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)
The male’s eyes narrowed. “Very well. I’ll be right outside. Don’t take too long.” He shut the door sharply behind himself, and heavy footsteps echoed as he no doubt headed toward the coffee bar in the living room.
“So,” Lyrica said as she sat. “It’s nice to meet you.”
“You as well,” Maeve said, a slight accent emerging with her words.
Lyrica pulled out the intake form she had created. “Do you have a last name?”
“No. Far as I know, we’re to pick a family name, but Ralstad hasn’t settled on one yet,” Maeve said softly.
“I see. Do you have a name you prefer?” The woman looked at her blankly. “Okay, let’s start there. If you don’t mind telling me, what year were you born?”
“Oh, that’s simple enough,” the woman said. “I was born in the year 1860.”
Wow. To have lived through so many changes in the world. “You sound Irish?”
“Yes.”
Lyrica took notes. How could she relax the woman? “Okay. When were you mated?”
“1880,” Maeve said.
“I see.” Lyrica sat back and gave her most calming smile. “I don’t know if you’ve been informed, but things have changed in the Kurjan nation. Did you mate Ralstad willingly?”
Maeve looked at her and shook her head. “I don’t understand.”
“Did you want to get mated?”
“Oh, sure. We had a fine arrangement, and Ralstad knew me Da, so it was a match that suited us well.”
Geez, that sounded romantic. Lyrica placed the pen next to the paper. “Part of my job here is to make sure that you want to remain mated.”
Maeve tilted her head. “Sure, I’ve not a clue what you’re on about.”
“I mean that it’s your choice. If you don’t want to remain with Ralstad, you don’t have to stay mated. There’s a new virus that we believe ends the mating bond. I don’t know that much about it, but I am happy to look into it if you would like to negate the bond.”
“Ah, and what would I be doin’ in such a way?” Maeve asked, looking nervously at the door.
Lyrica’s instincts slowly awakened. Something was off with the woman. “Whatever you want. The Kurjan nation has money and can set you up anywhere, doing anything you want. You’re free.”
Maeve clasped her hands in her lap. “There’s no such thing as freedom.”
“But there is.” Lyrica looked down at the form. “Where have you been the past year?”
“At a Kurjan outpost in Russia,” Maeve said. “We watched the live feed when the current king took over from the last, and everyone was called back home if they wanted to stay part of the Kurjan nation. Ralstad wants to stay, for now, at least.”
Lyrica reached out with her senses. While she’d always thought of herself as empathetic, it turned out she truly had gifts, and she’d been trying to strengthen those while with the immortals. All she felt from Maeve was an odd nervousness. “What about you?”
Maeve shook her head. “I’ve no notion what you’re askin’.”
“What do you want to do?”
Maeve unclasped her hands. “Choose a surname?”
The woman had no idea about the world outside. “Don’t you want freedom? You could explore the world. You could go anywhere you want. Are you happy in your mating?”
“My matchin’ suits well enough,” Maeve said softly. “Have ye any other questions for me? Ralstad said not to be takin’ too long.”
Ralstad seemed like kind of a bully.
Lyrica looked down at the form. “Do you have any children?”
“No, not yet. We’ve not been able to have young so far, but sure it can take hundreds of years for the Kurjans,” Maeve added quickly. “It’s not on me, so it’s not.”
“I didn’t think it was,” Lyrica said, enjoying the woman’s brogue. “How would you like to take a weekend away, just girls, go somewhere fun and see an interesting part of the world?”
Maeve’s pretty green eyes widened. “Ah, no. I don’t reckon Ralstad’d be pleased with that.” Her nervousness turned into a low, buzzing panic.
“What does Ralstad do when he’s not pleased?”
The door opened. “That’s enough time,” Ralstad said.
Maeve jumped to her feet. “Grand talkin’ with you, Lyrica.”
“You too,” Lyrica said.
Maeve hustled out of the office and Ralstad gave Lyrica a hard look before shutting the door.
Lyrica took several deep breaths before scratching some notes. This absolutely would not be the only time she spoke with Maeve. She’d just finished up when another knock came on her door. She knew that one. “Come in, Vero,” she said.
He opened the door. “How’d you know it was me?”
“Your knock is unique.”
His brows drew down. “That’s weird.” He moved inside and handed her a bouquet. Her heart lurched. She stood and accepted a stunning rustic winter arrangement made of evergreen sprigs, pine cones, and frosted birch twigs. There was a bit of moss gathered throughout, and a few feathers had been tucked delicately into the mixture.