Total pages in book: 137
Estimated words: 130081 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 650(@200wpm)___ 520(@250wpm)___ 434(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 130081 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 650(@200wpm)___ 520(@250wpm)___ 434(@300wpm)
“It’s all right, my love,” Lan’ara sent to him though their link. “It’s sad that she’s never been shown any kindness before, but now that she is coming home with us, she will have a chance to heal.”
“I hope you’re right,” Nate sent back. “But for right now, I just want to get out of this fucking haunted house of a ship and go home!”
“Home to the Mother Ship or home to Earth?” Lan’ara’s mental voice sounded uncertain.
“Doesn’t matter, sweetheart,” Nate told her. “Wherever you are is home to me.”
“Good—then take me back to the Mother Ship and show me how much you’ve missed me!”
He could feel the hunger in her words and it ignited a fire inside him.
“Want to Bond with you all over again,” he sent to her. “Can’t wait to get you back to the suite, baby!”
“I want that too—I want you so much, my mate!”
As she spoke, Lan’ara let down the barrier between them completely and he felt a rush of love and lust and desire pouring out of her and into him. For a moment he felt like both his heart and his cock might burst—he couldn’t wait to get back!
“Come on, you guys,” he said, speaking to Sonya and Davrik too. “Let’s get the fuck out of here and go home!”
“I agree.” Davrik and Sonya pulled apart and the big Kindred rose to his full height, though he kept an arm around his woman’s shoulderes. “Some of us have further to go to get home than others.”
Sonya looked up at him with a smile as Nate put his arms around Madison and Lan’ara.
“Let’s go,” he said again.
“You, too,” he heard Lan’ara say, nodding at Xairna. “You’re a friend now.”
“Thank you.” Xairna gave her a tentative smile and reached out to squeeze her hand.
Then all six of them descended the broad stairs, leaving the heaps of fallen Scourge warriors and the horrors of the Father Ship behind forever.
SIXTY-SIX
DAVRIK
“We’re so grateful for all you’ve done—we’ll be very sorry to see the two of you go,” Commander Sylvania said, speaking to Davrik and Sonya. “Are you sure you have to leave our universe?”
Davrik smiled and pressed the Kindred Commander’s hand gratefully. They were gathered in her office, having already said goodbye to Nate and Lan’ara. Davrik was glad to see that the human male was healed of his unchecked rage and was treating his mate with care and devotion, as a male should. The two of them were happily Bonded and he could tell they would be together for the rest of their lives.
Nate’s younger sister was also happily settled aboard the Mother Ship. She had struck up a friendship with a priest in the Sacred Grove—one of the few male Kindred in this universe. And though the priests usually remained single, it wasn’t mandated that they should never Join with a female, if the right one was sent by the Goddess. After seeing the two of them together, Davrik thought it very likely that a Bonding was in their future.
“We really do have to go,” he said now to Commander Sylvania. “Your universe is beautiful but in my own universe, Sonya’s family is still alive.”
“I can’t wait to see my mom again. Well, the other Sonya’s mom,” Sonya put in. She bit her lip. “I don’t know how we’ll explain things to her, but I need to see her. And the rest of my family, too!”
“Of course, you do.” Commander Sylvania gave her an understanding smile. “It’s selfish of me to want to keep the two of you here—it’s just that we’re so grateful for what you’ve done. The Earth is free now and the Father Ship is no more than a floating hulk.”
“That wasn’t all our doing, though,” Davrik protested. “It was the AllFather’s daughter—Xairna—who finished him off.”
“Yes, that poor girl.” Sonya shook her head sympathetically. “She’s going to need all the therapy to get over everything that was done to her.”
“She’s been going for healing sessions with the priests daily in the Sacred Grove,” Commander Sylvania said gravely. “And it might surprise you to know that my husband, Oliver, has introduced her to a cousin of his—a human called Lawrence.”
“Oh, really?” Sonya asked eagerly. “Are the two of them together?”
“They are still just friends for now, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they end up Bonded. It seems like the will of the Goddess.” Sylvania smiled. “Just as it was her will to bring the two of you to us in our hour of need. We were losing the war against the Scourge, you know—they were too firmly encamped and we had almost despaired of ever freeing the Earth of their evil presence.”
“We’re so glad we could help,” Sonya said smiling, but Davrik could hear the eagerness to be away in her voice.
“Though it’s difficult to part, we really must go home,” he said. “Could you please ask the transport controllers to fold space for us?”