Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 75457 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 377(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75457 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 377(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
Had there been another indication that we should’ve moved deeper into the professor’s home?
As we settled in the nearly blank living room, Klynn and I on one couch and the three men spread out as far as they could on the other, Klynn stayed focused on the question Shiloh had asked. “I think it’s a combination of both, but I believe the mate bond is a larger influence. That is our primary focus and not exploring who we are in a larger sense.”
“The type of dragon you are and what type of magic a mage uses best seem to be something your people are more focused on.” They definitely used it to judge each other and organize themselves socially, but I was too new to their culture to see the nuances.
Just reading about it in a government brief didn’t give nearly enough context to their interesting behavior.
The professor seemed fascinated when Klynn nodded to give me clues about what he was thinking. “You do that?”
I was pretty sure he meant the nod or just responding physically, but something about the question got Klynn’s hackles up. “That is not a clear question.”
I was having to work at keeping a straight face but Shiloh was struggling harder, and the still-silent Raxius was confused if I had to guess.
Our nosy professor went still before relaxing back in the seat and letting out what for them was a dramatic sigh. “I require information.”
And he wasn’t above using manipulation to get it.
Oh.
Raxius twitched.
Did he find it funny? Frustrating?
Shiloh had clamped his lips together and was sitting completely still, so I knew he was doing his best not to react…and probably laugh.
“I am not the right person to practice human manipulation tactics on.” Klynn’s gaze darted to the other two men beside the professor, but he didn’t call anyone out. “I attempt to respond in visual ways so that Agent Murphy understands my thoughts quickly.”
He was adorable even though he was somehow making the words sound like he was sneering them out while being damned near robot-level neutral.
Did they have ways of emoting that we couldn’t see or hear?
Was it magic of some sort?
“It does allow for interesting additional ways of communicating.” Zorin seemed to be up for learning anything that would let him have his way faster. “More study will need to be done.”
Was he volunteering for that or just putting the idea out there?
It was like deciphering a completely new language even though they were technically speaking English.
“Until that time, clearer questions are necessary. They do not have to be in English if you are not comfortable with that.” Klynn’s gaze shifted quickly to the still-silent man. “Has Raxius been given English?”
He’d been following as different people spoke, so that’d been my assumption, but I was glad Klynn had asked the question.
“Yes.” The professor’s simple response had me wondering if there was a story behind it but that might’ve been me being suspicious.
“Good.” Klynn focused on me that time before sweeping his gaze around at the different people. “We are willing to answer a variety of questions but understand some might be deemed too personal. We will not be offended if we have to claim personal. However, we can use safewords, if that is something you would like to practice?”
Oh, jumping right in, were we?
Was he testing the waters or trying to figure out what was going on?
Both?
The professor was glancing around like his brain was going a thousand miles an hour, but Shilo was back to quietly blushing and the silent man seemed to be processing something. After a few seconds, Professor Zorin realized he was still their spokesperson. “We understand the concept of safewords but I think claiming personal will be sufficient in this situation.”
“That is good to know.” Klynn was definitely steering the show as he settled into the conversation. “It feels important to remind you that safewords should be used in any situations where clear communication is necessary.”
I couldn’t tell if he was focusing on Shiloh or Raxius, but he seemed to think one of them needed the reminder. “They are mandatory in any relationship where domination and submission are being used.”
Well, at least I knew I didn’t have to worry about that with him.
“What other points of that type of Earth-based relationship do you need help communicating?” Klynn jumped right into the heart of the matter, making me wonder if that was just how things were with them or if they did it when they were frustrated.
Meetings had felt similar, so I’d assumed it was just how they interacted, but I wasn’t so sure anymore.
Either way, I understood why he’d started there but I had one thing I wanted to double-check first. “Raxius? Have you consented to this conversation? Consent is important for discussions as well as actions, and it is for anyone no matter how they participate in those types of relationships.”