Total pages in book: 113
Estimated words: 107209 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 536(@200wpm)___ 429(@250wpm)___ 357(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107209 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 536(@200wpm)___ 429(@250wpm)___ 357(@300wpm)
Vero didn’t know how to do this. “I wanted to talk to you about Genevieve.”
Lukas tugged on his training uniform. “I figured.”
Vero had seen him on the field. The strong kid would make a good soldier someday. “She’s a human female and she’s fragile.”
“I understand that,” Lukas said. “She’s also smart and incredibly kind.”
Oh. Vero sat back. He was dealing with puppy love or hell, maybe the real thing. What did he know? “She doesn’t have family to protect her, so that leaves me. You understand what I’m saying?”
Lukas gulped. “Yes, I understand what you’re saying. I do want to court her.”
“You’re seventeen years old. You’re a little young for courting. You’re going to live thousands of years.”
“I know.” The kid flushed. “But she’s it for me.”
Vero didn’t have time to deal with young love. “That is off the table. There will be no mating until you’re well of age. Tell me you get me.”
Now an angry flash swirled across Lukas’s hard-cut face. “I didn’t say I wasn’t going to court her for a good twenty years. That’s fine with me and that’s fine with her. She’s the one. When you find the one, you don’t sit. You don’t wait. I mean, life might be long, but sometimes it’s cut off way too early, you know? I wouldn’t want to miss a moment.”
“You make a good point,” Vero said. His mind flashed to Lyrica and their kiss the other night. How many good moments could they have?
Chapter Eighteen
Lyrica watched as the last of the three helicopters lifted into the air and headed south. She’d miss the women, now headed back to their lives much wealthier than when they’d left them, but everyone had promised to stay in touch somehow. She didn’t have cell service, but according to Genevieve, a massive haul of computer systems had already arrived. It would be nice to reach out to the rest of the world without having to use a satellite phone.
She nodded at Jonathan and Lukas, who had been assigned to escort her when she left the main lodge. She couldn’t believe another body had been found. According to a Kurjan mate she’d spoken with earlier, they’d never had a serial killer in their midst.
So who was doing this? Dr. Fizzlewick had reported that the second victim had also been raped and strangled, with no DNA left behind. Another circle with slashes had been carved into her neck.
What did that mean?
Lyrica shivered in the cold and her boots crunched ice as she made her way back to the nearly repaired lodge. It was impressive how quickly a motivated group of people could work.
Ducking her head, she strode through the main living room back to her office, wanting to make a note of which released women she’d contact first after giving them a short time to get acclimated. For now, she looked at the files on her desk about the remaining Kurjan mates she had yet to meet.
So far, they had all wanted to stay. She had yet to find a truly unhappy mate, and that didn’t make sense to her. Twenty additional couples had arrived early that morning on the helicopters, and she had scheduled time to speak with a few of the females before the cocktail party that night, meeting some resistance.
That didn’t surprise her.
She glanced at the cold cup of coffee near her tape dispenser. It marked her fourth of the day, so she should probably pass on her afternoon treat.
A sharp knock had her jumping in her chair.
“Come on in,” she said, smoothing her hair. She hadn’t seen Vero all day. Not that it mattered, she reassured herself.
The door opened and a tall Kurjan soldier walked in dressed in a black uniform with silver medals across his breast. They were all tall, but this one stood at least six foot eight or nine.
“Hello.” She also stood.
He looked her over. His black hair had red tips, and his eyes were a deep amethyst with a hint of red. “I’ve been instructed that my mate needs to see you.” He stepped to the side, and a petite redhead walked inside. Her hair was braided and she wore a pretty green dress that matched her eyes. She looked calmly at Lyrica.
“Hi. I’m Lyrica.” She gestured to the guest chairs. “Would you like to have a seat?” The woman looked up at the soldier and he nodded, so she walked over and took the farthest seat.
The soldier looked at Lyrica. “I am Ralstad and this is my mate, Maeve.”
“Hi. It’s nice to meet you,” Lyrica said.
“I prefer to stand,” Ralstad said.
Lyrica shook her head. “I would like to speak with Maeve alone, if you don’t mind.”
“I do mind,” he said.
Maeve remained quiet.
“I’m sorry to hear that,” Lyrica said, “but we can check with the king or his enforcer if you wish.”