Total pages in book: 142
Estimated words: 134725 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 674(@200wpm)___ 539(@250wpm)___ 449(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 134725 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 674(@200wpm)___ 539(@250wpm)___ 449(@300wpm)
She’d rolled away at one point, muttering words his translator didn’t understand. She started talking again into the pillow and it sounded like utter gibberish. He was concerned that there were further problems with his software, but after several more instances, deduced that she chattered gibberish as she slept. His daughter used to do the same thing, particularly on ‘big’ days where a lot had happened.
The way Tanya had looked at him through the evening? Her voice. Her sense of wonder. Her concern for his emotions. He was becoming more and more certain he’d chosen the right woman for himself and his little boy. But, what a cloud over them on their first night together.
He’d slept on the floor and then felt even more remorse when she woke in the morning and attempted to get out of bed, hurting herself again.
And now here he was, holding a marriage document and if he didn’t speak up soon about pretending to be her husband, he could face consequences. He trusted his father-in-law. He had issues with the man’s political nature, at times, but he did trust him. He decided to call and test the waters. Get some information.
***
“Spa-ha-har here.”
Was Spar Blackstar laughing?
“Spar?” This was Zane’s second call to him. The first went unanswered.
“Zane! What’s shaking?”
Zane hard-blinked.
That was something Elaina Blackstar had said at a Blackstar family meal a few months back, earning a sour look from Spar who was now using the greeting.
“Uh…”
“Did you have a good wedding night. I had a fantastic wedding night. Are you calling for my blessing?”
“I, uh… I suppose it’s strange after losing all the girls to see me moving on.”
“You have my blessing. Absolutely. Daxx married last night as well, did you know that?”
“I just viewed some reports and saw that, yes. That’s quite a surprise. What will he tell Treya?”
Spar let out a hardy laugh. “He’ll probably say, “Congratulations on your wedding…mother.”
Zane frowned.
Spar kept talking. “There’s a secondary report system that’ll need to go online for Phallyxian females. I messaged your employee, Pace, about it after the gathering yesterday when I had him come over. Did he tell you?”
“He sent a message, but I was occupied so barely glanced at it. But we’re jumping around here, Spar. What’s this mother bit?”
“I married Treya last night,” Spar blurted like he’d been ready to burst with the desire to share that news. “I, too, was occupied.”
Zane gave his head a shake. It dawned that the man had said, ‘I had a fantastic wedding night’.
“She’s pregnant. With twins,” Spar added and then burst into laughter.
Zane’s mouth dropped open. He quickly clamped it shut.
“When will you and your little burnished-haired beauty give Ollie some siblings?”
“We’ll likely wait a bit,” Zane answered sharply, likely too sharply.
“Right. That’s pragmatic. Give both her and Ollie time to adjust first. Well, let’s do a meal together tomorrow, perhaps. The three happy couples. Sound good?”
“Tanya’s injured her ankle, during the rebel attack. I don’t know if…”
“See how she is. Other than that, she’s fine?”
“She’s been rather resilient about it, and congratulations on your marriage, but Spar, I’m not fine. Nowhere near fucking fine.”
There was silence on the other end of the call.
“And you shouldn’t be, either,” Zane added. “That event yesterday was mayhem. Those girls were petrified out of their minds and the men acted like we were uncivilized animals heading into a rutting zone. I’m disgusted at my own behavior. The added hormones thrown into the mix? That shit---”
“You’re heard, Zane.” Spar’s voice had gone all-business.
“I hope so. Now we’ve got missing women. Dead men. Rogues at large. And they very nearly fucking raped and took my wife.”
More silence.
“Anyway… it needed to be said.” Zane’s heartrate had spiked. With anger. Other emotion, too, such as how the word ‘wife’ felt on his own tongue.
“You’re right,” Spar replied. “And don’t mistake my happiness for flippancy. Things are being taken seriously. There’s an emergency council call set up. I’ll be recommending that we switch the hormones to something one-sided, that won’t affect Phallyxians. Meanwhile, one contingency is that we’ll have all participants in tomorrow’s event told to stay here on the grounds. I’m having updates made today to get the old military quarters up to scratch for our little guests. They need to stay the first night at least. We’ll have ambushes set up for any rebels.”
“Good.” That was something at least. He wanted to say there should be no hormones administered to the Earth women, but he wanted off the call. He’d given all the headspace he had to lend for the moment.
“I must go. Enjoy your wife,” Spar beat him to it.
“And you,” Zane returned.
“I’m about to,” Spar said salaciously.
Zane couldn’t help but crack a smile. He gave his head a shake. “Who are you and what have you done with Spar Blackstar?”
Spar broke into laughter. “Wherever he is he can stay there, Zane. I mean that.”