Total pages in book: 50
Estimated words: 46078 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 230(@200wpm)___ 184(@250wpm)___ 154(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 46078 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 230(@200wpm)___ 184(@250wpm)___ 154(@300wpm)
SEQUENCE COMPLETE a voice announces in smooth tones. The outside view of the newly conjoined ship appears on the massive screen before us, and I cannot help but notice that the vessel we are now traveling in looks like a huge golden lion charging through the universe in a stretched-out run, the bridge being located inside its open roaring mouth.
The metal rock music fades out, leaving me agape.
“I never get tired of that.” Azlan beams.
“That is the coolest thing that will ever happen to anybody, ever, in the universe at all,” I declare. “Can we do it again?”
“I’m afraid not. We have to make haste home. I don’t believe I have introduced you properly to my brothers.” He gestures to the guy I almost killed, and who almost killed me. Budget Azlan, so I nicknamed him. “This is Kain.”
“Hello, Kain, nice to meet you,” I say, as if I didn’t try to shoot him in the face, no questions asked, a few hours ago. I remember now that I did hear his name. I just didn’t retain it in all the excitement.
“Hello, human.”
“Her name is Ava,” Azlan prompts his brother.
Kain looks at Azlan with the sort of expression a disinterested uncle might give a child who insists on naming each one of his toes, and then also insists on making aforementioned uncle also address his toes in turn.
“Hello, Ava,” he says, his white fangs flashing with disdain.
“Hi.” I smile sweetly. This Leonid hates me, and I am okay with that. Neither one of us has made a good impression on the other.
“This is Nyan,” Azlan continues introducing me, this time to the brother with the deepest, silkiest, shiniest fur I have seen. He gleams when he moves even slightly. It’s very cool.
“Hi Ava,” Nyan says. “Sorry about your crops.”
“It’s okay,” I say, even though it’s not okay, because that’s what polite people do.
“And this is Skol,” he says, introducing the more slender, and yet somehow very intense brother. “The youngest of the four of us.”
“Hello, Ava.” Skol inclines his head in an elegant sort of way. He doesn’t seem unfriendly, but I feel a chill down my spine, nonetheless. His eyes are ice blue, and they contain an intelligence that could easily border on wickedness, I think. Something twisted and maybe even perverted lurks behind those eyes. I can feel myself almost falling into them, forgetting…
Azlan puts a paw on my shoulder, and I am brought back to reality.
“Hi,” I squeak out.
I am glad introductions are over. Being the center of attention of four Leonids is a very intimidating experience. I am very well aware that compared to them, I am prey. Azlan’s protection might keep me safe, but I understand why he did not want to leave me alone with them. They project menace, even when they are trying desperately hard not to, and considering they are all wearing deep V silver sparkle suits, I can only imagine how terrifying they would be without them.
Now I’m imagining everybody here without clothes.
“Your human is turning pink,” Kain notes. “Is she cooking from the inside out? That would be convenient.”
“No, she is not cooking from the inside out. She is not food. You know that.”
“She may as well be food where we are going. Why did you bring her?”
Kain talks about me in front of me like I am not here, or like I don’t have the intelligence to understand him. It’s insulting, but it’s also fascinating. I’ve never been treated like an animal before. There’s a certain freedom in it, a complete lack of expectation.
I glance over at Azlan, who does not find this nearly so interesting or amusing. He’s interpreting it as disrespect, both to him and me.
“She is my mate, Kain. You may not like it, but you will address her as such.”
“Of course,” Kain says, still with that tone that suggests Azlan is insisting he treat his pet rock like a person.
“I mean it, Kain. I expect you to treat her as a lioness.”
“I believe you do, brother.”
“I’m hungry!” Nyan interjects. “Is anybody else hungry? Ava, are you hungry?”
I am hungry. Hungry for so many things.
A meal is prepared and presented to the brothers and me by Skol. I don’t have the heart to tell them I don’t eat meat, but fortunately they choose to cook a potato analogue that is close enough to the real thing to satisfy me.
It’s kind of an awkward meal, as though there are many things remaining unspoken in this room. I can feel the weight of all that is going unsaid, and it starts to become absolutely unbearable.
“So I’m Azlan’s mate,” I say. “What about everyone else? Where are your mates?”
The brothers share uncomfortable looks.
“We have refrained from taking mates. It is not safe to do so while Leonidas remains in the Den,” Kain says.