Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 71832 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 359(@200wpm)___ 287(@250wpm)___ 239(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71832 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 359(@200wpm)___ 287(@250wpm)___ 239(@300wpm)
Skarr crosses his arms over his chest and supervises as I get comfortable in my designated work area. He paces around, watching as I spread out the bones to line up the ones that are the same size. Doesn't help, just observes. "So you still have to do all twelve tasks?"
"Yes."
Skarr makes a surprised noise in his throat. "Huh."
I grit my teeth at the false wondering in his tone. "What?"
"Nothing, nothing." He continues to circle. "It just...seems to me that she has used her mind control on you."
Oh, kef me. Not this again. Skarr is convinced that the human females can manipulate thought. It's asinine, but no one can convince him otherwise. "She has not. She's just a regular human."
"She has convinced you of that, yes. You must be wiser to this, Valmir. Of course she wants you to think that. Then she can manipulate you to her will."
I ignore him, holding two rib bones together and studying the length. If I tie them together at the end, it makes one long (albeit curved) bone. I could possibly anchor them to a leather base and have the bones curving upward and meet at the top, where I would tie them together again. It would act as interlocking fingers do, and give the creature plenty of space, making a tunnel of sorts. I don't know if this will be enough space for her pet, but if I make the tunnel long enough, I think she will be pleased. I lay out pair after pair of bones, while Skarr tells me all about the latest thing Vivi has done that he finds adorable.
"When I finished with my story," he rambles, smiling to himself, "do you know she made this strange noise. It was a snort! A snort of laughter that sounded like an animal snuffling. It was the most charming thing I have ever heard. I am going to have to make her do it again."
"Good for you, friend." I finish laying out my track of bones, only half listening. "Do you think this is enough length for her two-fang pet?"
Skarr steps closer, considering. He walks the full length of the supplies I have laid out. It makes a long, winding path along the beach. "Did you intend to make it twice as long as you are tall?"
"I did. He needs room to move about. To stretch his legs. No creature should be trapped in a cage so small that it feels suffocating." I push away any bad memories that float to mind and stand up, feeling the need to stretch my own legs. I smooth my whiskers, thinking. "I could make this even longer. We have the supplies."
Skarr nods, thoughtful. "I think you are right. Bigger is better. You want it to be the grandest animal cage she has ever seen. That is the key to winning her heart."
Bigger. Grander. I agree. This needs to be the most impressive cage for a two-fang ever created. I want April to see it and be overjoyed at the sight of the incredible home I have made for her new pet. "More bones, aye."
He follows me as I duck back into the supply cave. "So how goes the courting?"
How indeed? I try not to feel smug, but I've still got the scent of her on my fingertips. I can't stop thinking about how she looked when I rubbed her between her thighs, or the choked noises she made as she came. The soft, dazed look on her face. "She let me touch her last night."
"Excellent progress. You've been taking my advice and flattering her?"
I think about April and the way she professes to hate me even as we touch. Flattering her was the last thing on my mind. "Not exactly."
Skarr tsks. "Trust me, you want to compliment her or else she'll use the mind control."
"As I said before, there is no mind control."
"And as I have said, I remain unconvinced."
"You think Vivi is controlling you?"
"Absolutely." A wide grin breaks across his strange, reptilian face. "I am happy to be in her clutches."
Idiot. But a contented idiot. A week ago, I would have thought Skarr was a complete and utter fool for saying such things, but now I am starting to see why he does. Why he wears his ridiculous tail-sock with the fluffy poof at the end, why he thinks everything Vivi does is incredible. Resonance changes how you view a female. Before we resonated, if April had given me her scornful looks and mocked me, I would have loathed her.
Now I find her annoyance endearing. I cannot wait to have her insult me again, because her arousal scent drifts through the air even as she says mean things. It tells me how she really feels.
I think I like her harsh words far more than any soft ones.