Total pages in book: 137
Estimated words: 130081 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 650(@200wpm)___ 520(@250wpm)___ 434(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 130081 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 650(@200wpm)___ 520(@250wpm)___ 434(@300wpm)
“Well…I guess that might work,” she admitted in a low voice. “But…that’s really what you want to do? Dress me and undress me and brush my hair like a doll?”
“Not like a doll!” he protested quickly. “Like a cherished treasure.” Cupping her cheek, he looked down into her eyes earnestly. “I just want to take care of you, baby girl,” he rumbled. “Will you let me do that? I promise I won’t do anything you don’t like.”
Sonya felt herself melting…drowning in those pale blue eyes of his. Why did she keep having the feeling that she’d known him before somehow? Why did this all feel so familiar?
“All right,” she whispered. “You can…can take care of me. If that’s really what you want.”
“It is.” He nodded. “That’s exactly what I want—just to care for you and keep you safe, baby girl.”
Sonya thought about telling him she wasn’t his “baby girl” again, but actually, she kind of liked his little nickname for her. It made her feel small and safe in a way that she hadn’t felt since she was a very little girl. And certainly not since the Scourge had invaded Earth.
“All right,” she said and let herself relax against him, leaning her head against his shoulder. “Let’s do that, then. Hopefully it will keep Oozle happy.”
“You’re the one I want to make happy,” he rumbled. “The only one, baby girl.”
Sonya wondered if he really meant it. He barely knew her—why did he want to take care of her like this? Why did he care about her happiness?
She had no answers and she supposed that only time would tell if the sweet, protective attitude of her VIP client would last…
TWENTY-FIVE
NATE
“Hey, help! Can anyone hear me? I need some help!” Nate gathered Lan’ara’s limp form into his arms and stood, looking around the forest. Everything was quiet except for the humming of the white and silver trees and the rustling of the little silver fox-cat thing in the underbrush.
He wished desperately that he knew more about this planet. Did Careesa prime have the equivalent of 911 to call emergency services? For that matter, did they have emergency services at all? He had no idea—and no idea what to do for Lan’ara or even what had happened to her. One moment she’d seemed perfectly fine and then the next moment she was fainting at his feet. He’d barely caught her in time to keep her from hitting her head on the forest floor!
“Help!” he shouted again, taking a few more steps into the forest. “Hey—can anyone hear me? Is anyone there?”
“How can one help hearing you if you insist on trying to shout the entire forest down?”
The gruff voice came from behind him. Nate turned quickly, being careful to keep Lan’ara’s limp form protectively close to his chest.
Standing under one of the weeping-willow type trees was a short little man. He stepped out from under the trailing branches so Nate could see him more clearly. He had pale blue skin and a shiny bald head and he was wearing the same loose white trousers that all the men wore here.
“What’s all this shouting about?” he demanded, glaring up at Nate fearlessly. Then he seemed to notice Lan’ara for the first time. “Oh—a Freelon! What happened to her? Is she injured?”
“I don’t know—she just fainted,” Nate admitted. “And what’s a ‘Freelon?’ She told me she was an Empath Kindred.”
“She may have Kindred blood in her veins, but she also has the blood of our most honored caste—the Freelons,” the old man told him. “They are the ones with the purple skin and the strongest Empathic abilities among us. We revere them and they are so rare. If one is lost, it is a true tragedy!”
“I don’t want her to be lost!” Nate said, feeling a surge of fear. “Please—is there any kind of emergency room I can take her to around here?”
“A room filled with emergencies?” The old man frowned. “What would be the purpose of such a place?”
“To heal her, of course!” Nate felt a surge of irritation.
“Why, only a fated mate can heal a Freelon,” the old man said, frowning. “Are you her fated mate? I can tell you’re not from Careesa Prime,” he added.
“No, I’m from Earth. I don’t know about the fated mate thing, but we are in our Claiming Period,” Nate said, remembering what Lan’ara had told him. “I mean, we’re just in the beginning of it, but—”
“Ah, then you are her fated mate.” The old man nodded his shiny bald head knowingly. “Good—then you can heal her. Come with me.”
And he turned and walked off into the woods.
“Wait—who are you?” Nate called after him. “I don’t even know you!”
The old man turned back for a moment.
“I am Teetsook,” he said, making a little bow. “And you are the fated mate of a Freelon—you must come with me.”