Total pages in book: 182
Estimated words: 171288 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 856(@200wpm)___ 685(@250wpm)___ 571(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 171288 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 856(@200wpm)___ 685(@250wpm)___ 571(@300wpm)
“Or just send the two of us,” V’rex cut in again. “Hey,” he said, shrugging at Penny when she shot him a scowl. “I’ve got nothing better to do. We might as well get your work done as sit around here for a solar week waiting for the Kindred to show up.”
“I don’t know about this…” Kat looked indecisive. “Hang on, doll,” she said to Penny. “I need to talk to Sylvan before we go any further.”
The screen went blank for a moment and Penny turned on the big Hybrid furiously.
“Why are you doing this? Why are you embarrassing me in front of my boss? Now they’re going to think I lost my head and ran off and had a romantic fling instead of doing my job!”
“Being captured by the NeverBreeders was hardly a ‘fling,’” V’rex said dryly. “If they’re reasonable people, I’m sure they can see that.”
“Well, why are you offering to come with me?” Penny demanded. “What’s in it for you?”
The minute she said it, she wanted to call the words back. The look on V’rex’s face was beyond hurt. But a moment later the expression disappeared to be replaced by amused nonchalance.
“Maybe I’m afraid I’ll get bored sitting around here just waiting,” he drawled, shrugging one muscular shoulder at her. “Or maybe I just want one more ‘adventure’ with you before we never see each other again, sweetheart. Did you think of that?”
Penny wasn’t sure what to say. It was the first time he’d called her “sweetheart” since he had Forsworn her. What did it mean? Did he care after all? Or did he really just want to help her as a way of saying goodbye?
“I don’t—” she began but just then the viewscreen came back to life and this time it showed Commander Sylvan. The normally mild-mannered Head of the High Council was glaring at the big Hybrid fiercely. His fangs were out and showing and he looked more menacing than Penny had ever seen him.
“V’rex,” he said, addressing the other male directly. “What is your stake in this game? What are your intentions towards Penelope? She is in my employment and under my care. If you harm her, you will have me to answer to.”
V’rex’s face lost its mocking charm and became serious at once.
“Penelope and I have been through a lot together in the last solar month,” he said, meeting Sylvan’s pale blue eyes unflinchingly. “I do not wish her any harm and you should know that I have Foresworn myself of her.”
“Then why do you wish to help her recover the artifact we sent her to get?” Sylvan demanded. “I’ll tell you now that the Eye of Ten’gu has no monitory value. We only wish to recover it because of a prophecy sent by the Goddess. It’s a dangerous artifact that carries great risk and evil with it.”
“I’m not looking to steal it, if that’s what you’re thinking,” V’rex said, frowning. “I want to help Penelope because I owe her my life. I couldn’t have survived in the situation we were both in if I hadn’t had her to confide in. She helped me keep up my courage.” He shot a glance at Penny. “In fact, I’ve never met any female as brave and strong and beautiful as she is.”
Penny didn’t know what to say and apparently, neither did Commander Sylvan. He just looked at V’rex for a long moment.
“You speak like a male who wishes to bond a female to him,” he said at last. “But you tell me that you have Forsworn Penelope?”
“I have.” V’rex frowned. “Circumstances make our bonding…impossible. But that doesn’t mean I admire her any less. If she has a difficult or dangerous job to do, I want to be with her to protect her and see her safely back again.” He cleared his throat. “To tell the truth, Commander, I don’t think I would be able to rest, knowing she was in danger. I must be with her on this mission. My honor demands it.”
Sylvan frowned.
“There are some who would say you have no honor, V’rex.”
“Because of my status as a Hybrid with a Kru’ell One half, or my harassment of your ships?” V’rex growled. “Because let me tell you, Commander—I have good reason to doubt the honor of the Kindred as well.”
“What do you mean? Explain,” Sylvan demanded.
“My mother, Ellora of the tribe of Tar’quill was a rare Beast Kindred female—a Khalla as the Kindred call them,” V’rex growled. “She was kidnapped by my Sire and raped—impregnated with me. But when the Kindred came searching for her and found out one of their sacred Khallas had been defiled, they didn’t even bother to bring her back. She died by my Sire’s hand because they wouldn’t bear the shame of having a despoiled Khalla on their hands.”
Sylvan frowned.