Total pages in book: 68
Estimated words: 66222 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 331(@200wpm)___ 265(@250wpm)___ 221(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66222 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 331(@200wpm)___ 265(@250wpm)___ 221(@300wpm)
Calluvian Daily
Intergalactic Union Date: 18768.163
Breaking! The amendment to the Bonding Law passed!
Now, upon reaching the age of majority, any Calluvian can file a petition to dissolve the childhood bond. However, not all petitions will be necessarily approved.
Calluvian Society Gossip
Intergalactic Union Date: 18768.165
Scandal in the Second Royal House!
As we reported yesterday morning, Lady Leylen’shni’gul filed a petition to dissolve her bond to Prince Harht’ngh’chaali. At the time we thought the girl was mad, but in light of what we have just learned, we might revise our opinion.
Late last night, another petition was filed by a member of the Second Royal House: by none other than Crown Prince Ksar’ngh’chaali. Our Lord Chancellor wishes to break his bond to his bondmate, too!
Now, we would never speculate or imply that the two petitions are connected, but one wonders, what is the rush? Have Prince Ksar and the lovely Lady Leylen’shni’gul had a secret fondness for each other all these years? If that is the case, what about Prince Harht, who is rumored to be ill? One also wonders if the Third Royal House will take offence on behalf of the jilted Prince Seyn…
Calluvian Daily
Intergalactic Union Date: 18768.183
In all the uproar caused by the amendment to the Bonding Law, the approaching session of the Ministry has been almost forgotten. However, if the proposed bill regarding the repeal of the 156th law passes, the potential consequences will be as life altering as the amendment to the Bonding Law.
Calluvian Political Herald
Intergalactic Union Date: 18768.206
Breaking! The Pre-TNIT law repealed by a very narrow margin!
When it started to seem that the opponents of the repeal would prevail, the Lord Chancellor of the Planet Stuxz had a change of heart and voted in support of the repeal.
“It suddenly occurred to me that the 156th law cannot keep existing in its current form,” the Lord Chancellor said. “I’m still not entirely convinced that it needed a complete repeal, but perhaps I will make amendments to it and suggest a new, softer law in the next session of the Ministry.”
His former allies were unimpressed by his sudden change of heart.
“I believe the voting was somehow rigged,” Lord Chancellor Aimanu insisted. “There are telepaths among the Lords.”
However, such suspicions were dismissed by the Ministry’s security. “The Chamber of Lords is protected by the best shields in the galaxy. Neither electronic nor telepathic interference is possible. The results are legitimate.”
CHAPTER 26
Planet Earth
Chewing on his pasta, Jake looked across the table at Adam. “So are you taking Nick on a second date?” he said. He had been wondering about it all morning but hadn’t had the chance to ask his friend. Adam hadn’t mentioned his date with Nick at all.
Adam’s fork paused. He looked up from his plate.
“Date?” he said mildly. “I fucked hm. He was a decent lay. That’s all. No dating was involved.”
“Ah.” Jake returned his gaze to his pasta. Dammit. He liked Nick and had hoped he would be different from all the other guys Adam had hooked up with. So much for that.
Jake suppressed a sigh. He couldn’t say he liked how coldly promiscuous his friend had become in the past year. Sure, Adam had never had trouble getting laid, but he’d never been the “fuck ‘em and leave ‘em” type. Adam used to get to know his sex partners at least a little before hooking up with them. These days, Jake wasn’t sure Adam bothered to learn the guy’s name before fucking him.
And to think that all those months ago Jake had been relieved when Adam had finally gotten a grip and started going out and getting laid again. He’d thought it meant the old Adam was back. He couldn’t have been more wrong.
Jake actually preferred the unshaven, depressed shell of a man Adam had been after the little shit had left him again to the cold-hearted cynical asshole Adam was now. At least back then, Adam had shown some actual emotion, even if it was rage, grief and pain. Now there was just nothing.
Jake could only curse the day Adam had met that kid. Even if Adam was truly over the lying little prick, as he insisted, it was obvious that relationship had left scars too deep for them to heal completely—to heal right.
It had been a year, for fuck’s sake. Jake wanted his mate back. Because the man sitting opposite him wasn’t his old friend, no matter how put-together he looked. The old Adam’s eyes had never been so cold and cynical. The old Adam hadn’t had the cruel edge this Adam did. The old Adam would have never used a nice guy like Nick as a meaningless fuck and then discarded him so easily.
Jake wanted his best mate back.
“Something on my face?” Adam said, wiping his mouth with a napkin.
“No,” Jake said, pushing his plate away. “Let’s go back or we’ll be late.”