Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 94091 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 470(@200wpm)___ 376(@250wpm)___ 314(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94091 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 470(@200wpm)___ 376(@250wpm)___ 314(@300wpm)
Rarev shook his head.
“You don’t need to bother. Twa’linda won’t care what you wear—she’ll respond to the fact that you’re a female businesswoman like herself. And of course, we will extend you a generous line of credit to make the deal for the dimriel.”
“All right.” Lucy shrugged but inside she felt a little spark of excitement. She had been telling the truth when she’d said she was adventurous. She loved trying new things, from tasting different ethnic cuisines to visiting strange new places she’d never been before. It was one reason she’d been so excited to come see the Monstrum Mother Ship. But now it seemed that she was going to have an even bigger, more exiting adventure. She couldn’t wait!
From the corner of her eye, she could see that T’zaren was still frowning in a foreboding way. It was too bad he wasn’t happy to be going with her, but she refused to let his bad mood ruin her good time.
“All right,” she told Commander Rarev. “Just let me tell Iyanna where I’m going and I’ll meet you at the Docking Bay.”
The Monstrum Commander nodded gravely.
“Thank you, Dr. Heartwood,—and the Mother Ship thanks you too.”
Lucy nodded and rose. Carefully, she made her way to the door of his office—she didn’t want to trip and go sprawling again. But as she left, she thought she could feel T’zaren’s golden gaze on her back and she sensed his resentment with every step she took.
EIGHT
LUCY
“Are you sure you want to do this?” Iyanna looked at her anxiously. “I mean, it sounds kind of dangerous—right, honey?” She looked up at Dra’vik who had a considering look on his face.
“It shouldn’t be dangerous as long as the Twainer’s Light Face is dominant,” he rumbled, rubbing his chin. “And of course, T’zaren will be there to protect her the entire time.”
“Which is kind of too bad because he really doesn’t want to go,” Lucy confided to Iyanna. “I mean, he was so upset when Commander Rarev ordered him to come along. Especially when he said T’zaren had to act like I was his ‘S’rentha.’ That just means he has to pretend I’m his wife—er, his mate, right?”
“Not exactly.” Dra’vik frowned. “I think I told you all the things that one word can mean—it’s damn complicated.”
“Well, it’s not like it’s a permanent arrangement,” Lucy pointed out.
“No, but even pretending that you are his S’rentha will mean that T’zaren had to acknowledge you and treat you like his own personal goddess,” Dra’vik pointed out.
“His own personal goddess?” Lucy frowned. “That’s kind of a lot to put on any relationship. Don’t you think?”
The Drake Monstrum shrugged, his broad shoulders rolling.
“Nevertheless, it’s the way the Stri’vor Monstrum view their females. But you need to remember something, Lucy—when a Stri’vor male kneels before you in acknowledgement that you are his S’rentha, it isn’t like a puppy rolling over to have his belly scratched. It’s more like a dangerous beast—like a lion or a tiger—allowing himself to be stroked without biting your hand off.”
“What?” Lucy exclaimed. “Are you saying he’d hurt me?”
“No, no—of course not! He’s a Kindred—we never hurt females,” Dra’vik said, frowning. “I’m just letting you know that Stri’vor males have a dangerous side. They can be pushed too far in some circumstances. I’m only saying you should be careful and don’t take T’zaren’s submission lightly if he offers it to you, even if the two of you are just acting.”
“Um, okay then,” Lucy said, frowning as she mentally filed this information away to consider later.
“So…he has to submit to her because she’s pretending to be his S’rentha?” Iyanna asked, frowning. “Do you mean he has to bow to her or what?”
“Bowing to and serving his S’rentha would be the very least that would be expected by a Dom’mesque like Twa’linda of the Two faces,” Dra’vik rumbled. “And if Lucy is also going to present herself as a Dom’mesque, she needs to play the part convincingly.”
“Well, I’ll certainly do my best,” Lucy said, frowning. “Though T’zaren doesn’t seem to think I can pull it off. It really was rude of him to say I wasn’t his type right in front of Commander Rarev.”
“He said you weren’t his type?” Iyanna demanded, putting a hand on her hip. “That is rude!”
“Well, actually he said I was the wrong type to be a S’rentha,” Lucy said. “But it’s the same thing, right?”
“Not exactly,” Dra’vik said again. “If I remember correctly, most of the S’renthas I met before we came to this universe were stern females—cold as marble statues.”
“Well, that definitely isn’t me!” Lucy laughed.
“No, it’s not!” Iyanna agreed, grinning. “Maybe you’re just not serious enough for him.”
“Well, that’s just too bad,” Lucy remarked. “I mean, I’ll be serious and professional when I’m making the deal for the dimriel, but I refuse to go around with a stick up my ass the rest of the time just to please Mr. Grumpy-pants.”