Total pages in book: 159
Estimated words: 144433 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 722(@200wpm)___ 578(@250wpm)___ 481(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 144433 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 722(@200wpm)___ 578(@250wpm)___ 481(@300wpm)
"They're not guests, Kim," Nassakth all but growls at her. "And I told you to stay back with the cubs."
She ignores his stern tone and moves past him to tap on a wall panel. "The bots are going to start their daily sweep program and we need to turn them off if we're having company." She stresses the word even as she hits a few buttons on the computer. "Can't have them underfoot."
"Kim."
The woman turns toward us and puts a hand on Nassakth's arm. "I'm Kim, Nassakth's wife. Pleased to meet you both. The cubs are laying down for their nap. I'm sorry the house is a disaster."
I eye the picture-perfect surroundings. I think there's a toy on a low table in the living area and maybe a fold in one elegant, soft-looking rug. That's it for the “disaster.”
"Don't apologize," Nassakth tells her. "He's an enemy."
"Then why is he in our house?" Her gaze goes to the plant in Nassakth's hands, dripping dirt all over the floors. "Did I miss something?"
Her smile remains sweet and welcoming, but I notice she edges closer to her husband. Great, now we're making the pregnant lady nervous. I have a feeling that if she freaks out, they're going to be wiping bits and pieces of us off the walls. I hold the crushed box of pastries out. "We aren't the enemy. We just had a few reasons to come and introduce ourselves, the biggest one being that my husband here is your husband's biggest fan."
It's the wrong thing to say. Kim's expression gets a little more anxious. "Oh?"
"It is an honor," Zhur says, voice raspy from being choked. He puts a hand over his heart and gives a tiny bow. "Truly."
"No one is supposed to know who I am," Nassakth says in an unpleasant tone. His shoulders go back and his tail flicks in that unhappy-cat way. "No one is supposed to know that I am here, on this planet. Alive."
I decide the best thing to do is play it stupid. "Oh my god," I say with delight, looking over at my big orange husband. "You two have so much in common. Zhur is in the exact same situation. Tell them, babe."
"I am in the exact same situation," Zhur agrees.
The unease on their faces remains.
I blow out an annoyed breath because why is it Zhur won't shut up at other times and now that I need him to be chatty he's short and abrupt? "Your secret is safe with us," I point out, trying to keep the friendly conversation going, even if it's only friendly on my side. "Seeing as how your husband knows that Zhur isn't supposed to be here, either."
Nassakth turns to Kim. "He is the Heir to Praxii Minor. The recently deposed one that was mentioned in the news feeds recently."
Kim blinks repeatedly. "Oh. Oh goodness." Her gaze flicks from my painfully cheerful smile to Zhur and then back to me again, and the distrust in her face grows. "What do you want with us?"
Zhur bows again. "It is an honor simply to breathe the same air as the mighty Nassakth. If I am to die, at least I have died meeting my hero."
I gesture at my husband. "We don't want anything. Or rather, I just wanted the world's biggest fanboy here to meet his idol. So we brought a plant. And food."
"Such an honor," Zhur agrees, bowing to Kim this time. "Your husband is the greatest of males."
Her mouth twitches with amusement, her gaze flicking back to her husband. "I mean, I like him."
"Cool your jets, babe," I tell Zhur, nudging him with my elbow. "You're making things awkward."
Kim and Nassakth share a look, and then Kim puts a hand to the small of her back. "Why don't you two men take care of the plant and us humans will put on some tea."
CHAPTER
NINETY-TWO
MAEVE
Kim leads me to a kitchen filled with sunlight and a window behind a large round table. There's a stuffed toy here, too, and she picks it up as if I'm going to complain about the non-existent mess. She immediately sits down, her movements heavy, and sighs. "Sorry if I'm sitting first. I can't stand for long without the baby killing my back."
"It's totally okay." I'm curious about the whole human-plus-praxiian baby thing anyhow. Kim looks, well, enormous, and I know it's not a kind word to use for a pregnant lady. It's just that her belly is huge compared to the rest of her, and it makes me wonder if she's having multiples or if it's just one gargantuan baby. I can't ask that, of course. "Thanks for inviting us in."
"We didn't," she says mildly, gesturing for me to sit down. "I figured we could talk while my husband gets his neck fur ruffled and tries to intimidate yours. First things first—do you need rescuing?"