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)
“Probably.” Eudokia shrugged out of her wool coat to place over a chair.
Lyrica led her over to the seat she had just vacated. “We have coffee, hot chocolate, and apple cider. Can I get you something?”
“Oh no.” Eudokia shook both hands. “Of course not.” The female wore a pretty green gown that tucked in at the waist, with her dark hair carefully braided down her back. At several centuries old, she was stunning, with thick black hair, lighter blue eyes, and flawless skin. Vero had never been told where she’d come from, but she had always been kind to him.
He cleared his throat. “Are you sure? We’re out of sparkling water here in the main lodge, but I can run to the warehouse and fetch some for you.”
Lyrica frowned. “How could we be out? The pantry was full.”
He shrugged, trying to look innocent. “If you’d rather have something warm, I’m drinking the apple cider, and it’s wonderful.” He meant the words. It was truly a pity he’d never tasted it before Lyrica ordered boxes to be delivered to their storage unit in Anchorage. He wanted more sparkling water, however.
“Of course I will,” Eudokia said, instantly beginning to stand.
“Oh no, I’ll get it.” Lyrica patted her shoulder.
Sighing, Vero sat. “You don’t have to drink cider. I just thought you might like it.”
“I appreciate that, Prince,” she said, her eyes sparkling.
He shook his head. “What would it take for you to call me Vero?” He held her in the utmost respect, not only from her age, but because she had always been kind to everybody she knew.
She pursed her lips thoughtfully. “I’m not really certain. You are the prince.”
“Yes, but what if we agreed in informal settings such as this that you just call me by my name?” He truly disliked any mention that he had royal blood. As far as he was concerned, the only decent person in his lineage, or at least the only decent male, was Paxton, and he was barely getting to know the guy. “Although, it’s perfectly fine to call Paxton king.”
Eudokia let out a short burst of laughter and then covered her mouth, her eyes dancing.
Amusement surprised Vero as it bubbled through him. “I know. He hates the designation as much as I do.”
“I wonder why?” Eudokia asked softly. Lyrica brought over a steaming cup of cider to place in front of Eudokia.
Vero gave her the truth. “Many of the leaders of the Kurjan nation have not been kind people, and perhaps we’d both like to distance ourselves from that history.”
Eudokia tilted her head and studied him. “Should that be the case, then I would think you and your brother would want to use the titles as much as possible and give them a different meaning for the nation.”
Lyrica took the chair between the two of them. “Eudokia, I wanted to speak with you. I know you already talked to Vero, and he’s more than happy to leave right now if you would like to speak with just me.”
He was? He hadn’t agreed to that fact, but he chose not to argue.
Eudokia lifted her mug to her mouth and inhaled. “This does smell lovely.” She looked at Lyrica, then Vero. “I hold no objection to the prince remaining, though it is not truly my decision to make.”
“It is your choice,” Lyrica burst out, her eyes widening. “Everything’s your choice.”
A small smile tugged at Eudokia’s lips. “You live in a different world than I do.”
“But it doesn’t have to be that way.” Lyrica leaned forward. “Honest. You can do anything you want in this world. You could travel. Anybody who leaves takes with them a million dollars. You can see the entire world if you want.”
“I’ve already seen much of it.” Eudokia sipped delicately.
“But you haven’t seen it in modern times,” Lyrica returned. “You could wear jeans and let your hair flow loose. I know the rules in the Kurjan nation have been very restrictive.”
Eudokia blew softly on the liquid. “Indeed, though we may dress as we please now, I am still fond of my gowns. In truth, with so much hair, binding it in braids proves far easier to manage.” She shifted her gaze to Lyrica. “Why is it so difficult for you to believe that some of us desire to remain with our families? In truth, it appears most of us are of that mind.”
Lyrica took a big drink of her coffee. “I don’t know that you would still want to stay if you had all the information.”
“Maybe you don’t have all the information,” Eudokia returned, not unkindly.
Lyrica nodded. “That’s fair.”
Vero sat back and studied the females. “How did you and your mate meet?”
Eudokia looked up as if surprised to hear him ask a question. “Centuries past, Georgios first laid eyes upon me at the agora, our common marketplace. He sought me out after and made an offer of substantial property to my father.” At Lyrica’s small sound of protest, Eudokia reached over and patted her knee. “It was the way things were done centuries ago, and my family paid a dowry of textiles.”