Total pages in book: 159
Estimated words: 144433 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 722(@200wpm)___ 578(@250wpm)___ 481(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 144433 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 722(@200wpm)___ 578(@250wpm)___ 481(@300wpm)
I sit down across from her. "Rescuing?"
"From your husband, or from anyone else? I know a lot of human-alien marriages are under duress." Her gaze is steady. "You don't have to say anything aloud. Just give me a sign and you won't have to see him again."
I blink repeatedly in shock and then realize what I'm doing. I put a hand up. "Wait, that's not a sign, I'm just surprised you'd say something like that."
"I won't ask questions if you don't want to talk about it."
"He's a great husband," I blurt out, worried Kim is going to take something the wrong way. "I chose to marry him. I'd marry him again in an instant. He's a great partner." I mean, sure, he takes a little long in the shower and tends to go through a lot of conditioner, but the fact that he eats pussy like a starving man makes up for a lot of his prissiness. "I don't need rescuing from Zhur, I swear."
Her brows furrow. "You're certain?"
"Zhur is harmless. I promise ten-thousand percent. He didn't want to tell me who he really was so I could play ignorant. I promise that your husband is absolutely not in danger, though."
Kim laughs. "Oh, my husband can take care of himself. I just don't like that word is getting out about him being here. We've had enough bounty hunters on our doorstep."
Bounty hunters? I wonder if this is something Zhur is going to have to worry about in the future. Heck, I wonder if it's something I'm going to have to worry about, too. "Zhur isn't going to tell anyone anything. He's wanting to lie low for the next several years and just live quietly."
"Mmm, and what then?" She gestures at me. "You going to divorce? Because praxiians don't think a union to a human is legitimate."
"I haven't thought that far ahead," I admit, and pull the pastry box closer to me. "I suppose we'll handle that when we get there. Pastry?"
"No offense, but I wouldn't eat anything a stranger brought over." She rubs her belly.
I'm not offended. It's probably smart. "More for me." I open the box, peel the least-messy pastry off the top of the lid, and take a big bite. Today has turned into a bit of a clusterfuck. Maybe some sweets will help my nerves. Probably not, but I eat it anyhow.
"So your husband is a bigwig on his planet?" Kim asks. "Is he asking for my husband's assistance with something? Because I can tell you right now, Nass won't do it."
I snort. "The only thing Zhur is probably asking is if Nassakth will sign his clothing. We're here because we heard Nassakth was on this planet and Zhur nearly lost his mind with excitement. Nassakth is his hero."
"That's lovely," Kim says. She runs a hand over the bulge of her belly again. "Who brought his name up, exactly?"
Her tone is sweet, but I know fishing for information when I hear it. I immediately feel guilty, because I don't want to throw someone in town under the bus for gossiping, not when that gossip has served me so well. "I honestly don't remember, but if I hear it again, I'll let you know. Please don't think someone's being loose-lipped. I confess I was fishing for information and your names came up."
"What kind of information?"
I lick my fingers clean of pastry and feel a little foolish and obvious. "Um, what the kids of a human and a praxiian would look like. Just in case we decide to go that route ourselves."
Kim's smile grows wider. "I had the exact same questions when I first got pregnant. It's not wrong to be curious. I also wanted to know how long I'd be pregnant."
I can't help but eye her belly. "Well, since you brought it up...."
She chuckles. "The answer is 'too long.' But that's the same with every pregnancy." She leans over the table and pulls out a data pad. "The kids are asleep and I don't want to wake them up, but I've got a few pictures saved on here if you'd like to see?"
I suddenly want that more than anything. Just for curiosity's sake, of course.
CHAPTER
NINETY-THREE
ZHUR
Nassakth leads me further into his house, and as he stalks down a hall, I cannot help but speak up. "I am such a fan of yours. This is a dream come true for me."
"I almost killed you," he says casually. "I still might, if you're a danger to my mate and cubs."
I rub my throat, grinning. "Not a danger. I truly wish nothing but good things for you and yours. I vow that on my life and that of my mate."
He eyes me over his shoulder and then opens a door, stepping inside. I follow after him, and the breath catches in my throat. A praxiian trophy room, designed to show off the exploits of the warrior who lives here. This one has walls covered with weapons, some broken and battered, and event medallions from arenas all across the galaxy. There are pieces of training equipment here, and in the center of the room is a large vid-theater for playing back battles. Banners hang down from the walls of titles and important bouts, and the room stuns me with the reminders of just how important a fighter Nassakth was, and yet he disappeared at the height of his greatness.