Total pages in book: 55
Estimated words: 51094 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 255(@200wpm)___ 204(@250wpm)___ 170(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 51094 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 255(@200wpm)___ 204(@250wpm)___ 170(@300wpm)
Meanwhile, Estrella, who couldn't help being aware by Lysander's growing displeasure, was doing her best to rationalize the less-than-stellar behavior of some of the humans before them.
One of the reasons why most human governments have entered into an agreement with L'Alliance is because of our maximum tolerance policy. She bit her lip, not wanting Lysander to know how conflicted she still felt about this. Many human miscreants had come to take advantage of this frequently and treated preter gatherings as a free outlet for their rage. These people would often show up in rallies and protests in a rowdy and drunk mood, hell-bent on inciting violence that they knew they would not be made accountable for.
In the rare occasion that cases were filed against them, human courts tended to dismiss them as long as no severe physical assault was involved, and they went as far as citing that the defendants' actions, while unfortunate, were also pardonable, being an unpremeditated and possibly uncontrollable manifestation of psychological trauma caused by the "adjustment process".
The only reason none of it was happening right now was because Lysander's beastly appearance didn't fit the mold of any shapeshifters officially identified by L'Alliance, and the unconcealed sight of the bloodstained tips of his silver horns wasn't making them feel any safer.
The only reason they're not doing anything now, she told Lysander ruefully, is because they don't quite know what to do with you. Otherwise, they'd have probably started throwing eggs at us by now—-
A rumbling sound interrupted her, and she stiffened, her gaze immediately scanning her surroundings for any kind of assailant. It was only when she heard the rumbling sound again, loud and clear inside her mind—-
Oh. She kept forgetting that Lysander could read her thoughts now, and she looked down, realizing that those sounds she was hearing were Lysander basically showing how this whole thing was pissing him off.
If...they...dare...harm...you...
The harsh, savage bite of his voice was still a little jarring, its sound calling to mind biblical images of pagan gods and primordial beasts.
Eat them...alive.
Estrella gulped back a nervous laugh, thinking that it was so not like the old Lysander to think of something so bluntly and inelegantly...vicious. Please don't. I doubt they'd taste to your liking.
Lysander bared his fangs, and the sight had at least a third of the crowd screaming in terror as they ran away. He heard Estrella quickly coughing to hide her own laughter and knew that she believed he was only playing with the humans and that his threat hadn't been real. She was wrong on both counts, of course, but he had no plans on telling her so. It was never a good thing to argue with one's mate this early, and besides, since his Star had asked for it, he would naturally do his best to let the humans be.
But he wasn't going to make any promises either.
Lysander had always despised humans for their weak, cowardly ways and having Ammon inside of him didn't change that. The beast itself had numerous encounters with humans over the centuries, and and well...suffice to say, those encounters had done nothing to endear humanity to Ammon.
But with the way the world was now, it might be that neither of them would be given a choice. Apparently, humans knew of them now, and just remembering the ludicrous term associated them almost had Lysander baring his fangs. Preters? Did no one realize how similar it sounded to 'critters'?
By the time the twins came back, it was not a moment too soon, with Lysander having already risen on all fours in a rather combative stance. That he was restless and on the edge wasn't lost on the twins either, and Alain said right away, "We can go now. The van's here."
Estrella was startled to feel Lysander's clawed paw reaching for her as the twins fell into position, with Alain taking point to lead the way while Aluin hung back to guard their rear. It was obvious the twins.A moment later, and there were gasps all around, with the humans unable to believe their eyes as they watched Lysander rise to his full height and place Estrella on his left shoulder just before following Alain's lead.
I think I've seen this in an anime, she heard a human whisper, and apparently, Lysander did so, too, for the prince had just growled his dislike in her mind.
Anime. The word sounded as if it had been spoken between fangs grinding against teeth. They compare us...to...anime?
Estrella fought hard to keep her face blank. I guess so. A part of her couldn't help reflecting on how crazy this night had been. A ball where she had to deal with asshole rulers, a failed abduction attempt, her husband of two years coming back with a beast inside of him, and now they were talking about anime comparisons to preters.