Total pages in book: 141
Estimated words: 130947 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 655(@200wpm)___ 524(@250wpm)___ 436(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 130947 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 655(@200wpm)___ 524(@250wpm)___ 436(@300wpm)
“Not nearly.” Sophie waved her brush in the air in agitation. “There’s something else too and it’s really important. What do you know about something called a mating scent?”
“Mating scent?” Sophie could almost see her sister shrug. “Uh, I may have heard the term. I know the Kindred place a lot of importance on smells.”
“That’s because they use them to seduce their brides. When a Kindred warrior claims a woman as his own, his body immediately begins making a pheromone that’s specifically tailored to her DNA,” Sophie said rapidly, quoting as well as she could remember from what Sylvan had told her.
“Well, Baird does smell really good. But…so?”
“So? So, it’s irresistible. I mean, it makes him irresistible to you. Remember how we were wondering why nobody ever turned the Kindred down and came back to Earth? This is why, Liv—they can’t help themselves. His mating scent is like a drug and you’re being subjected to it every minute you’re with him!”
Sophie was panting she was so upset but on the other end of whatever strange connection they had there was a lengthy silence. It went on for so long that she began to wonder if her twin had hung up on her. “Liv?” she asked at last, looking up in the air as though she could see her floating there. “Liv, are you still there?”
“I’m here.” Liv’s voice was flat. “Are you sure about this? I mean, how did you get this information?”
“Sylvan told me. You know, Baird’s brother?”
“Yes, I know.” There was another lengthy silence and then Liv muttered, “Son of a bitch.”
“Liv, are you okay?”
“Yeah, I’m okay. You’re absolutely certain this is right?”
“Positive. He didn’t try to hide it or anything. He said that even if you knew, you wouldn’t be able to fight it—it’s that strong. Your body will react to his mating scent—”
“Whether I want it to or not,” Liv said, finishing her sentence in the familiar way they had.
“Exactly.” Sophie sighed. “Didn’t Baird tell you any of this?”
“He talked about smells being important and said I would find that I wanted him more and more but no. He never told me he was using biological warfare on me.” Now Liv sounded really upset and Sophie felt her heart twist.
“Look, Liv, I’m sorry, really I am. I feel horrible now—were you beginning to like him?”
“Maybe. I don’t know. I’ve been fighting what I felt so hard but I didn’t even know what I was fighting—just that I couldn’t, uh, help myself when I was close to him. And all this time he was lying to me. God…it’s Mitch all over again.”
“Oh honey, no.” Sophie wished that her sister was there in person so she could give her a hug. “It’s not like you caught him with another woman.”
“No—it’s worse. At least Mitch didn’t drug me to force me to stay with him.” Sophie could tell that Liv’s hurt was rapidly turning to anger. “Damn it, all this time I’ve been wondering why I was so out of control, why I couldn’t bring myself not to want him. The lousy, lying—” She broke off for a moment and when she came back she sounded a little calmer. “Sophie? I need to go. Someone else wants to use the phone …er, Think-me.”
“Do you really have to go? I’ve been missing you so much! Kat and I have been out of our minds with worry.”
“I’m sorry but I’m with Jillian Holms and one of her husbands is trying to get in touch with her. If he finds out she let me use this thing we could both get in trouble.”
“But will you be okay?” Sophie asked desperately. “I mean, what will you do?”
“Whatever I have to in order to get back to Earth.” Liv sounded grim. “Don’t worry, Sis, I’ll be back before you know it. Now that I know what I’m up against, there’s no way I’m going down.”
“But—”
“I love you, Sophie but I’ve really got to go. Give my love to Kat too and tell her I said the first pitcher of margaritas is still on her.”
“Okay. Love you,” Sophie said helplessly and suddenly the sense of having her sister in her head was gone.
She sank to the floor feeling suddenly bereft. After such a long absence, the conversation had been terribly brief but at least she’d been able to convey what she needed to. Now that Liv knew what was going on she could at least be on her guard. But she’d sounded so upset and betrayed when Sophie had told her…
Sophie shook her head and stared at the paintbrush she still clutched in one hand. “I hope I did the right thing by telling you, Liv,” she murmured even though she knew her sister could no longer hear. “I really hope I did.”
“Are you sure you’re okay?” Jillian asked for what seemed like the hundredth time.