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)
I put my hands in the air. "My brother is the one you should talk to—"
Uba continues, speaking over me. "More nobles have arrived, this time Lord and Lady va'Rin." He strokes his sideburns, his tail flicking with agitation.
That makes me go silent. Should I react to those names? The lord that owns Risda III and the human refuge there? Or should I pretend I know nothing? I've been careful not to lead a trail back to Risda III, because I don't want Maeve to be caught up in all of this. I've inconvenienced her for long enough. She deserves to go back to her daily life without a praxiian husband mucking up the works. I decide to play dumb. "And...?"
"And they have brought a guest."
My tail fluffs in distress. Oh no. Nassakth has found out that I've returned to my brother's side and has decided to kill me after all.
Uba wrings his hands before I can speak. "She says she's your wife."
Maeve.
Kef me. The female has no self-preservation sense whatsoever.
CHAPTER
ONE HUNDRED SIXTEEN
MAEVE
"Remember," Lady va'Rin says at my side, a serene expression on her freckled face. "Whatever weird stuff they serve as food, you try all of it, and you make a humming sound of approval in your throat. Never touch your sash, and always finish the entire portion."
"No sash touching," I agree, though it's hard to resist the urge to toy with the sash at my waist. Since humans don't have tails and tails are considered a large part of praxiian society, we have sash-like belts that offer an approximation of things, right down to the length hanging down the back of my dress. I'm told that if someone pisses me off, I grab the sash and give it a flick to indicate my displeasure, and that will get the point across more than a frown.
I'm also told not to do that at all.
Since I'm human and a guest, all eyes will be on us and I'm not to show displeasure at any time at all. My job is to smile politely, love everything, and be a good ambassador. To represent my people by being charming and sweet and affable.
That's if Zhur doesn't punt me on to the next ship off of Praxii Minor for daring to show up and put a wrench in his gears. I'm already causing enough trouble for poor Lady va'Rin and her (mostly) unflappable husband. They've been very kind and understanding about all of this. If it was me and a strange woman showed up on my doorstep with a suitcase asking to get to an alien wedding? I would have said “hell no.”
But Lady va'Rin must be used to weirdness. She didn't turn me away. She invited me in for tea, asked me to explain the situation, and then added me to the flight list.
Well, sort of. She also asked me a lot of questions first. Things like “are you absolutely sure you want to get involved” and “you do realize he's going into exile” and “you know this could be dangerous.”
I know all those things, though. The ramifications have swirled through my mind over and over again for the last few days. Salvotor has promised to watch my farm, which is slightly terrifying. If I leave Risda III and all I've built...I might not be able to come back. I might get pulled so far into the shitstorm surrounding Zhur that I won't be able to break free.
I'm well aware...and I'm going anyhow.
He needs someone to be on his side. He needs a friend who won't blow smoke up his ass. And if he's going into exile, he's going to need a companion. Maybe I'm not the smartest or most well-mannered, but we got along pretty well on Risda.
Also, I'm ridiculously in love with him and even if he doesn't love me back, I think we can still have a decent life together, even if it has to be in exile.
With that goal in mind, I've listened intently to every bit of wisdom that Lady va'Rin has dropped my way as we've traveled across the galaxy towards the wedding. I haven't slept for days. There have been emergency dress tailorings, and etiquette vids to watch. I've made deposition recordings of my interactions with Zhur and how we hid him on Risda for Lord and Lady va'Rin in case my arrival will come back to bite them in the ass. I send comms to Simone and to Salvotor.
Simone thinks I'm crazy.
Salvotor is in heaven. I figure if I never make it back, my cows will at least be well taken care of. They'll be the most hugged animals in the universe. They'll probably be better with him than with me. It's not like I've been the most devoted farmer.
I'm a people person, and I've decided that my favorite person needs me.