Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 88235 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88235 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
But now she was going off planet—leaving the Earth completely—and going to the exotic, alien Mother Ship. Vicky’s heart was pounding as she looked out the viewscreen and saw the vast blue side of the Earth receding, growing smaller and smaller as the smooth, creamy white side of the Mother Ship came into view.
As soon as they had broken free of the Earth’s atmosphere, Chain pushed some buttons and spoke into a kind of intercom.
“Need to speak to my buyer,” he explained when Vicky looked at him enquiringly. “Let him know that I have the first half of the T’lix-Kruthe and I’ll be going for the second half soon.”
As he finished speaking, the viewscreen flickered and showed a picture of a big Kindred with light blond hair and pale blue eyes. He seemed to be a Blood Kindred, because Vicky could see his double set of fangs on either side of his upper jaw when he spoke.
“Ahh, Chainor. It’s good to see you—how did the first half of your mission go?”
“Greetings, Commander Sylvan. The mission was successful.” Chain held up the small golden half of the T’lix-Kruthe to show the other Kindred. “Though I’m afraid the Varians weren’t interested in selling. I had to, ah, let’s say liberate it, which caused some difficulty.”
The other Kindred frowned.
“Well, we knew that was a possibility. But since the T’lix-Kruthe is originally an ancient Kindred artifact which they stole from our ancestors on First World eons ago, I consider the theft justified.”
Chain grinned.
“That’s pretty much how I think of all thefts, Commander. Especially when I’m attempting to steal a lovely female’s heart.” He threw a glance at Vicky who shook her head at him, though she couldn’t help smiling.
Commander Sylvan frowned but didn’t look surprised at the statement, Vicky thought. His pale blue eyes left Chain and lighted on her and he nodded approvingly.
“I see you’re already getting prepared for stage two of the mission on Priima Belle. You must have done your homework and found out you won’t be welcome without a female there—good job.”
Chain threw the other Kindred a slightly surprised look, then smoothed his features almost at once.
“Ah…of course,” he said. “Nobody prepares for a job more thoroughly than I do.”
“It’s one of the reasons I hired you,” Commander Sylvan said gravely. “I’ll meet you at the Docking Bay along with our Alien Culture Coordinator. She can help outfit your female assistant for the trip.”
Vicky had been so surprised by this exchange, she didn’t quite know what to say. Now she opened her mouth to tell the other Kindred he was mistaken—that she was only here to spend a little time on the Mother Ship—but he was already signing off.
When the viewscreen went blank and then showed the white bulk of the Mother Ship again, she turned to Chain.
“What was that all about? Why didn’t you tell him I’m only here for a few days until we can be sure those awful lizard men won’t come back for me?”
He shrugged, his shoulders rolling.
“Honestly, I didn’t want to appear ignorant. I should have spent the last few hours, after getting the first half of the T’lix-Kruthe, studying the local Priima Belle culture and getting ready to procure the next half. Instead…” He cleared his throat. “I was…shall we say, somewhat distracted.”
Vicky felt her cheeks heat with a blush.
“All right, I won’t blow your cover, but I never promised to go to a whole other alien planet with you.”
“I know,” Chain said quickly. “And you don’t have to. I’m sure I can find some other willing female to go with me and pretend to be my mate.”
For some reason, Vicky didn’t like the sound of that—didn’t like it one damn bit. She had a sudden flash of some other woman—a much younger and thinner woman—hanging on Chain’s arm and batting her lashes at him coquettishly.
The image sent a flash of jealousy through her and she realized that though they hadn’t even known each other twenty-four hours yet, she felt possessive of the big Kindred. Which was ridiculous, of course. He was too young for her and he had his life and she had hers. After this was over, they would go their separate ways.
Still, she couldn’t help the way she felt.
“Well…” She cleared her throat. “Maybe I might consider it. If you wanted me to go, I mean.”
Chain turned to her, giving her his whole attention.
“I would like that very much,” he said quietly. “Though we have known each other such a short time, I find myself strangely reluctant to part with you, Victoria.”
“I, um…” She was blushing again—she could feel her cheeks getting hot and she was glad the cabin of the spaceship was too dim for him to see it. “I kind of feel the same way about you,” she admitted at last. “I know it doesn’t make any sense…”