Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 78164 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 391(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78164 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 391(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
I had a duty now. One that would come with great demands.
But my daughter would be born free.
She would be safe.
Miranda’s daughter would be free.
Every last hybrid female who followed me into estrous would give birth in a new world.
Wiping my mouth with the back of my hand, I sucked a deep breath in through my nose, slowly releasing it as I gathered my thoughts.
What was a queen to a male-dominated society? What would these men think I might do to them? For them? Against them?
I had already, thanks to Miranda, influenced many females to submit to my demands. Would the males do so as well?
Enunciating every word to let Murdoch know I meant business, I said, “Then, as your queen, I order you to take me to the academy children. It is them you are fighting for, and they must be frightened. I will be their mother now. And you? You will keep them safe.”
Offering a single negative head shake, he said, “You are safest here. Eat. Drink. Rest.”
“I don’t think you understand what I am saying, General Murdoch. I outrank you now, and I am ordering you to obey me. Take me to my children, or you will see just what Cyderial has been up against all these years.”
“Every recruit was evacuated to the lower levels. This building was crafted from the very ships that brought the humans to this planet. It is solid, safe, full of functioning filtration systems that could keep every hybrid alive for generations. We are currently in the safest possible location in the city. Artillery cannot breach this building. You do not need to fear for them.”
“Then it should not matter what room I inhabit. I will be just as safe with the little ones, as I would be in this space.”
“You should not leave your nest.”
“You can’t compel me to stay in it. Or to eat. Or to drink. You are not my mate; you cannot chemically manipulate or seduce me. Ask your new king how well force works when it comes to my will… and he will laugh in your face. He will also be furious to find me starved and weak upon his return.” Mirroring his wicked smile, more than happy to make an enemy of this man, I purred, “Obey me, and I will submit to your mandates. I will eat. I will drink. I will rest. But, only with my children.”
Voice full of poison and threat, Murdoch stood from where he leaned, towering over me. “You will make a fine queen. Pass that fire to my mate.”
“If you wish to get along with me while we wait through this, do not speak of her to me. I’m unwilling to share.” Nor did I particularly enjoy having this male anywhere near me.
Nostrils flaring, he glanced around the room as if looking for anything that might change my mind. Whatever thoughts he’d been cooking up failed him, the man left to yield to my order. “Use the facilities, dress. I will escort you there only after you have eaten the food Cyderial prepared.”
“We leave in five minutes.” I gave the male a look warning him not to disappoint me. That he’d only be able to trick me in such a way once. Oozed threat that I was far more than he could handle.
“You will follow me closely and obey every command I give?”
“I will.”
Quickly, I saw to my body’s needs, dressing in one of Cyderial’s uniform shirts found tucked away in his storage compartment. It went to my knees and offered modesty enough once buttoned.
“You understand what Cyderial will do to me for this?” Murdoch added, glaring.
“You’ll live. And I will remember you were a friend and thoughtful of the children. That will be worth whatever violence he might enact.” Just so we were on the same page, I offered a soft reminder. “I will have more influence over my daughter’s choice than you are currently giving me credit for. Would you rather her hear of kind General Murdoch, who helped me comfort little ones, or the evil bastard who thought to hogtie and force-feed me?”
From the growing glow in his eyes, he realized my favor would go far when it was my daughter he ultimately craved. “Come.”
The door was unlocked. Arms full of blankets I had taken from my nest, I trailed closely behind the highly trained soldier. Swiftly, we moved through the shuddering halls until we came to one large underground gathering space full of the youngest recruits. Their little bodies huddled together, wide-eyed and frightened.
Tending to them were the older female recruits, yet no boy over ten was to be seen.
Frowning, counting at least a hundred heads were missing, I asked, “Where are the rest of them?”
“In the field, guarding the academy from human assault. We cannot spare the watchers, and to mix genders without heavy supervision would end in disaster. The academy is in lockdown, and the older males will remain outside.”