Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 83946 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 420(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83946 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 420(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
“Soon. Tomorrow, maybe,” Jozay says.
Yes, tomorrow. Or another day. Because tonight is just for Bothaki and I.
*
“I would ask if it was painful,” my father says as his hand comes to the leather patch that now covers my eye. “But I doubt losing an eye could ever be anything less.”
“It was for my mate.” I shrug. “It hurts, but no more than it would have hurt if they had hurt her instead.”
He gives a stern nod. “I see. Any wound gained in defense of your mate is the one most well-earned.” His hand drops and his mouth curves up into a smile. “But here you are, and that is all that matters.”
“I had plans to go back, but—” I look past him to where Selina is laughing with my mother and sister. “That needs to change now. I will not be away from Selina for the time it would take me to get to Earth, do what needs to be done, and come home now that she’s with child.”
His brows furrow. “What was so urgent that you felt you needed to go back for? Surely, you know Halun has the most capable Hallans with him.”
“It wasn’t that, although the thought of Halun going to battle without me doesn’t sit right with me, anyway. I do know he and those with him are more than capable of overcoming that group of arrogant, insecure males. It was … Selina mentioned a sanitorium just now.”
“Yes.”
“Her mother is there. She showed me a memory of visiting her there. It’s …” I shake my head, fighting to even explain the horrors I saw in my mate’s mind. “They imprison females there who speak or act out against their males. They mistreat them, beat them, and even perform experiments on them. Her mother has been there for years. I have to go back and free her, bring her here for her and Selina to be together.”
“Of course.” He nods. “What kind of species would treat the very ones who give them life that way? Halun has told me some about these humans, but it’s hard to even comprehend a kind who treat their own people and their land and waters so harshly.”
“I do not understand it, either. But I hope with those who corrupted Earth out of power, it can be changed, bettered. I have to get her mother out, though, no matter what comes. Even if it didn’t cause my mate such sadness, I cannot let her languish there. It’s not right.”
“And the other females there?”
“We will have to find a place for them, if we cannot bring them all back here safely.”
“I will send word to Halun, and I believe Kaul would be up to the task. But I will tell Halun to personally secure Selina’s mother’s safety.”
“And one more thing. There was a library there, full of books that Selina loves and studies. I would like them brought here.”
He smiles. “Clearly I have shown you well how to please your mate.”
I chuckle. “I do not often remember a time where mother was not smiling or laughing.”
“Good.” He pats my shoulder. “You’ll find even the prospect of a lifetime isn’t enough with your mate, so you had better not waste a second of it.”
“Yes, father.”
“Which is why, I will, just this once, be the one to draw your mother’s attention away so that you can claim your mate all to yourself.”
“Thank you.” I laugh. “I had no idea how I was going to get away.”
“We’ll share dinner, then I will distract your mother and sister.”
We go back to the yard and I sit down before lifting Selina. She yelps as I pull her into my lap, but then her arms snake around my waist and she snuggles into my body, head going to the crook of my neck. Even when the food arrives, I keep her close, feeling like any distance is too much. She’s content to let me hold and feed her, kiss her hair and temple, and show her memories of when I played in this yard as a child. I wish I could show her the way I envision our own child playing here, but there will be a time when we can share those memories, too.
“I’m sure you’re eager to show Selina her new home,” my father says.
“Oh, you don’t live in the palace?” Selina asks.
“I could, but I built my own home on one of the ledges of the mountain.”
“Ah!” She smiles. “You were planning for you and your mate to have privacy when she got here, huh?”
“Yes,” I answer earnestly. “You will see I had many things prepared for when you came here.”
“Truly?” she asks hoarsely.
“Truly.”
“Goodnight, everyone,” Selina quickly says.
“Good … night,” My mother slowly murmurs back.
Goodnight is not a phrase we say here, but my parents and Vabila greet Selina back with her own words as we hug them goodbye. I don’t need to bring Selina back into the palace to get to the ledge. The pathway that runs along the back of the yard leads to my home. A slightly steep hill that I help Selina up and then we’re there. My home is simple, made of stone the same color as the mountain, but the flowers all around it …