Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 86162 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 431(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86162 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 431(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
“Certainly,” Commander Rarev purred. “Please help yourself. Though of course, only to the plants which are non-poisonous and innocuous to humans.”
“I’m keeping her clear of the dangerous ones,” Solon assured his boss.
“Thank you so much,” Abbey said to him.
“It is my pleasure. Please enjoy your stay on our ship.” Commander Rarev left after squeezing her hand gently.
Abbey turned towards Solon.
“If you really don’t mind, I’d love to send some flowers to my Aunt Rose today,” she told him. “I know she’d be thrilled to get them.”
“We can pick some and take them to her this afternoon if you like,” he offered. “That way we can get your mobility aides and some more clothing for you to wear.”
Abbey frowned.
“Am I allowed to go back to Earth during our Claiming Period?”
“As long as I’m with you, it doesn’t violate the terms and conditions.” He lifted her hand and kissed her palm. “Come on—let’s go find some flowers for your Aunt. I want to bring her an especially beautiful bouquet so she won’t be angry with me for stealing you away.”
“Oh my! These are just beautiful!” Aunt Rose exclaimed, as Abbey pressed the huge bouquet of colorful alien flowers into her arms. “Oh, sweetheart, I was so worried about you!” she added, and Abbey heard tears in her voice.
“I’m just fine, Aunt Rose.” She leaned forward and put an arm around the older woman and hugged her, despite the huge bouquet between them.
“I’m so glad you came back to tell me you’re all right. All I got was a phone call from some Kindred warrior saying you’d been taken and you wouldn’t be back for a whole month!” Aunt Rose said.
“I really must speak to the Draft Agents—they need to use more tact when taking a bride and speaking to her relatives.” The frown in Solon’s voice was evident. “I’m very sorry that you were worried about your kin,” he added, speaking to Aunt Rose. “But I give you my word as a Monstrum that I will care for her and keep her safe.”
“I’m sure you will,” Aunt Rose said to him. “But honey, did you come back just to give me these?” she asked Abbey
“I needed to get my cane and my phone too,” Abbey explained. “And my MyEye in case I need to read anything.”
“Of course. You got some mail while you were gone, too—a special invitation to your high school reunion. I left it on your bed,” Aunt Rose said.
“My reunion?” Abbey said blankly. Honestly, she’d forgotten all about that.
“What’s a high school reunion?” Solon wanted to know.
“Oh, it’s a kind of get-together—you get to see all your old friends from school and show them how successful you are now,” Abbey explained. She sighed. “I didn’t really want to go—I mean, I’m blind and single and still staying at home—I’m not exactly living my best life.”
“Yes, you are!” Aunt Rose exclaimed. “Look at you, Abbey—you have a big, handsome, Monstrum warrior and you’re not living at home—you’re living on the Monstrum Mother Ship. At least for now,” she added.
“Well…” Abbey still wasn’t sure. “Let me make a few phone calls and I’ll decide, okay?”
“I would be pleased to go with you if you want to attend,” Solon rumbled. “I can wear my dress uniform if you think that would be more impressive.”
Abbey laughed.
“Well, maybe. Though I don’t know how much more impressive you can get when you’re already a seven-foot tall, muscular alien warrior! Let me get the invitation and read it.”
She led Solon to her room and he sat on her bed while Abbey got her clothing and aides together. Aunt Rose had already put her phone and cane on the bed. Abbey just needed to gather her charger and the MyEye device, which clipped onto a pair of glasses and was able to read written documents to her.
Luckily, the invitation was printed—the MyEye had difficulty with script and handwriting.
“You are invited to our Ten Year Reunion,” it read to Abbey in its soft, mechanical voice. “Be sure to bring a date or a spouse and get ready for a night of retro fun as we relive our high school glory days!”
There were a few more details—the reunion was in a month and it would be held in the high school gymnasium. The invitation finished with “Go Lions!” which confused Solon.
“Who are they asking to go and where?” he wanted to know.
“Oh, that’s a reference to our mascot—the lion,” Abbey explained. And then she had to further explain the idea of mascots.
“So…humans like to make an animal the symbol of their sports teams?” Solon asked.
“Yes. Actually, you ought to fit right in if we go—you look kind of like a lion, don’t you?” Abbey asked.
“So I’ve been told. Though I also have horns, which I believe lions do not have.”