Total pages in book: 113
Estimated words: 107209 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 536(@200wpm)___ 429(@250wpm)___ 357(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107209 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 536(@200wpm)___ 429(@250wpm)___ 357(@300wpm)
Vero blinked. “Erford?” The name stirred something deep within him. Erford had trained him as a young soldier, a male known for his kindness and rowdy sense of humor. He’d been considerate yet mischievous, with a strong penchant for practical jokes that left lasting memories.
“Yes,” Waxton confirmed. “He’s scouting the area now to assess where we might build new facilities once we move here.”
These Cyst weren’t just negotiating—they were preparing for the long haul. Vero sat back, sipping his coffee as his mind reeled. He’d spent days worrying about this ritual, but Paxton had handled it with ease. Diplomatically.
He grinned, finally allowing himself a breath of relief. “Welcome back, brother.”
* * * *
Lyrica sat on the bed, wrapped in one of Vero’s oversized T-shirts, the scent of her mate surrounding her like a warm cocoon. She had the bedside lamp on, her phone in hand, scrolling through news articles about recent studies in fission power. While she and Hope had chatted for an hour and enjoyed a very good champagne, Hope had headed to bed a while ago. Lyrica tried to focus, but the thought of the Convexus occurring outside near the river wouldn’t leave her mind.
They had to be about finished by now. Unless the entire situation had been a setup. Then there would be fighting, beheading, and dead bodies.
Heavy footsteps echoed outside the door and she looked up as it opened. Vero stepped inside, kicking off his boots with practiced ease.
“Hi,” she said, smiling despite the tightness in her chest. Her heart leaped at the sight of him. “You’re all right.”
He moved toward her. “I thought you were sleeping.”
“I was,” she said as he sat down, plucked her from the bed, and cradled her in his lap. “But I woke up and missed you.” She rested her forehead against his broad shoulder, inhaling deeply. “Please tell me you have good news.”
He kissed her lightly on the nose, his lips warm and tender. “I do,” he said simply. “We performed the quick ritual, Paxton and the general signed the agreement again, and we sent out the video to the entire immortal world. It was surprisingly easy to find peace.”
She pulled back, her eyes widening. “Really?”
“Yes,” he replied, his grin easing some of the tension coiling in her chest. “We need to order a lot more building supplies as soon as possible.” He moved so his back rested against the headboard with his legs extended, her safely ensconced in his arms. “Also a lot more of the sparkling water. Apparently the Cyst soldiers love it.”
Sure they did. “No problem,” she said, snuggling against him. “We didn’t have time to talk earlier with all your preparations. You just told me that Hunter showed up and you two came up with a cure for the illness knocking out all your soldiers. I’ve heard laughing and whistling all night from those patrolling outside, so I figured it worked.”
“Oh, it’s definitely working,” he admitted, though his expression turned wry. “But, uh, it has a side effect.”
Her brows knitted. “What kind of side effect?”
“It seems to kick the soldiers’ healing cells into overdrive,” he said with a slight grimace, “which also makes them hornier than hell.”
She blinked, her lips parting. “Horny?”
He nodded, his mouth twitching. “I’ve already had to put guards on the single human females for their safety—not that anyone would hurt them, but they might get…courted very enthusiastically.”
She laughed, her tension finally breaking. “Courted enthusiastically? That doesn’t sound so bad.”
He shook his head, clearly not amused. “Let’s just say I won’t forget the sight of Jonathan climbing a fur-laden, icy tree to pick perfect pine cones for a bouquet. He nearly broke his neck.”
Lyrica snorted, unable to hold back her amusement. “Pine cones?”
“Pine cones,” he confirmed, shaking his head. “The effects seem to be wearing off, so I think everything will be back to normal in a couple of days. But for now, romance is running rampant in the Kurjan nation.”
Her laughter softened into a gentle smile as she rubbed her palm along his whiskered jawline. “I could live with romance being strong in the Kurjan nation. It sounds…nice.”
“That would be a first,” he admitted, leaning down to kiss her, his lips firm and sure. The kiss spread heat through her body, a sense of home and belonging warming her from the inside out. He paused and leaned over to glance at the laptop she’d left open on the bed. “Another PowerPoint?”
Excitement thrilled through her. “Yeah. It’s a proposal for a new store owned by the knitting groups here in the territory. With their skills, I project they’ll make a profit within the first few months. It’d be nice to give the mates some financial security.”
He flicked through screens. “You’re impressive, sweetheart. A bit bossy, but in a way that takes care of people.”