Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 99485 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 497(@200wpm)___ 398(@250wpm)___ 332(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 99485 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 497(@200wpm)___ 398(@250wpm)___ 332(@300wpm)
“No thanks, I’d rather stand,” I said dryly.
“Well then, I’m sure you two girls would like to try the couch—right?” Lyrah asked, looking up at Jessina and Aurora eagerly. “It’s an antique!”
I was about to say that Aurora would rather stand too, when she spoke up for herself.
“Er, actually, I was hoping to find the ladies room? I hope you don’t mind—it was a long flight over here,” she added apologetically.
“I’ll show you where it is,” Jessina offered quickly. “This way.”
And the two of them went off together, leaving me alone. Not that I blamed Aurora—I wanted her to get to know my little sister. She was the only sane one around here, as far as I was concerned.
I hoped they would become friends.
41
AURORA
“Whew—we should be safe in here!” Slade’s little sister—who didn’t look that much younger than me—slammed the door closed and leaned against it with a relieved look on her face. “Oh, and if you really have to go, the bathroom is through there,” she added, nodding through a second doorway.
“Thanks, but I don’t,” I confessed. “I just didn’t want to sit on that insane couch.”
Jessina laughed.
“Oh my Goddess, I know—isn’t it bizarre? But that’s my stepmother. This room is actually one of the tamer ones in the house,” she added, motioning with one hand.
We were in the middle of an elaborately decorated powder room with mirrored walls and several golden sinks with birds’ wings for knobs and birds’ beaks for the faucets. Sitting in the middle of the floor was a bright pink piece of furniture that looked like a circular couch but with all the seats facing outward. Jessina went over and plopped down on it.
“Let’s kill some time so we don’t have to go back right away,” she said and patted the seat next to her. “Come on—I have to know the woman who finally captured my big brother’s cold heart.”
“Well, I didn’t know that I’d captured it, to be honest,” I said, coming to sit beside her. “I live on L’Crist. Or I did before Slade came for me.”
“L’Crist—isn’t that one of the territories we protect?” she asked, raising her eyebrows. I couldn’t help thinking that she was beautiful but not pretty, if that makes sense.
Jessina had well defined features—a straight nose and a strong jaw—almost a female version of Slade’s, but more delicate. It was her smooth brown skin, unlike the grey tones of the rest of the family, and her big golden eyes, which made her striking. She was tall and slender, though somewhat curvy in the chest, and she had long, straight black hair that fell to her lower back in a silky waterfall.
“Yes, we are one of your territories, I guess,” I said to answer her question.
Jessina snapped her fingers.
“I know why I’ve heard of you! A couple of years ago Slade ordered that the ships patrolling your space should be doubled. He said he’d gotten word that a bunch of Skinners and Canaboids were headed in your direction and he didn’t want any of them getting anywhere near your little planet.”
“A couple of years ago?” I asked.
“Five years ago, actually,” Jessina said, nodding. “I remember because it was on my birthday and he was giving the orders to Rive, his Second in Command.”
Her words gave me a jolt. Slade had claimed several times that he had loved me for years but I had assumed he was exaggerating. But even as far as five years back, he’d been planning for my protection—keeping me safe. I shuddered to think what might have happened to L’Crist if he hadn’t been watching over me so closely.
“Five years,” I echoed, still trying to wrap my head around it.
“Yeah, five years ago on my birthday.” Jessina sounded sad. “Birthdays and Holidays are pretty much the only times I get to see my brother anymore. As soon as Lyrah moved in, he moved out.”
“Yes, he told me,” I said. “I, um, don’t think the two of them get along very well,” I added, trying to state things tactfully.
Jessina made a face.
“Please! That’s the understatement of the millennium. They hate each other. I really don’t understand why Daddy insisted on making Slade move back home—the two of them fight every minute they’re around each other. It’s going to be miserable. Don’t get me wrong though,” she added, looking at me earnestly. “It’s not like I’m not happy to have Slade back—I am! I miss him so much.”
“I’m sure he misses you too,” I said, smiling at her.
“So is he being good to you? Is he keeping his vows?” she demanded, leaning forward eagerly.
“He’s definitely doing that,” I said, nodding.
“And are you madly in love with him? Back when we both went to school, all the girls were crazy for Slade.” She laughed. “And you’re the lucky girl who finally caught him!”