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)
Along with many Hallans like him.
I tune back into my father who begins to close his message by saying he and my mother miss me. Of course, they do. Hearing him say it, however, makes me realize just how long I’ve also been without them.
Their third child, everyone tells me I am also their favorite. My brother and sister. Our generations of kin. Even my parents’ closest friends and advisors. Everyone but my parents themselves, of course. Mostly because after fate had given them their heir first, and a Mina second, I was the gift they never thought to ask for until fate delivered me to them, finally filling their home. The little friend forever clinging to my father for every hunt and game. A quiet servant, happy to learn and help, at my mother’s feet. Somehow, despite being the youngest, I also end up acting as the middle ground between two very different siblings.
I don’t really mind.
“Good times are ahead of us, Bo,” I hear my father say as his message finally comes to an end. “Now isn’t the moment we look backwards.”
Silence echoes after the message ends until Kaul clears his throat. “He didn’t mention your request to return to the humans’ planet as soon as possible, did he?”
“He did,” I reply, offering nothing else. Perhaps Kaul took my father’s parting words to mean something else, but I did not. “Thank you again for letting me know we’re almost home. Could you call through if we’re going to hit another rough patch? Maybe I can prepare Selina for it.”
“I don’t think we will, but should I get some forewarning, I will let High Deck know to inform you, prince.”
“Excellent. The food that remains inside her body will appreciate it.”
Kaul cringes a bit.
I shrug. “Perhaps not everyone is made for space travel.”
He doesn’t reply, and I don’t mind that much. We needn’t discuss my mate more than we already have without inviting her to the conversation as well. Letting my statement be our parting words, he gives me a nod as I exit the cabin.
I try to focus on the aspect that I am nearly home where I can present my mate to my family, and them to her, as I make the long trip to the rear of the ship where Selina should still be sleeping. It’s better to think about the things that please me instead of the fact that my father refused my request to return to Earth. Ideally, once everything is out in the open for him to see and understand, his opinion might change.
I’m not very patient, though.
I don’t like to wait.
Blame that one on me being the baby, as well. It’s our birthright after being made to wait just to be born.
Unfortunately, Selina isn’t sleeping when I return to our bunk. The panels barely slide open to let me inside before I hear her mutter, “Not again …”
The croaky way the words leave her has me stepping further into the space in just enough time to see her race across the room. A hand to her mouth, she doesn’t even see me on her way by to the private room offset from the main sleeping bunk. The restroom. I’m right on her heels, practically, as she heads for the sand. I make it to the door in time to see what I knew was coming. It doesn’t get easier to watch Selina vomit—an affliction Hallan males only suffer after eating things that should not be eaten. I’ve heard whispers about sickness among our females but those weren’t conversations meant for me to join or listen in on.
By the time Selina finishes, I’ve gathered her a bowl of fresh water from the basin sink just as she flushes the first round of dirty sand down into the hole she has affectionately dubbed of no return.
“Again?” I ask her as I hand over the bowl.
I don’t really know what else to say about her continued bouts of vomiting, but I’m nearly ready to take the issue to my sister if it doesn’t ease up soon, regardless if Selina agrees. So far, she hasn’t been willing to let anyone else look her over. Vabila would be the only Hallan on the ship capable of helping, if there is a way to do so.
She leans against the edge of the box, sitting for a moment there while she takes sips from the bowl to swish inside her mouth. Spitting it to the sunken sand at the middle of the box, she then takes a drink before speaking.
“I woke up alone and hungry, tried to eat the fruit on the platter from yesterday, and—”
“Maybe it was bad?”
Selina glances tiredly up at me.
“What?”
“Did it taste bad?” I ask.
She stares at me like I’ve grown a second head in a matter of seconds. “No, Bo. We just ate it together.”