Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 89162 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 446(@200wpm)___ 357(@250wpm)___ 297(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89162 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 446(@200wpm)___ 357(@250wpm)___ 297(@300wpm)
Not to mention it will give you an excuse to get closer to Molly, whispered a little voice in his head.
Torus pushed it away. He was only doing this to help clean up the mess he’d made, he told himself. And to protect the little Elite. He wanted to stay close to her while the trial was going on to be certain no one could hurt or abuse her. This seemed to be the perfect way to do that.
And he swore to himself that he didn’t have any ulterior motives like being close to Molly and holding her in his arms again…none at all.
17
MOLLY
“Excellent.” Commander Sylvan clapped his hands together. “Then we have a plan.” He looked at Molly. “I’ll put you into contact with Kat—she’s our local wedding planner here aboard the Mother Ship. She can put together a beautiful ceremony in a short amount of time.”
“Oh, well…okay.” Molly was still in shock. The idea of getting married to her Kindred boss seemed so crazy she didn’t know what to say. No one else seemed to have that problem, though—Commander Sylvan and Councilor Paige were busy making plans.
“And after the wedding, we’ll send you two for a honeymoon on Earth,” Councilor Paige was saying. “There will be some publicity by then and that way the Press can take plenty of pictures of the two of you together.” She frowned. “You’re going to have to fake being Bonded, though.”
“I think I can help with that,” Commander Sylvan said. “Our Tolleg surgeon, Yipper, has been working on some thought and emotion transference devices for Hybrid Kindred who are unable to Bond with a Mate but still want to get Joined. They work on the same principle as a Think-me, but you can feel the emotions as well as hearing the thoughts of the person wearing the other device. They don’t have much of a range yet, but when you’re together they’ll give the illusion of the two of you being a Bonded couple.”
“That’s perfect!” Councilor Paige exclaimed. “Almost like really being Bonded.”
“Well, you and I both know that nothing can really replace a true Soul-Bond,” Commander Sylvan said. “But this will definitely help Commander Torus and Ms. Byrne simulate one—as long as they don’t get too far from each other.”
“But…but…” Molly said, but no one seemed to hear her.
No one but Commander Torus, that was.
“Excuse me…” He held up a hand for silence. “But though I have agreed to this subterfuge, Molly has not.” He looked at her. “Molly, are you comfortable with this?”
Molly swallowed hard, considering. Was she comfortable being fake-married to her boss so they could win the case that Zach was bringing against the Kindred? Looking into Torus’s silver-gray eyes, she felt her heart thump in her chest.
“If you’re comfortable, I’m comfortable,” she heard herself saying.
“Then it’s settled.” He nodded gravely. “Tomorrow we’ll be Joined. But today, we have some shopping and some planning to do.”
“Shopping?” Molly asked as he rose from his chair.
“Yes—it’s my understanding that when a male asks a human woman to be his mate, he must first offer her a ring. Isn’t that right?” he asked, raising an eyebrow at her.
“Well…yes. I guess so.” Molly nodded.
“Then we must go shopping for the perfect ring,” Torus said decisively. He looked at Commander Sylvan. “I take it we’re done here?”
“Oh yes—go ahead and go shopping,” Commander Sylvan said, with just a hint of a smile playing around the corners of his mouth. “I’ll get in touch with you later about the thought/emotion transference devices.”
“Er, thank you for not firing me,” Molly said, as she rose from her chair to follow her boss…who was soon to be her husband.
“Why would we terminate your employment for something that isn’t your fault?” Commander Sylvan asked.
Lizabeth Paige was more direct.
“You didn’t do anything wrong,” she said firmly. “And neither did Commander Torus. I just have to convince a jury of that.”
“But…what will happen if you lose?” Molly asked, feeling her stomach twist into a knot. “I mean, they can’t throw Commander Torus in jail—can they?”
Lizabeth made a shooing motion.
“Certainly not—Kindred enjoy Diplomatic Immunity all over the Earth for the most part. That’s the reason this is going to be a civil case rather than a criminal one.”
“Oh, good.” Molly felt a rush of relief. She couldn’t be more grateful to her big Kindred boss for everything he had done for her and she certainly didn’t want him to get punished for it.
“The worst that could happen if we lose is that they might try to use the ruling in the civil case to open the matter of Rage Killings again before the World Court—which might make it more difficult for the Kindred to call brides from Earth,” Councilor Paige went on. “But hopefully things won’t get anywhere near that far. Not if you two play your parts well.” She pointed a finger at them. “We’re counting on you to really look and act like a married couple—all right?”