Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 77812 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 389(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77812 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 389(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
That man was interesting, even for a human.
“I feel the need to remind us both that we should not speculate about his past, my mate.”
Wren’s sigh said the reminder was timely.
“I know.”
He gave me his agreement but I could feel how much it frustrated him to admit it.
“Just because I understand it doesn’t mean I like it. I’m kinda nosy.”
That was not a surprise.
“Daddy.”
He tried to sound frustrated but the way the word stretched out in my head made him sound little and whiny.
“I’m not little. I’m a big boy.”
Really?
“Mostly a big boy.”
As he grumbled quietly through the bond, filling my mind with frustrated sounds and adorable pouting emotions, I gestured for Professor Zorin to sit down on one of the large, two-person seats before turning back to my mate. “This won’t take long but we must have silence and focus. I’m going to lower our bond and will ask everyone to be quiet for a few moments.”
Wren nodded, but his smile said mischief would follow. “Or he’ll end up learning Pig Latin instead of English.”
“That would not be helpful, my mate.” It would be memorable based on his definition of the made-up language. “With your memory, I could also end up passing along any number of odd languages.”
His mischievous grin said that was a possibility. “I read a book on speaking Klingon in middle school.”
No.
Whatever he read through the bond or on my face had him giggling and most of the group around us who spoke English were trying not to laugh as well. My people were still incredibly confused, however, and were just circled around the tent watching the zoo animals react.
“I’ll be good, Daddy. Just don’t get hurt.”
“I don’t think anything will go wrong and possibly couldn’t go wrong. Our intent will lead the way. We just need quiet and focus.”
As he nodded again, a bit more of his little side peeking through the bond, he sat straighter across from us and gave everyone a warning glance to behave. “We’re ready.”
Since the professor was taking the language from me, I quieted my own mind and lowered the bond until Wren was only a faint echo in my mind. Thinking about English and about how the words sounded and the explanations Wren had given me, I closed my eyes as Professor Zorin began working the magic that would copy my knowledge of the language over to him.
Silence stretched out and I could feel the magic growing as I thought about making sure he understood the words and the meanings behind them. If intent mattered as much as we told new mages it did, I wanted there to be no question about what I wanted from the power gathering around us.
As it popped and the pressure it’d created faded, I opened my eyes to find every gaze on us and nearly everyone holding their breath.
It was too tempting so I frowned at Wren. “Iyay ovelay ouyay, ymay atemay.”
Everyone but Beatrice and Wren looked either frightened or confused, but she giggled and he nearly fell out of his chair he laughed so hard.
Before the people of Earth could figure out my joke, Professor Zorin gave a small huff. “Please stay on track and explain why I now seem to understand several languages that do not match each other.”
Well, he’d started off in English so that was a step in the right direction. “Wren has what is called a photographic memory. The easiest way to explain it is—”
The professor held up his hand and stopped me before I could explain. “I know. This is very strange. I also know why this spell should not be used on anyone too young to mate.”
He actually sighed, sounding very much like he was from Earth. “Fuck.”
Yes, he’d learned English.
And once Wren stopped laughing we’d explain to the professor why that wasn’t a reasonable response.
“Anyone else feeling the need to ask if he’s Team Binkie or Team Badass?” Beatrice was going to be a terrible influence on Wren based on how sweetly she was smiling as she fucked with the grumpy professor.
How had she managed to have behaved so politely in the council meetings?
Professor Zorin was not pleased with the question. “Are they always so polite when they’re inappropriate?”
Clearly the team nonsense from the diner men had been transferred as well.
“Generally yes.” There was no reason to deny that when the answer would become obvious very quickly. “They’re also highly entertaining and have a fascinating culture around hospitality and inappropriate behavior.”
Leaning back against the chair, the professor frowned.
He frowned.
He wasn’t happy about it either. “Their language and cultural information also came with facial tics.”
That was unexpected…clearly the spell had some side effects.
“You’re using them correctly.” I wasn’t sure if that would make him feel better or not, but it made his frown less severe. “When you’re ready, I’ll introduce you to our visitors.”