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)
If her trust means that much to you, you ought to tell her about the exemption paperwork you had rerouted, whispered a little voice in his head.
Solon knew it was true…but it still just didn’t feel like the right time.
Soon, he promised himself. I’ll tell her soon…
25
ABBEY
“Ihope you don’t mind me visiting during your Claiming Period,” Commander Rarev said in his deep, purring voice.
“Not at all,” Solon said politely and Abbey murmured ascent as she settled on the couch beside him. Actually, she was a little nervous to have a visit from the most important Monstrum on the whole Mother Ship. But the alien commander had been nothing but kind and courteous to her so far, so she was hoping that whatever he had to say it would be positive rather than negative.
The second week of their Claiming Period had been amazing. She and Solon spent nearly every minute together but they never seemed to get tired of each other. They took a bath in the bathing pool every night and Solon was actually teaching Abbey to swim a little. After washing her and letting the pleasure vines work on her, he would give her the most amazing massages and the most mind-blowing orgasms. He let Abbey touch and stroke him too and she loved making him come.
But now the second week was coming to an end and Abbey had just been wondering what was next when Commander Rarev knocked on their door.
“As one of our Diplomatic Envoys, I have a mission I’d like you to consider, Solon,” Rarev said now. “Normally I would never ask such a thing during your Claiming Period but in this case, I thought I might make an exception since you can take your bride-to-be with you.”
“Abbey hasn’t made up her mind if she wishes to Bond with me permanently yet,” Solon said. “But please tell me about the mission. Though I cannot take it if it involves leaving my bride alone for any extended period of time.”
“Of course not—I would never ask you to neglect your fated mate!” Commander Rarev sounded slightly shocked. “No, in this case, your bride would be an integral part of the mission.”
“I would?” Abbey asked, intrigued. “How?”
“We have recently made contact with a people who live in the Gallarian System in the Cat’s Eye Nebula. They live on Tengula Five and at least thirty to forty percent of them are blind.”
“Thirty to forty percent?” Abbey exclaimed. “But how do they manage?”
“Apparently their whole society is built to accommodate blind or vision impaired people,” Commander Rarev said. “They requested an ambassador from the Monstrum so that we can learn about each other’s cultures and possibly sign a trade agreement, so I have been looking for someone to pay them a visit and establish a relationship between their people and ours. I have been searching for the perfect person—or persons—and until I met you, my dear, I didn’t think I had anyone who quite fit the situation.”
“Me?” Abbey put a hand to her chest. “You want me to help?”
“If you would be so kind,” Rarev purred. “You see, since Solon is a Chimera who is sensitive to the emotions of others, he makes an excellent diplomatic envoy. Add that to the fact that you are legally blind, and the two of you would make a wonderful pair of diplomats to the Tengulans.”
“Oh my—but I’m not trained as a diplomat,” Abbey protested. “I have a degree in business marketing and I work in my Aunt’s florist shop.”
“But you are a kind, warm, and gracious person,” Commander Rarev said. “Otherwise Solon would never have been drawn to you. I know it’s asking a lot of you on your Claiming Period, though—so please feel free to refuse if you’d rather not go.”
“No, no—I’m not refusing,” Abbey said quickly. “I think it sounds intriguing—I just don’t want to give you the wrong idea about myself. I really don’t know anything about diplomacy.”
“Much of diplomacy is simply smiling and being agreeable,” Solon told her. “At least, that’s what I find.”
“I could do that,” Abbey said cautiously. “Actually, it would be fascinating to experience a culture where so many people are blind. How do the sighted people treat the ones with no or low vision?” she asked Commander Rarev.
“I am told that the sighted Tengulans revere the ones without sight—they believe that the loss of sight awakens the ‘Inner Eye’ which gives supernatural wisdom and abilities,” he replied.
“Interesting.” Abbey nodded. “Well, I don’t have anything like that, but I’d be happy to go with Solon on this, er, mission. As long as it doesn’t last too long,” she added. “I don’t want my Aunt Rose to worry.”
“It shouldn’t be longer than a few solar weeks,” Rarev assured her. “We simply want to establish diplomatic relations with the Tengulans.” He cleared his throat. “Of course, you’ll have to fold space to get there, which can be dangerous for women expecting a child.”