Total pages in book: 107
Estimated words: 101280 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 506(@200wpm)___ 405(@250wpm)___ 338(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 101280 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 506(@200wpm)___ 405(@250wpm)___ 338(@300wpm)
Now I realized that was a fucking lie. I wasn’t prepared to let her go—wasn’t prepared to lose her. Somehow I had to get to the other side of the planet and convince the Emperor to give her back to me.
But how?
Without another word, I cut the connection to Azz’lx and blocked him from calling me again. I didn’t need to hear anymore of his bullshit. Right now what I needed was to find a way to get Natalie back before something bad happened to her.
If it hadn’t already.
FORTY-EIGHT
NATALIE
“You sure you’re ready to do this?” Rylee asked me seriously, taking my hand. “They’re probably going to be back at any minute, you know.”
“I know.” I squeezed her hand. We’d been plotting what we were going to say the next time we were dragged before the Emperor and it had been hours now. She was right—we were surely going to be called back soon. “I’m ready,” I told her. “But I don’t know if—”
Suddenly her grip on my hand tightened and she gave me an excited look.
“Oh my God—it’s back! It’s finally back!”
“What? What’s back?” I looked around the cell, but didn’t see anything different.
“My link with my guys! My mental connection with them!” Rylee exclaimed. Her eyes filled with tears and she sniffed. “I…I was so afraid being dragged through the mirror that second time had burned that part of my brain out or something! But I can feel them trying to contact me. It’s faint right now but I’m sure I’ll be able to talk to them in just a minute.” She let go of my hand and rubbed her temples fiercely. “Come on, come on…” she muttered.
“So…you can feel it coming back?” I asked. The idea of having mental contact with someone still seemed strange to me.
Rylee nodded, her eyes still focused inward.
“It’s kind of like when you’re getting over a cold and you’re finally getting your sense of smell and taste back—like that,” she explained. “Once you get Bonded to someone, that connection is so strong it’s like one of your senses. Sight, touch, taste, smell, hearing…and knowing where your guys are and how they’re doing at any given time. Oh wait…here they come…”
She closed her eyes tightly and I heard her murmuring, clearly speaking to her two husbands.
“Yes, guys, I’m safe,” she said to them. “For now, anyway. I’m on the male side of Tangella Alpha-Prime. I was captured by a merchant called Gumpas and sold to the Emperor here because he wanted a La-ti-zal. Well, two La-ti-zals, actually and you’ll never guess who the other one is—my cousin! I know, it’s messed up, right? She came looking for me while the three of us were off trying to sever your bond and the Commercians got her. I know, right?”
She continued with this one-sided conversation and I listened intently, trying to make sense out of it all. But just then, I heard boots scraping outside our cell.
“Rylee, quick!” I exclaimed, grabbing her arm to get her attention. “The guards are coming for us! Tell your guys to try and find the Baron—he’s probably looking for me, too! Maybe they can help each other.”
“Oh, good idea!” Rylee nodded eagerly. “Listen, Drace…Lucian,” she muttered. “I have to go now but be on the look out for a Naggian ship when you get to Tangella Alpha-Prime. My cousin Natalie’s guy is on board—his name is Baron Vik’tor and he’s from O’nagga Nine. Maybe he can help.”
“Tell them to tell him I’m okay,” I said quickly. “And…that I miss him,” I added, wishing I could say that I loved him. But we hadn’t gone that far…hadn’t said that yet—even though every minute I spent away from him I longed for him more.
Rylee nodded and relayed the information. Just as she finished, the cell door creaked open and the Captain of the Guards came in.
“Gotta go—they’re bringing us before the Emperor again,” Rylee muttered. Then she opened her eyes and looked up. She gave me a wink and then the cell door was grating open.
“Come,” the Captain rumbled, glaring down at us. “It is time you came before the Emperor once more. And this time, there will be no more excuses or delays—he wants answers. If you wish to keep your heads, you will provide them.”
FORTY-NINE
VIK’TOR
I was in my ship and orbiting around the male side of the planet when I saw a new ship come into view—a sleek Majoran vessel with the Goddess Empress’s own sigil painted on the side.
I stared at it in surprise—what the fuck was an emissary from the Court of Femme One doing here? Then, to my further surprise, it hailed me.
Warily, I opened a line of communications on my viewscreen. It wasn’t wise to ignore the servants of the Goddess Empress, but I had no idea what they might want with me. I’m scrupulously honest when it comes to paying my Imperial taxes.