Total pages in book: 254
Estimated words: 240032 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1200(@200wpm)___ 960(@250wpm)___ 800(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 240032 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1200(@200wpm)___ 960(@250wpm)___ 800(@300wpm)
I was being only a little serious, mostly because I didn’t need to rely on him to get people to stop doing things I didn’t want them to do, but he didn’t know that. He might guess it, but he didn’t know, so I kept my mouth shut and played along if only to lighten the mood.
“You’re a vicious thing,” Franklin chuckled in a drawn-out way, reminding me he was listening. He almost sounded proud. “I can assure you that no one will be taking anything or anyone without permission.”
Grudgingly, I turned my stool back around. “Can you tell me what your suspicions are before they come?”
He hesitated.
“I understand you don’t know for sure.”
Franklin thought about it for a moment, then shook his head. “I would rather not speculate.”
Son of a….
“They’ll be here soon,” he said in a way that made me think that was him trying to make me feel better instead of making me panic even more.
I barely, and I mean barely, managed not to shout, “How soon?” Tomorrow soon or three months from now soon?
“I explained that I needed to speak with you before we could agree to any kind of invitation.” His eyes slipped in Duncan’s direction. “For the sake of the child.”
A graze at my lower back had me sitting up straight and appreciating the affection that Henri wasn’t being stingy with when I needed it the most.
Because I really did right then. As much as I was trying not to overreact, my heart wasn’t getting the memo as it pounded slowly but steadily against my sternum. But having your whole life on the line might have that effect on anyone.
“I need names and flight information before they arrive,” Henri demanded in his Great Wolf voice.
Franklin went back to eating, apparently not bothered by the bossy tone. “I’m aware, Henri. I’ll send you the information when I receive it.” His movements paused after he speared a sausage with his fork. “There was some excitement on their end at the possibility of Duncan’s ancestry.”
I didn’t like the sound of that.
The last time people had been excited to meet him, I’d ended up with a bruised neck, sore vocal cords, and had made decisions that wouldn’t haunt me exactly but that I’d wish that I hadn’t needed to make.
But I was never falling for BS like that again. Henri didn’t seem willing to rip out any spines to protect Duncan—a disappointment—but I would carve them out with the little blade on my nail clippers if I had to. I’d use my fingernails if it was my only choice.
“Is that plan agreeable to you?” the elder asked.
I didn’t want to say that it didn’t sound like I had much of a choice. I wanted to know what Duncan was, mostly just so I could care for him the proper way. It would be good for him to have that knowledge too.
There was a small chance he might meet people like him and prefer to live with them. I was aware of it. I hated the idea with the passion of a thousand suns, but it was a risk I was willing to take if it benefited him.
It might kill me, but what was love if it wasn’t a freely given gift?
Plus, if Duncan... left…without me… before the three-month trial period was up, what would I do? There wouldn’t be a reason to stay here unless something drastic changed. What if he decided to leave after I’d gotten married? Then what? I’d be tied to someone for the rest of my life for no reason?
Those variables complicated things so much it made my heart and my brain hurt.
Maybe the community knew exactly what it was doing with their trial period. Maybe I should wait until the three months were up before getting to know anyone. It didn’t mean I couldn’t do research and take notes in the meantime.
Just in case.
I bit the inside of my cheek and tried to keep my voice level. “Sounds good, Franklin. That works.” I dug my fork into a sausage and paused when the tines touched the plate. “Now, would you explain what this whole schedule thing you mentioned earlier means? I just kind of went with it, but I don’t understand.”
“Ah, yes,” the elder answered, his attention briefly snagging on something behind me. “In the past, when a new member joins the community and is in the process of meeting a potential mate, we’ve found that having specific, short periods of time where partners can speak to one another in privacy works the best. Unless you want an audience during every conversation you have?”
This was the modern-day equivalent of a dance card. “Can’t you all hear everything anyway?”
His forehead wrinkled. “We could, but the idea of there being privacy makes things more comfortable.”
I wasn’t sure how you were supposed to forget you were surrounded by people who could hear every little fart if they wanted to, but… sure.