking around like penguins and let out a giggle.

"Is it always so cold or is it winter right now?" she asked. She wanted to see the outside world without freezing to death. 

"It's summer. The current weather report shows clear skies but minus forty-seven degrees Celcius. During winter, it can fall to minus eighty or worse." He smiled. 

Ellis stared. "I want to see how the outside looks," she grumbled. 

Logan produced a small cellphone like object and projected images into the air. The pictures of lush green forests and lakes came up. Abundant wildlife and the wintry land were there too. It looked much like Earth, with the exception of the high mountains on all sides. 

"We have a rich flora and fauna on the planet." Much like Earth. "Despite the cold weather, our precipitation and freezing point seem to be different due to atmospheric pressure and difference in the composition of gasses present in the atmosphere. So, we have snow and frost during the winter but for the rest of the year, our seasons look pretty much like yours." 

She nodded. "But doesn't change in atmospheric, gravitational, and chemical composition lead to abnormal sizes in animals?" she asked. 

"Yes, in proportion to animals and plants on your planet, our species are larger. A lot larger," he supplied the information helpfully. 

"And no carnivorous plants, I suppose?" she joked. Logan shrugged, giving her a dissatisfactory answer. 

"If you feel more tired than usual, it's because the gravitational force is stronger on Zothea. You will get used to it." He smiled. 

"And does anyone live on the surface?" She wanted to see more people and how they lived their daily life. 

"Yeah, they do. Unmarried males mostly live on the surface. But most of the markets and meeting points are also on the surface. I'll take you up soon." He paused. "Just make note of how you want to decorate the room and what furniture and clothes you want to add. We'll buy you things."

Her face dipped down as she looked at her clothes. She wasn't into this style. At all. 

"Laurel helped me prepare your wardrobe. Come take a look." He jumped to his feet and held out his hand to help her up. She looked at his extended hand for the fraction of a second and then grasp it. After she rose, he didn't release her hand, neither did she pull away, afraid she would offend him.

They walked towards the room to the right wall. He opened the door and the lights came on. The room was filled with clothes. 

"I've never had so many clothes before." The colors and rough styles were to her liking and the variety many. These were not Earth clothes, but Logan had taken care to pick out things she would like. "How did you know what I like?" she asked curiously. Was it some advanced technology that genetically matched a person with the style of clothing they like? She wouldn't be surprised if it was. 

"Laurel said something about birds twittering and book of faces. I didn't understand what she was saying." Yes, his confusion was clear on his face. So, Laurel was from around the same time frame as her. She'd checked her social media accounts and found out what she liked. Quite impressive stalking skills if you asked Ellis. 

"I'll ask her about that," Ellis chuckled. "No, we have virtual places where we can talk to people all over the planet."

Logan blinked. "That sounds fascinating."

"But why did you buy so much?" she asked. It seemed like a waste of money. He pulled out a drawer and her eyes were blinded by all the jewelry within. Stones with unfathomable colors. Metals she knew and didn't. It was blinding. 

"It's good for the economy. Civilians look up to the royalty to set lifestyle trends. What I buy for you will become fashionable and businesses throughout the galaxy will benefit from it."

"Sounds like an excellent plan to stimulate the economy." 

She went out to the main room. 

"Wait. Laurel said you'd need something else." He almost ran towards the other door. He opened it to show her a bathroom. "I've been told that the bathtub and flush toilet are the greatest creations of humanity. I don't quite understand the reason, but if you guys think so..." he shrugged. 

Ellis hadn't considered this. Different species have different grooming methods. Considering that they were like cats. 

"Do you use litter boxes and roll in the dust to clean yourself?" she asked. She was half-joking. 

"How did you know?" he asked surprised and delighted. His tail flicked behind him. 

Ellis wanted to burst out into laughter.

"Logan, I have always dreamt of something. Can you make it happen?" She was actually using his good nature to fulfill her evil intentions. Well, not evil, but... uncomfortable. 

"Just ask me, I'll make it happen." He smiled. 

'My mate is asking me for something!' he screamed in glee internally. 

"Can you let me touch your tail without hissing or scratching me?" When she had a cat as a child, she had always wanted to play with the tail and rub their tummy, but she had been scratched too many times. Of course, she couldn't rub Logan's tummy. He would probably misunderstand her intentions, but the tail... that she could ask about. 

He looked so conflicted that Ellis found him adorable. Her love for cats had completely turned him into a pet rather than someone she was supposed to romantically connect with. An overgrown pet who would take care of her. 

"My tail?" he whispered. He took the squirming tail in his hand and looked at her pitifully. 

"I won't hurt it, I promise," she said. She couldn't hold in her amusement. 

He offered it up to her without another word but looked so alert that Ellis wanted to tell him she wouldn't touch it anymore. 

'When I gave her Ronald's tail, she asked if she should eat it. She won't take a bite from my tail, right?' he wondered, terrified. 

Instead of doing what he thought, Ellis rubbed the tip of the tail, feeling the tail squirm under her fingers. Very catlike. 

She stroked the slight fur and giggled when she saw the tail stiffen. The conflicted look on Logan's face really set her off. She threw her head back and laughed. He looked on in confusion. 

This was an amused sound. What was she laughing about? 

Logan felt something in his stomach stir as she stroked the tail. He wouldn't call it discomfort, but he had never felt it before. Once he was sure that she wouldn't hurt him, she let him play to her heart's content. 

He made a note of her delight and resigned to his fate. 'If my bride likes to play with my tail, I'll just have to go along with her wishes.'