Total pages in book: 98
Estimated words: 91775 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 459(@200wpm)___ 367(@250wpm)___ 306(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91775 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 459(@200wpm)___ 367(@250wpm)___ 306(@300wpm)
Tia looks disappointed, dropping my hand. “Oh.”
Her dismay crushes me. “I swear I will fix this for you. Trust in me, Tia.”
“Sif ihav achoyce?” She manages a little smile. “S’ R’jaal hokay?”
“I will make this stay for you as comfortable as I can, and then I will help you leave.” I lower my voice so my father’s men outside do not hear me. “But for now, you must stay here until I formulate a plan.”
“Wabout R’jaal?” she asks again, a question in her voice. She gestures above her head, and flicks her hand behind her hips. “R’jaal?”
I glance behind her to see what she is gesturing at.
Tia sighs.
Another little sound of disappointment. I strain my thoughts, desperate to understand, desperate to figure out what she is so upset about. It must be the severe state of her quarters. That she has been given nothing for her comfort. If she is not a prisoner, why do we treat her like one? I get angrier the longer I gaze at her surroundings. “I am going to fix this,” I tell her. “I cannot help you leave just yet, but I will ensure you are comfortable. Are you hungry? Thirsty?”
She nods, her expression guarded.
“I will bring you things. Wait here.” At her chirp of a laugh, I realize what I’ve said. “My apologies. You know what I meant. I just…cannot think straight around you. I will return soon.”
Maybe showering her with comforts will ease some of the shame I feel at her captivity.
All I know is that I am not ready to let her go just yet.
Chapter
Six
TIA
Idon’t know what to think.
I’ve just met my first alien stranger—a people I didn’t even know existed—and he’s clearly smitten with me. He touched his heart so many times, as if he had to double-check to see if he was resonating or not. It should have been laughable.
Maybe it would have been if I wasn’t feeling the same way.
The air between us definitely felt charged. The longer I looked at him, the more I liked his features. The hard planes of his face, the nobility in his brow, the intelligent eyes, the attractive mouth. I’m not as keen on the fierce-sounding name, but maybe it means something else to his people. Whatever it is…he’s been nicer to me than whoever kidnapped me.
Rem’eb has left me with the lamp, at least. He promised to return, but I can’t count on that. I set the lamp on the ground and put my ear to the door, hearing the movements of someone outside but no conversation. A guard, if Rem’eb is to be believed. I retreat back from the door and sit down by the light, crossing my legs, and I think.
Rem’eb must not have been the one that stole me. It was clear from the astonishment on his face as he looked at me that he’d never seen me before. It doesn’t answer the question of where R’jaal is, though, or why he’s not here with me. That part of things feels more than a little sinister. Unless they left him in the fruit cave? I wish I had answers.
I wish I could speak clearly to Rem’eb. I remember Georgie’s stories of how difficult it was to communicate with Vektal when they’d first met, and Rukh and Harlow had the same situation. I thought they were charming stories, a cute little anecdote to their relationship. Now I’m realizing just what a boon the language-translator chip is…and what a pain in the ass it is to know that Rem’eb doesn’t have one.
He’s clearly not from Icehome Beach. Clearly living here…wherever here is.
I touch between my breasts, just to make sure I’m not resonating either. It feels like something I should know automatically, but I’ve also never experienced this sort of sensation when flirting with the others back at Icehome. It’s like I’m anticipating Christmas, or an orgasm. Or both. Which makes it doubly weird since we just met each other.
If this isn’t the start of resonance, what is?
I rub my chest and pace in my small cell, wondering how I’m going to get free. Rem’eb said he’d help me. He also said there was a guard and we can’t go now. Rem’eb is clearly my best bet so far. And he likes me.
Do I seduce him to ensure that he breaks me free? Is that even necessary? I won’t know until I know what’s happened with R’jaal, but I need a plan.
A plan and a weapon.
With the light coming from the strange tube—that looks as if it’s crammed full of a strange, yellow-green moss—I check every nook and cranny of my cell for objects. It’s absolutely bare, which doesn’t surprise me, but I wanted to check anyhow. I see a few spots with promising chinks in the mortar between the bricks, so if I can get a sharp object of some kind, maybe I can tunnel my way out, prison-break-style.