Total pages in book: 192
Estimated words: 192810 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 964(@200wpm)___ 771(@250wpm)___ 643(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 192810 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 964(@200wpm)___ 771(@250wpm)___ 643(@300wpm)
“I’ve had questions from the minute we locked onto that UtiliSport, and there was no security craft flying with it,” Aleksei shared.
“Same,” Tanyn agreed.
“Would Tatra set up her own son to take the downfall if her bid to keep him in power failed?” Aleksei asked.
“Tatra has already sold her soul to the Hell God to languish in the deepest depths of eternal flame to get whatever wealth and power she can amass. I wouldn’t be surprised at anything she did.”
At this, both males looked unhappy.
As Aleksei hovered over the landing bay at Spikeback, Tanyn finished it.
“That’s all I’ve got for now.”
“I appreciate the update,” Aleksei replied, then to alleviate the heaviness of their conversation, he added, “Laura and I’ll be up there for the coronation, whenever that’s planned.”
Tanyn frowned.
Aleksei laughed. “It’s a bunch of ceremonial bullshit, but beings love it.”
“Right. I’ll see you and Laura then.”
“You will. Later, Tan.”
“Later, Lex.”
He descended into the bay that had opened behind the castle, and once he was in and powered down, the bay doors above him slid closed.
Before he exited the craft, he stared at his Palm.
“Fuck it,” he muttered, engaged his Palm and commed Allain.
“Your highness,” Allain greeted.
“Quietly, I’d like you to get word to the magistrates that will be hearing Tern Makepeace’s case, and let it be known I’d consider it a personal favor if they waive prison time.”
There wasn’t even the slightest tick in Allain’s expression. “This will be done.”
They disengaged and Aleksi exited the craft, went to the lift and took it up to the first floor.
Once he was there, he tuned into his creature to find her.
And he walked through the grand hall, the waning light streaming through the tall, narrow windows and glinting against the stone columns burnished by dragon fire until he hit the parlor on the first floor.
The only thing that had changed in this area was that he’d asked, and Laura had agreed, for the shadowboxes from her loft with the pieces she’d designed to be mounted for display in the hall.
In the gothic spectacle of Spikeback, the demonstrations of her extreme talent were the perfect fit.
He stopped in the doorway to allow himself to fully process the sunny smile Laura aimed his way and then he looked down to his feet.
Nova was winding around his ankles, but she sensed the minute she had his attention. Thus, she gazed up at him with her sad blue eyes and opened her mouth in a silent mew.
Obviously, he bent and picked her up, cradling her upside down in his arms like a baby.
She instantly started purring, even before he started scratching her chest.
All three cats now had trackers, though Nova and Comet didn’t need them, as they liked to be close to Laura and Aleksei.
But Jupiter had dedicated his existence to finding every nook and cranny in the castle.
One could say Jupiter had also found his happy place. Dark and cavernous, with lots of windows to peer out of, and when he was feeling his alone time, even more places to hide.
Aleksei went to his mate, bent and dropped a kiss to her upturned mouth, then he turned to their surprise (to him, Laura was drinking with them) guests.
His brother and sister were sitting with her.
“Are you two staying for dinner?” he asked.
“Hello to you too. And is that an invitation?” Tim asked in return.
“Or is it your way to tell us to get the hells out?” Aleece put in her own question, her eyes twinkling, since she knew it was not.
“Laura and I have both had busy days,” he warned them, taking a seat beside his mate on the sofa.
He set Nova in his lap, where she curled contentedly, and he wrapped his arm around his mate, who settled into his side, also contentedly.
Both of these things made Aleksei content.
Completely.
“Is that your way of saying you’re not cooking?” Tim asked.
“It is. We’re ordering in Shape’s,” Aleksei told him.
Laura gasped, looked up at him and exclaimed excitedly, “Shape’s? I’m getting a double bowl of their clam chowder. It’s insane.”
He smiled down at her, taking in her gorgeous, jewel-toned eyes, bright with happiness, and realizing he’d had absolutely no idea, if she’d decided differently, how wretched his life actually would be in those five hours he waited before he came to her door with Captain Jacques’s.
But now, he did.
“Anything you wish, bissi tressa,” he whispered.
Her eyes warmed with love (or, more of it).
“Blech. Before you start getting too mushy, let’s get our order in. I want lobster mac,” Aleece ordered.
“Baked scallops,” Tim put in.
Aleksei turned to his brother. “You have a Palm.”
Tim smirked. “I also have no credit.”
Too true.
Aleksei pulled out his Palm, said to it “Pull up Shape’s delivery,” and tossed it to his brother.
Tim caught it.
When this occurred, Laura didn’t hide how delighted she was that he and Tim were making progress.