Total pages in book: 109
Estimated words: 103211 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 516(@200wpm)___ 413(@250wpm)___ 344(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 103211 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 516(@200wpm)___ 413(@250wpm)___ 344(@300wpm)
“Just fold space for us,” Nox told her. “I believe the Far Box will do the rest as we fly through the fold, hopefully back to our own universe.”
“We will be happy to do that for you,” Commander Sylvania told him. “Whenever you’re ready.”
Nox looked at Seline who nodded firmly.
“I think we are ready now,” he told Sylvania. “If you don’t mind folding space at once?”
“Not at all. I’ll place you right outside the Earth’s orbit, where you say you left from.”
“Actually, the Kindred Mother Ship orbits the Earth’s moon, in our universe,” Sylvan corrected her. “So if you could fold space to an area near there, that would be best.”
“Of course.” Commander Sylvania. “I’ll call and have the fold created as soon as the two of you get back to your ship.” She rose from behind her desk, indicating that their time was at an end.
“Thank you.” Nox and Seline rose from their chairs and Nox offered her a warrior’s clasp.
Commander Sylvania took his forearm, squeezing his elbow with a strong grip as Nox did the same to hers.
“I wish you a safe return to your own universe,” she said formally. “And thank you again for telling us about Earth as a possible source of mates for all of our unmated warriors.”
“You’ll have to get rid of the Scourge first,” Seline pointed out.
Sylvania’s ice blue eyes flashed and she showed a hint of fang.
“Oh, don’t worry about that—we can take care of them easily enough.”
“I wonder if they’re all female too in this universe,” Seline mused, as they left Commander Sylvania’s office and nodded goodbye to Bairdida and Locks Tightly and Loves Deeply, who were just outside, talking.
“I don’t know. It would be interesting to find out,” Nox mused. “But dangerous, too,” he added.
Seline shivered.
“I don’t want to know that badly. Right now I just want to go home.” She leaned close to him and Nox saw that she wanted to tell him something, so he leaned down, allowing her to murmur in his ear. “Nox—I really need to be bred,” she breathed. “I mean, I’m feeling so empty inside!”
“As soon as we get home to our own universe I’ll breed you,” he murmured back, feeling his shaft get hard at the thought of thrusting into her and making her his. His Bonding Knot ached to fill her and tie the two of them together.
“Good.” Seline kissed his cheek softly and her gentle touch sent fire through his veins. “Because I can’t wait to have you in me.”
“I can’t wait either,” Nox growled. “Come on—let’s get back to our own ship and go home.”
FORTY-EIGHT
SELINE
Seline took a deep breath and reached for Nox’s hand. In her other hand, she was holding the Far Box and she and Nox were in his ship, hovering just outside the blood-red gash, which was the fold in space.
“Are you ready?” he asked her. “You know what to say?”
Seline nodded.
“All ready. And I know what to say. Let’s just go for it, okay?”
“Yes—all right.” Nox nodded. He gripped the steering yoke with his free hand and was about to push it forward when Seline tightened her grip on his fingers.
“Nox,” she said in a small voice that seemed to stick in her throat. “You don’t think…what Commander Sylvania said about us, uh, losing our memories or even going back in time…you don’t think that would really happen, do you?”
Nox looked thoughtful.
“I do not think so, but I can’t promise absolutely that it won’t happen.” He looked at Seline. “I’ll offer one more time—we can still stay in this universe if you want.”
Seline bit her lip. She thought of the chance they were taking…and then she thought of never seeing her family again. No more getting together for birthday parties or big family Christmases. And if she had a baby, no grandmother or grandfather or great-grandmother to love and cherish and spoil it!
“No,” she said reluctantly. “I think we have to take the chance.”
Nox nodded.
“All right.”
He pushed the steering yoke forward with his left hand and with his right, he squeezed Seline’s fingers tightly.
Seline ran her right hand over the Far Box, which sat in her lap. As they entered the fold, she said loudly,
“I want us to go back to the universe we came from—to our home universe where we belong.”
She felt a familiar tingle in her fingertips and the Far Box began to glow. At the same time, the blood red gash in space turned a bright green.
And then, they were through it and out on the other side…
Seline frowned as she looked at the viewscreen.
“Look—there’s the Earth. I thought we were supposed to be coming out of the fold right by Beselex Station?”
When she looked to her left, Nox was frowning as well.
“That was my assumption too,” he remarked. “I do not know why we have come back to our starting point. Also, why are we holding hands?”