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)
Mostly.
I might not be okay with the things he did and the choices he made, but Halun was right about one thing. Possibly, the most important thing. He is mine.
And my heart didn’t like being without him at all.
To the guard, I ask, “So, where is he?”
If my question surprises the guard, or if he has been forewarned about how to act should I ask for Halun, he doesn’t show it. In fact, he only thinks long enough to tell me where exactly I will find Halun on the large ship.
“This time of day? Probably in the control room with the captain,” he says.
“And where will I find that?”
NINE
“Are you sure you’ve got a handle on things in here? I can go a while longer without a break, Waliz.”
At the main control and wheel of the ship, I keep my grin turned on the view ahead of me instead of Ponor at my rear. “I think I’ve got it under control. Who taught me to fly again?”
Ponor laughs, but he doesn’t answer the question. He doesn’t really need to, frankly. The same Hallan and Tall White that put me behind the wheel of a ship once taught Ponor, as well. Right around the same time, too.
“Well, maybe I assumed you’d have a better way to spend your time than flying the ship when I need a break, is all,” Ponor says, then.
That makes more sense.
“I’m spending my time how I need to at the moment, worry not.”
“So, is there something to the rumors I’ve heard about you sleeping in a separate bunk from your mate for a good portion of this trip, Halun?”
I stiffen at the question. “I didn’t know there were rumors.”
“Okay, not rumors,” Ponor states quickly, hearing the instant heat in my tone. “A poor choice of words on my part to try and ease us into this conversation, but here we go. I’ll just come right out with it. That’s what was disclosed to me with only the intention of me speaking to you about it at some time that I felt was appropriate, and here we are.”
Hallans may be a peaceful kind, but there are a handful of rules we all expect from one another, and when someone serves the High Royal family, discretion is high on that list. The very last thing anyone on this ship wants me to hear is that they have been spreading gossip about the happenings in the High Royal Suites.
“Someone concerned for you, mostly,” he adds lower.
“And why would they come to you about this?”
“Because I am your only related kin on this ship—through a mated pairing, mind you—and it is a bit unusual, Waliz. To be so … distant from one’s mate especially when it’s so new. Forgive us for thinking you might want someone to talk to.”
“I appreciate the concern, Ponor.”
“But?”
I give him a look over my shoulder, and shrug. “But I have nothing to discuss, and nothing is wrong. Please, pass the message along to whoever else needs to hear it so that we won’t need to have a chat like this again.”
“Can you say things are right, though?”
Well, that is a whole other matter.
“I’ve got the ship for a while, Ponor,” I tell him. “Go feed yourself, clean up, and have a decent sleep so you can get us the rest of the way to Hallalah.”
Ponor hesitates a moment longer before finally giving in to my order with a solemn nod before he turns to leave. He doesn’t get far, though. The doors slides open for him to exit, but I hear his steps stumble to a stop as he says, “Oh, hello there.”
Over my shoulder, I find Ponor bowing to a stone-faced Luna.
“Sorry,” she says when Ponor stands straight again. “They just pointed to here, no one said to knock or something.”
“No need to knock,” Ponor replies. “The prince is always available to you, and I was just leaving.”
Ponor steps aside to allow Luna into the main brain of the ship, and then quietly exits the room. The door slides shut at the same time I put the ship on an autopilot mode momentarily, allowing me to put the majority of my focus on Luna while there isn’t anything dangerous ahead of us.
“Has something happened?” I ask, turning to face her.
She weaves her fingers together while taking a few steps around the room and eyeing the control screens. “Nothing happened, really.”
“Is something wrong?”
That question makes Luna pause.
And tells me a lot.
Before I can even ask or call her out on it, Luna says, “Zarah told me that she hasn’t seen you in a while and I said I would talk to you about it.”
That makes me lift a brow. “And so here you are?”
“Yes.”
“Just like that?” I question. “For no other reason?”
Luna’s gaze darts to mine, and I find a little fire starting to burn there. “Well, aren’t you supposed to be like her family now, too? She’s only got what you’re bringing her to, Halun.”