Total pages in book: 53
Estimated words: 47529 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 238(@200wpm)___ 190(@250wpm)___ 158(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 47529 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 238(@200wpm)___ 190(@250wpm)___ 158(@300wpm)
There is silence after I speak, but I can see the reactions of the council, and the muted reception from the stacked balconies is telling. The cute, sweet little humans they are accustomed to seeing as pets are not representative of the population as a whole, as Jen inadvertently demonstrated today.
Wrathelder is beaten, and he knows it. The expression on his face is violent. I can only imagine how much his fleet is going to cost him while it is sitting in dry-dock. This has been a day of great triumph for the house of Voros. We have bloodied Wrathelder’s nose literally and metaphorically. The story of what happened here is already spreading among the population. I feel mirth in the outer edges of my mind. He planned to undercut us today, and he has become a laughingstock in the process.
I walk to Phenix and lean into him, outwardly making a physical show of apology and comfort. As I close the distance so only he and I can hear, I choose to speak in human words, not thoughts.
“Clean yourself up. You’re a mess.”
Then I look behind him, and finally make eye contact with his wife, the one who shares my hair, my eyes, my very DNA.
“Mother.” I bow my head briefly before taking my leave.
7
Jen
I am dragged out of the meeting with my ass being beaten, and I don’t fucking care. I’d do everything I just did all over a hundred more times if it meant punching that asshole in the face again. My knuckles are throbbing, but it was worth it. Nobody talks about my home and my species that way and gets away with it.
“Why did you do that?” Kahn is astonished. I can tell he has no idea what to do with me, now we are out by the vehicle. He puts me down and holds me by the short remainder of leash that is still attached to my collar.
“You’re going to need a chain,” he mutters to himself before I can answer.
“I did it for Zain,” I say as I feel the displeased tug.
Kahn stares at me askance. “How do you know Zain?”
“I met him right before we came here. Ark took me.”
Kahn’s expression refuses to resolve into comprehension. “You attacked someone for a man you met an hour ago?”
“I’d punch that guy for someone I never met. He has a very punchable face. And even more punchable words.”
Kahn’s lips quirk for a moment as if he is tempted to show amusement, but the expression is gone as swiftly as it came. “You cannot commit violence.”
“Why not? You did. First thing you did when you met me.”
“That’s different. You deserved…”
He stops talking, because we both know the guy I just punched in the face deserved it too.
“You’re trouble,” he says. “And we have enough of that to go around already.”
“Perfect. Put me on a shuttle back to Earth. That’s all I’ve been asking for since I got to your shitty planet.”
“Language!” Kahn snaps the word.
“What about it?”
I see his hands flex, and I know he wants nothing more than to grab me and start whipping my ass. But he doesn’t. He keeps hold of my leash and he looks in the direction of the council chambers. He’s waiting for Ark.
Ark must have told him he’s not allowed to touch me.
That creates an opportunity for some real mayhem. A smile spreads across my face and just keeps getting wider.
“Don’t look so pleased with yourself. When Arkan is able to get you alone, you will pay the price.”
“Maybe, but unless and until he does, I’m untouchable. Aren’t I.” My smile only grows wider as I speak those words aloud and see them confirmed in Kahn’s gold-flecked gaze. My cheeks are starting to hurt from sheer smugness.
“You’re not untouchable. Keep this up, and you’ll find out.”
“Or you will, if you touch me and Ark finds out.”
A hard slap bursts across my ass. I yowl and jump in surprise, turning to see Ark standing behind me, tall and imposing and clearly unimpressed by my behavior.
“Let’s get out of here before it occurs to anyone to impound this human brat,” he growls, talking over my head to Kahn.
I am bundled into the shuttle between Kahn and Ark. We swiftly make an exit from the city, skimming at what seems to me to be a much faster than usual speed. Conversation is sparse and tense, but I don’t think their anger, or whatever emotions are driving them are directed at me. I think they’re worried about the asshole whose blood is drying under my fingernails.
“Don’t worry about that guy,” I say, breaking the silence. “He’s a little bitch.”
“Thank you for your input on the situation,” Kahn says dryly.
“He is a little bitch, though,” Ark agrees, just as dryly.
The tension is broken as both alien men laugh at that description of someone who I gather has become quite a loathed and maybe even feared enemy to them. I wish I understood more. I wish we’d broken the third brother out of prison. Thinking about him in that darkness makes me sick. I know what it’s like to be captured in that way. What’s happening to me now is nothing compared to the desperation of being behind bars.