Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 83946 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 420(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83946 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 420(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
“Let us get our food first, and sit down.”
If it were anyone else, I’d fear that she was just buying time until she had to tell us bad news. But Vabila, since we were children, has spoken so freely, about the present, past, and events that none but a Mina could know. Her stalling until we have our meals tells me that she has much to say. I wonder now if I should have waited to ask her when Selina isn’t around. But I know I would have told Selina, anyway. She deserves to know what’s happening on the only home she’s ever known.
I point out what different things are, whether the foods are sweet, savory, or sour as we move down the line of prepared foods laid out. Once all of our plates are full, we sit down at a table towards the back of the hall, where there are less Hallans. Another thing I like about life on Hallan ships. At the palace back home, the royal family eats at the head of the court. I don’t enjoy being a spectacle. I notice stares from the other males here focusing on Selina, and I try to remind myself that they’re looking at someone they’ve never seen, except the few males of her species on the shore. Still, I want to claw each and every one of their eyes out for looking at my mate. When I turn around, all gazes quickly avert.
“So, is it to be war?” Selina inquires before even taking her first bite.
“The males in control there are refusing to even negotiate,” Vabila begins, shaking her head. “They are demanding Selina’s return for one, to stand trial for her father’s murder.”
“That will never happen,” I growl out.
Selina’s eyes dart to me, and I see the slight fear in them. Of course, she knows I would never give her up, but a part of me also thinks she fears that if she somehow ever ended up back on Earth, her punishment would be severe. I would let the humans take every single piece of me away before I let them cause her even an ounce more of pain.
“Halun let them know that, and trust me when I say his words left zero doubt that he meant it when he said his brother’s mate would never be punished by them. They are also demanding that you be handed over, for various crimes, to which Halun told them they’d have nothing to hold you captive with anyway because they would all be without their hands for attempting to touch you.”
“So, all they have are demands, then?” I ask.
“For now. And all Halun has given them in return are demands. To lay down their arms. To depose their leaders. Well, he really said he wanted their severed heads brought to him …” Her eyes go to the bandage wrapping my head before she continues. “And he wants each head to be missing an eye.”
Halun. Wild, brutal, yes, but my brother through and through. He will not soon forget what they’ve done to me. And he will make sure they don’t forget, either.
“He’s demanded they free the females there, give them equal footing with the males, and be given the same opportunities.”
Selina’s brows rise at that, but then sadness takes over her face. “The New Order will never agree to that. They’ve spent far too much time tearing women down and building men up.”
Vabila’s eyes light up as she puts her arms on the table and leans forward. “They are not open to change, but there are others who have been waiting for a chance to change everything.”
Selina’s head tilts and a moment later, she says, “You can’t mean The Opposition. They were dismantled years ago. All the people they could find were executed.”
“Yes, but only the ones they could find. Others remained, and they see an opportunity now, in the Hallans being there, in The New Order being weakened, in the people being confused and unsure.”
“And they’ve reached out to Halun,” I presume.
Vabila nods. “They’ve offered to join his cause, and asked him what terms he would want if they can topple this … New Order, but it is still early. Talks like these can fail.”
“So, it is possible that a war can be avoided?” Selina asks, so much hope in her voice.
“I think all-out war, yes, but it’s clear your leaders will not give up without a fight. And Halun is yearning for that fight.”
“And what does father say about all of this?” I inquire.
“He is mostly leaving the control over this to Halun, only reminding him of what the Mina have said about what hope Earth holds.”
“And what exactly is that?” Selina questions.
I don’t miss the way Vabila’s eyes dart down to Selina’s middle before she says, “That will come to be known very soon.”