Total pages in book: 175
Estimated words: 166095 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 830(@200wpm)___ 664(@250wpm)___ 554(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 166095 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 830(@200wpm)___ 664(@250wpm)___ 554(@300wpm)
“Excellent idea,” Jamef agrees, and I feel warm and fuzzy at their affirmation.
“Until the bounties are gone, you can stay here,” Sophie says, and Jerrok shoots her a look that she ignores. “You’re family.”
“We need to take Simone and Rhonda to Risda III first, as promised,” Jamef says. “We have a duty to them, first.”
Simone speaks up for the first time. “I’m in no hurry, truly.”
“Yes, but we are,” I point out, taking a bite of veggies. I’m definitely getting some of these seeds from Sophie. The food is delicious. “We still have Rhonda on board and I won’t relax until she’s settled on Risda and farming.”
“Farming? Her?” Bethiah shakes her head. “You wait and see. A year from now, Rhonda will have found herself a new patron, the richer the better.”
“She’s going to have a hard time finding one on a farm planet.” Sophie glances over at Simone. “Are you looking forward to it? I know the farm life isn’t for everyone.”
Simone shrugs, offering another tidbit to Freyja. “I’ve never farmed a day in my life, but I’m willing to learn. I just want peace and quiet…and to be left alone. I hope I get that on Risda.”
Tessa gives her a sympathetic look. “If it makes you feel better, I thought it was lovely when I was there. Very pastoral. Like something out of a movie. But my home is with Zakoar.”
“Being around all of you is encouraging,” Simone says. “Maybe when I’m ready, I’ll meet someone new to spend my life with. Being a slave is awful, but I also don’t want to be alone for the rest of my life.”
“Risda isn’t exactly teeming with males,” Bethiah says between mouthfuls of noodles. “You might have a dry spell.”
Simone’s mouth quirks. “Men aren’t my preference.”
“On second thought, Risda’s perfect for you, then. Lots of single ladies.” Bethiah winks and shoves another heap of noodles onto her eating sticks. “I’m keffing starving. This is so good. Maybe we will come stay with you guys after all. We’ll get to eat all your veggies.”
“Lovely,” is all Jerrok says. Bethiah’s cousin looks sour at the thought, but I think he secretly likes it. Sophie just beams at us and I suspect if it comes down to her, she’ll win. Something tells me Sophie wins all the arguments between them.
“A toast to the future, then?” Tessa asks, raising her glass.
“To the future,” I say, lifting my drink, too. I don’t know what it’s going to hold, other than Jamef and Bethiah, but with them? I know it will never be boring.
Epilogue
BETHIAH
“Home sweet home,” I say as Dora carefully maneuvers the ship towards the Risda III port lanes. The moon, as always, looks lovely. Clouds striate over the gold and green mottled land and only one other ship is ahead of us, waiting to dock. The sight of the planet always fills me with a rush of affection.
“Risda isn’t your home,” Dora calls out from her spot, perched on the edge of the captain’s chair. “Am I doing this right, Jamef? Do I need to hit any controls?”
“You’re doing just fine, sweetheart. Don’t panic. I’m right here with you and I’m watching things.” He’s seated behind her, with Dora tucked between his spread thighs, and his bigger form frames hers. He’s watching her steer things, and his expression looks completely calm, only the twitching of his tail giving away how nervous he is that she’s flying the ship.
I’m glad she’s taking an active role. It makes me feel better to know she’s got something to focus on that interests her. Space can be pretty boring if you’ve got nothing to do. I shouldn’t interrupt them, but I can’t help but rise to the challenge. “Risda is absolutely my home. I’ve done lots of jobs here. I’ve got friends here, too. One even named her kid after me.”
“Bullshit she did,” Dora retorts, her gaze locked on the screen. The ship dips and then surges forward, and my human mate winces.
Jamef reaches past Dora and adjusts the throttle. “Concentrate, sweetheart. You can bicker with Bethiah any time.”
“She’s trying to distract me,” Dora grumbles, sending a half-smile my way to take the sting out of her words.
“If I wanted to distract you I’d come straddle your face,” I point out. She doesn’t know the meaning of distraction yet. I smirk over in her direction. “Which I can do, if —”
“No!” Dora yelps out, and Jamef covers her hand with his, calming her.
He glares over at me and I put my hands up. Right, right. No distracting the pilot while she’s piloting or we’re all going to be nothing but a couple of smears on Risda’s nice green grass. I cross my arms and turn back to the view, eyeing the planet as we get closer. The brilliant greens and golds segment as we approach, turning into squares of cultivated fields that seem to stretch on forever. Closer still, and I see the large sprawl of Lord va’Rin’s elegant home atop a hill and then we slowly move over Port itself. The town is just as I left it—literally two streets lined with small, uniform buildings and that’s it. It curls at the base of the stacked platforms of Port and looks as serene and unbothered as it ever does.