Total pages in book: 159
Estimated words: 144433 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 722(@200wpm)___ 578(@250wpm)___ 481(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 144433 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 722(@200wpm)___ 578(@250wpm)___ 481(@300wpm)
Praxiian architecture is...nice? I guess?
Boring. It's really fucking boring.
The walls are plain stone and metal, with the occasional banner hanging from the incredibly high ceiling. There's very little in the way of furniture or windows, and...I don't know. I thought there'd be a lot more going on inside. Like...cat trees. Maybe a nice cardboard box.
Zhur would not find that funny, even though I smile to myself. I ache with missing him all over again.
We head out to the balcony, and luckily the doors are already open. Unluckily, there's a storm coming in, and so the sky overhead is as surly a gray as the rest of Praxii Minor. There's very little greenery to be seen—tidy row after tidy row of metallic skyscrapers arch towards the clouds, and when the sky is clear, I'm told the environmental dome glitters. As it is, everything just looks gray and ugly and smells like a space heater.
I kind of hate it. Wherever Zhur is exiled to, it has to be better than this place. No wonder he thought Risda was stinky.
"Any sign of Leah?" Milly asks as she leans against a somber gray railing. "Or a chair?"
"No and no, unfortunately." I grimace, eyeing the balcony. "I think I saw some beanbag-looking chairs inside. You want me to go grab you one? We can pretend I'm feral and I don't know what I'm doing. I'll even bark at someone to sell the bit."
Her hand goes to her lips and she giggles, ever so politely. She's adorable, Lady va'Rin. Sweet and freckled and just cute as a button. I can see why her austere mesakkah lord is so taken with her. I just want to hug her, myself. Milly rests against the railing, closing her eyes in relief. "No, it's all right. Leaning helps."
"Kinda funny how this is a wedding and the bride is nowhere to be seen, hmm?" I point out. I'm looking for both Zhur and Leah. Two birds, one stone, and all that.
"It might be for her own protection. I imagine not very many are happy about the upcoming nuptials."
Darn her for making sense. I really do think it would be easiest for my plans if the mysterious Leah just sauntered in front of us and begged for a rescue, but I guess everything can't be easy. I glance back inside at the party. "No signs of Zhur, either."
"No. You're certain we told the right person about who you are?" Milly opens her eyes and gives me a worried look. "Should I go get my husband?"
"Uba will tell him," I say, confident. Of the people back home that Zhur had mentioned, he'd spoken most fondly of Ubagrrresh, the vizier. He was the one that helped Zhur escape. The moment we arrived, we asked for Uba and told him who I was.
I'm trying not to fixate on the fact that Uba recoiled in horror. Space isn't a place for hurt feelings. I learned that quick enough. If Zhur's alive, I'm confident he'll be told of my arrival. "We'll just have to be patient."
"Mmm, well, I imagine Zhur is in hiding for the same reasons Leah is—protection. I doubt we'll see them at dinner, either." Milly's expression turns fretful. "I hope you like meat. They're preparing a few vegetarian dishes for the more fastidious mesakkah, but the vast majority of the food is going to be meat, meat and more meat."
"I don't mind a steak with a nice rump roast on the side," I joke. "As long as it isn't staring at me—"
Someone grabs my arm from behind and jerks me towards the balcony railing just as the doors slam shut behind us and trapping us outside.
CHAPTER
ONE HUNDRED EIGHTEEN
ZHUR
Everyone stops to stare at me as I storm through the reception hall. The festivities of the wedding will go on for several days, but I'm not interested in mingling. In fact, Rem and I had agreed that I would stay in my quarters, out of sight. That was before I'd found out that Maeve had arrived.
Maeve's appearance changes everything, and sends panic racing through me. Something is wrong if she's here. Someone has threatened her, or has stolen her away from Risda III in order to use her as a pawn. Somehow, she's gotten entangled in things and I'm filled with both rage and terror as I move through the party, scanning the overly bejeweled attendees for a simple human female with long brown hair and a stubborn tilt to her chin. Whispers rise as I appear, flanked by Uba and far too many guards, but I don't care.
I have to find Maeve before someone else does. My brother might say he wants me alive, but that could change at any moment if someone threatens his power. Nothing's secure until I've abdicated in his favor and all documents are publicly signed.