Total pages in book: 98
Estimated words: 91775 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 459(@200wpm)___ 367(@250wpm)___ 306(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91775 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 459(@200wpm)___ 367(@250wpm)___ 306(@300wpm)
“He better be Rem’eb the Friendly Handshake while he’s here,” Nadine warns.
“It’s just a name,” I say, defending him. My khui hums even louder, and the needy feeling inside me grows. “He’s been nothing but kind and protective of me.”
“I’m protective of you, too,” Nadine says, giving my face a searching look. Then she hugs me again. “But go on. I know how resonance is. Should we keep it a secret?”
“I don’t think it’s possible to keep it a secret,” I admit. “Might as well tell everyone. I’ll come and find you later to talk, I promise.”
Nadine nods, then exchanges a look with Angie. I have a feeling Rem’eb and I are going to be the source of a lot of gossip tonight, but it’s to be expected. I leave my friends and cross through the group of people, all stopping me to tell me how relieved they are that we’re back safe and have I met the taters and am I still not speaking to Flor because she stole my man and do I know what sort of alien the ancestors are? Everyone’s nosy in that family sort of way, but the longer I get pulled away, the more antsy Rem’eb looks. He remains on the fringes of the group by Set’nef’s side. Set’nef looks uncomfortable at being in a crowd. Rem’eb just looks flat out overwhelmed. He keeps eyeing his surroundings as if he doesn’t quite believe they’re real. I get it. The realization that I was stranded on an ice planet in outer space was a real rough one when I first arrived.
So I manage to extricate myself out of a conversation with Bek and Elly (well, mostly Bek) and head over to Rem’eb’s side. Set’nef shoots me a look of relief and peels off the moment I approach, as if he was simply remaining behind so as not to abandon Rem’eb. I’m left alone with my new mate, and as I move closer, our khuis sing louder and louder. It’s a fascinating feeling, that intense humming in my chest that surges as we near each other.
I reach a hand out for Rem’eb, and it suddenly feels as if the entire beach is watching us move together, so intense is this moment.
He takes my hand and instead of stepping forward to join me, he tugs on it, pulling me toward him. I bite back a little yelp of surprise and fall against his chest. His arms wrap around me, and then I’m enveloped in a warm, protective embrace. Rem’eb leans in, pushing my hair aside, and whispers in my ear.
“Are we safe from the great golden beast?”
I bite my lip to hold back a giggle. To say that Rem’eb was shocked when Ashtar appeared is a gross understatement. I’ve explained twice that Ashtar is both a dragon and a man, but since Rem’eb didn’t see him change, I don’t think it’s quite registered. All of them panicked when Ashtar appeared after hunting for us. Is that why Rem’eb looks so uneasy on the beach? Because the skies are wide open and he thinks another dragon could swoop down on us?
“It’s all right,” I reassure him. “You’re safe here.” I touch my chin and then give him a thumbs up, another signal that he’s learning means “all good.”
He lifts one of his four hands and gives me a thumbs up, too.
“Are you hungry? Should we eat?” I mimic eating with a hand gesture, and he nods. He’s gone quiet, my Rem’eb. I lead him over by the fire, keeping his hand tightly clasped in mine. He keeps another on my shoulder, and it feels both possessive and very welcome to have him hovering over me. Maybe I’m a weirdo, but I like that he wants to be so close to me at all times.
We get two bowls of food handed to us by Angie and move to the fringes of the group to eat. We sip from our bowls and listen quietly while Flor moves to the center of the group and starts introducing all the “taters” and “newbies” to R’jaal and Rosalind, who are in the center of the group by the fire. Poor Rosalind looks totally overwhelmed, but R’jaal’s chest is puffed out and so proud of his woman. Good for him.
I watch Flor take one of the women by the hand and introduces her in front of the group. Searching through my feelings, I wonder if I’m still resentful of her for resonating to I’rec. It’s only been maybe two weeks, but it feels like a million years have passed since that moment. I honestly haven’t thought about I’rec—or his new resonance mate—in days. So no, I’m no longer upset by them, just envious that it was so easy for them to just fall together. Just resonance, boom, end of story. No drama, everyone’s happy.