Total pages in book: 54
Estimated words: 51404 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 257(@200wpm)___ 206(@250wpm)___ 171(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 51404 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 257(@200wpm)___ 206(@250wpm)___ 171(@300wpm)
“Okay,” Sunny promised. She’d already been drugged with one aphrodisiac in the last week—she didn’t need to try another one.
She made a mental note to avoid the Bonding Fruit cake at all costs. She was going to help Kat with this wedding, like she’d planned. Then, after the reception, she would go over to Greer’s suite and have it out with him. She’d let him know in no uncertain terms that she didn’t mind if he bit her. In fact, she wanted him to bite her. And then, hopefully, they could—
“Come on, I can see the wheels in your head turning but for right now we have to go,” Kat told her.
Sunny sighed and pushed her plans out of her head. Later…she’d talk to Greer later, she promised herself.
She just hoped the wedding went quickly because she couldn’t wait to see her big, grumpy Protector again.
33
SUNNY
The Sacred Grove gleamed beneath the soft glow of the artificial green sun which powered the Mother Ship. Its filtered light dappled the leafy green and purple canopy and glinted off the silvery streams that ran between the purple-barked trees. Sunny paused for a moment to take it in—the way the Kindred had managed to create a living forest in the very heart of the Mother Ship never ceased to amaze her.
But the Grove wasn’t just beautiful—it was holy ground. The bride and groom would soon make their vows before the altar of the Goddess which stood below the largest tree, its slender branches strung with lanterns that swayed gently in the breeze.
The reception tent had been raised just outside the Grove, in the wide park area ringed by more trees. Tables stood ready, covered in pristine white cloths, waiting for the centerpieces Sunny and Kat were arranging. Lanterns floated overhead like little stars, glowing brighter as the ship shifted into its evening cycle and the artificial green sun dimmed gracefully.
Sunny adjusted a vase of luminous Veruka moon-blooms, then smoothed her hands down her skirt, trying not to think of Greer. Trying not to think of his silence in the shuttle, or how much it had hurt. She had been so certain that once they were alone together, things would change between them. That maybe he’d kiss her and tell her he wanted her again.
Instead, all she got was grunts and silence. A wall so thick she could hardly breathe on her side of it.
But at least now she knew the reason why, she told herself. Greer was thirsty for blood. And she wanted to be the one he drank from.
She busied her hands with the flowers, but her mind wouldn’t stop circling the thoughts…wondering how she would approach him…how she would offer herself…
“Careful with that ribbon, doll—it’s twisting.” Kat’s cheerful voice rang out over the noise of her three sons racing between the tables. They were whirlwinds of mischief, laughing and calling to each other, excited just to be outside.
“I’ve got it,” Sunny assured her, forcing a smile.
She was just finishing her bow on the moon-blooms when she noticed the dessert table. Two towering cakes dominated either end, each so perfect they looked more like sculptures than food.
One was elegant—white fondant edged with edible gold leaf, gleaming under the lantern light like something fit for royalty. The other was softer, sweeter somehow—it was frosted all over with tiny pink flowers so delicate they almost looked real.
Sunny’s mouth watered just looking at them. She wondered which one was the regular cake and which one had the Bonding Fruit icing?
“Don’t touch the cakes, boys!” Kat called, but it was too late—one of the triplets was already reaching a finger toward the shimmering golden masterpiece on one end of the table.
Kat swooped in like a hawk.
“Hey! That’s not for you! That’s for grownups only! Keep your hands off—don’t you dare mess with that frosting!”
The triplet pulled his hand back, eyes wide and guilty. The other two snickered and dashed off before Kat could scold them too.
Sunny blinked, her cheeks warming. For grownups only? That had to mean the gold-leaf cake was the one with the Bonding Fruit frosting Kat had warned her about. Which meant the pink flower cake—the innocent, pretty one—must be the safe one for everyone else.
Well, at least now she knew which one to avoid.
Her gaze lingered on the pink cake, soft and harmless, while her heart tugged elsewhere—to a man with pale eyes who wouldn’t even look at her anymore.
Oh Greer… She wished he was here…or even better, that she was with him alone in his suite or hers. As soon as this wedding was over she was going to find him.
34
SUNNY
“Doll, tuck this Think-me under your hair,” Kat instructed briskly as they finished stringing the last of the lanterns around the reception tent. “It’s a multi-signal one. The other girls helping are wearing one too. That way, if I need any of you during the party, I can bespeak you quick without running across the whole park.”