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)
“Lyrica? Hey.”
She sat back in her chair. “Hi, Hunter. How’s your head?” The guy had always been nice to her, but she understood the Kurjans’ irritation with him. Or downright anger, really.
“My head and neck are connected again.” His voice seemed more gravelly than before, and it had been fairly deep already. “I’ve called Vero’s sat phone three times. Is he around?”
She angled her head to see down the hallway. “Haven’t seen him, but he’s been busy with the attacks and two murders.”
Silence ticked across the line for a heartbeat. “What two murders, and did you say attacks, as in plural?” His voice dropped impossibly low.
She faltered. Hunter no longer worked inside the Kurjan nation. She should probably keep the news private. “This is awkward.”
“Because Vero has made it so,” Hunter growled. “He’s still my best friend. Since I’ve been stuck stationary for a few days, I’ve thought of a new concoction to try with the Sunshine injections. You know we’d both rather be in a lab than on a battlefield, right?”
She shifted her weight and winced at the quick flare of pain. “No. I didn’t know that.” Vero had methodically and easily subdued and killed the surprise attacker the night before. Afterward, he’d supposedly tortured a male for information and still planned to kill him. Of course, then he’d slid into bed and rocked her world, leaving her deliciously sore and uncomfortably confused. “I can’t see Vero in a lab coat.” Or could she? Just how much of himself had he changed to survive as a Kurjan in a lifetime of war?
Or had Jonathan been correct? Was Vero naturally a warrior?
“What’s going on there, Lyrica?” Hunter asked.
She bit her lip. Surely Vero had told Paxton everything. Or had he? Was he keeping Paxton safely in the dark?
Jonathan appeared in her doorway.
“I’m so sorry. I have to go.” She ended the call. “Hi, Jonathan.” Lyrica lifted her cooled tea and took a sip. She’d wanted a sparkling water, but the pantry was once again empty. Who kept taking all the bottles?
“Hi.” Jonathan reached into his back pocket and drew out a photographs to nudge toward her. “Vero would like for you to email these to Paxton, who can share them with the Realm experts. He’s hoping the Realm computer folks can track down the identity of the second victim as well as the origin of the circle design. We’re still updating our computers, and theirs are supposed to be exceptional.”
Lyrica studied the pictures, her heart hurting for the unidentified victim. Sliding the picture of the victim aside, she lifted the one showing the circle symbol. Perhaps her Internet connection had been updated by now. Turning, she quickly typed in a search for the symbol, and then shook her head. The system worked perfectly. “There’s nothing exactly like this, but I’ll send the information to the Realm and then try a few different searches.”
Jonathan nodded. “Just do what you can. I’ll see you later.” The hulking Kurjan disappeared from view.
Lyrica began another search for missing women, entering the victim’s description. How had Lyrica managed without the internet? She’d discover the identity of the second victim, then she’d contact her friends who’d been liberated from the Kurjans to make sure their return to real life was going smoothly. She missed all of them but was so thankful they’d reached freedom.
Man, her body felt weird. Was it normal to feel like this after sex with an immortal? Shaking her head, she began another search about marketing opportunities for the Kurjan knitting online store. Even if she only stayed for three more months, she’d make a difference and help the mated females gain some independence.
A store was a good way to start.
She shifted her weight and winced as pain spread across her buttock. She didn’t remember Vero spanking her, so he hadn’t. Then why did her rear end hurt so much?
* * * *
Vero escorted the Kurjan males outside and set them free from the cell. Ralstad and his buddies had confirmed what Maeve had said, and he couldn’t find a real connection between any of the newcomers and the attackers other than their newfound and rather short alliance.
His hand still aching, Vero stormed into the medical facility and bypassed two soldiers carrying out the headless bodies.
Dr. Fizzlewick looked up from his seat at a small desk that had been placed to the side of the room. Morning sunlight streamed through the one window behind him. “Those two will be burned and their ashes scattered across the mountains.” He pulled his spectacles off to tap on a series of file folders. “You’re back already?”
“Yes,” Vero said grimly.
Fizzlewick nodded. “Soldiers just removed Tekii’s body to fly to Alaska to arrange the fake car accident.”
Dark lines dug grooves near the sides of his eyes. The male probably hadn’t slept in too long.