Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 77692 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 388(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77692 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 388(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
When I back away, I see yet another new expression on her face. Oh, she tries to school it, but she doesn’t achieve her goal quickly enough. There is naked lust in the eyes that looks like she is just barely keeping open. Her teeth sink into her bottom lip, and a flush crawls up her cheeks.
She clears her throat before saying, “If that’s all.”
I smirk. Fine, we’ll keep playing this game. For a little while longer.
“That’s all,” I reply. “I will take my leave of you all now.”
I bow slightly at the waist to each person, deeper to Luna than the others.
“Can I ask,” Zarah’s soft voice grabs my attention, “how much longer until we leave for your planet?”
I look back at Luna as I state, very clearly, “Not much longer at all until we leave Earth.”
I turn from Luna and begin to walk down the hallway, pretending any of my attention is on the jar I’m putting the lid back into place on. But all I’m truly thinking about is how I can feel my mate’s eyes staring at my back as I leave.
FIVE
“You’re walking,” I say as I enter the tent and find Zarah on her feet.
She returns my smile as she takes another careful step. “Last night, the Hallan who always accompanies me gave me that cream Halun used on you a few days ago. I woke up feeling as good as new.”
I grin at her. “Oh, did he blow on your foot?”
“No, I did it myself because apparently, you do not need a Hallan to put it on for it to work.”
I go still, my eyes narrowing to slits. “That lying bastard.”
“Oh, let’s not pretend we didn’t all see you enjoying his proximity.”
“I … I was just amazed by the way I could feel it healing my cut.”
She arches a brow, telling me she clearly doesn’t believe a word, but won’t call me out on it, either. And the wound is completely gone now, in just a span of four days, I can say that part is true. Their medicine really does amaze me. And, I can reluctantly admit, many other things I’ve seen over our days in this camp amaze me, too. Not only how nice the tents we’ve been staying in are inside and out, since no, Halun had forbidden us from sleeping in the former general’s house. He said it had the stink of evil, and that no guests of his would find slumber there.
The sense of community the Hallans have has caused me to stop and simply watch them many times. The men and women aliens so at ease with each other, clasping arms right after they’re done sparring, sharing their meals so freely, laughing and joking with each other at all hours. Even within The Opposition, that type of comradery just doesn’t exist. Our bonds are built on survival, a need for change, and needing to trust each other for the sake of pursuing freedom from the oppression of The New Order.
And always among his people, is Halun. He is their prince, that much is clear from the bow of their heads whenever he comes near, but he doesn’t carry himself as if he’s above them, acting just like one of them whenever I watch him. And it alarms me how much I watch him. My eyes have spent so much time on him that I can now trace the lines of his markings in my mind when I lay with my eyes closed at night. I know his expressions far too well. The scowl whenever he’s dealing with a human. The smirk he gives his fellow Hallans right before he begins dueling with any of them with his spear. The rage that takes over his features when The New Order is mentioned. The first few days, I could tell myself I was watching him to get to know my enemy, but I am forced to admit to myself now that it’s more than that. I find myself wanting to just know him.
That thought scares me more than I care to even think about. I’m not used to being afraid. I’m not used to wanting someone the way I do Halun. I’m not used to feeling so conflicted within myself.
“Has he come to your tent again?” Zarah asks.
I don’t even have to wonder who she means. Halun is the only Hallan that it seems to me even dares to come anywhere near my tent.
“He came this morning,” I tell her. “The sun had barely even risen. I swear he really does have no concept of time.”
Zarah chuckles. “Or he’s just really anxious to see you.”
“All he does is ask me how I am each time, nod when I say I’m fine, and then he tells me to let him know if I should need anything.”