Total pages in book: 73
Estimated words: 66904 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 335(@200wpm)___ 268(@250wpm)___ 223(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66904 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 335(@200wpm)___ 268(@250wpm)___ 223(@300wpm)
“He also saved my life,” she says. “And he helped me understand what I was looking for. He taught me a lot about myself. He gave me strength when I was weak. He kept me safe when I tried to throw myself into danger. And he made me a mother.”
“Gross,” someone mutters in the back of the room, to the accompaniment of giggles.
“It was gross,” Lettie agrees. “I laid an egg.”
There’ s a general cacophony at that revelation. But Lettie holds her hand up, and the crew fall silent.
“Point is, I know what’s happening down there. I know what has happened to Raine and Sullivan, and what will happen to all of us if we are captured. We have to get away from this planet. But we’re going to get Raine and Sullivan back first. And we’re going to kill Alpha Thorn before we go.”
A roar goes up, a bloodthirsty sound that reminds me even though this room is full of soft bodied, small framed female humans, it is nevertheless a very dangerous place. Baby squeals and cheers along with the rest of the crew. I’d like to say that is because she does not understand, but I suspect some little part of her undeveloped mind might actually know very well what is going on here.
“I am taking over as captain,” Lettie declares. “And the first thing we are going to do is clean this ship up.”
“But…”
Lettie looks at the crew member who dared question her with a cool gaze. When she speaks, it is in a tone I have only heard her use very rarely before, and even then mostly in play when the baby is being particularly challenging. I recognize the tone, because I have heard it in the echoes of the past. Matron had the same tone. It is a maternal command that does not brook any disobedience.
“Clean. It. Up.”
The crew have shocked expressions on their faces as they begin to follow orders, but I think I also see relief. This ship has been at a loose end since their captains were taken. It has driven them to desperate and destructive acts. But I think that just all changed.
Lettie
It has to be me.
Since the man with the shiny boots walked into my parents house and ended their lives, I have been looking for someone to save me. To guide me. To tell me what to do. When I went down to the saurian planet, I wanted a captain. I wanted Sullivan. I wanted Raine. Hell, I guess I even wanted Shan to make the world safe for me. But I am finally admitting to myself what I think I must have known all along. There is nobody else. There is only me.
I have to be everything I needed and didn’t have for my daughter’s sake. I will crush Alpha Thorn in her name - once we decide what that name is.
As the crew start to pick up masses of trash and clear them into plastic bags, Shan comes to me and wraps an arm around me. “I am proud of you,” he murmurs in my ear.
“I mean it,” I say. “I will end Thorn. Nobody threatens my family and survives.”
Shan’s dark gaze meets mine. I feel his agreement in the silent flexing of his muscles as he holds me. He heard those words, and I think he agreed with them. We are done being useful pawns in games played by others. We are ready to take our power back.
“I will be by your side every step of the way,” he pledges.
“Egr bgaghra flep,” Baby agrees.
I step down from the captain’s chair and sit in it for the first time. The material confirms to my body, soft padding gripping my curves. It feels good. It feels correct. It feels as though I should have been here all along.
I don’t know exactly what the future is going to hold, but I do know two things:
My family is going to be safe, and
Thorn is not going to know what hit him.