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)
Fascinating. “Does the star really go dark?”
“Yes. Your people call it occultation, meaning a planet passes in front of it. In our case, Venus passes in front of Leo Noctis, making it go dark. Every one thousand years or so.” He rolled his neck. “Our laws come from a time long before we knew that scientific fact.”
Every one thousand years? So, it truly was now or never. “Do you think the Cyst have heard about the killings and attacks in Kurjan territory lately?”
His jaw firmed. “I’d like to say no, but it’s possible. I’m hoping Paxton’s arrival at the Realm will negate our internal problems here, but he still needs to return Tuesday morning.”
Movement sounded and Dr. Fizzlewick stood next to Vero. “Have you found the identity of the newest victim?”
“No,” Lyrica said, lifting both hands. “I don’t understand it. How in the world could somebody have brought the victim into the territory without anybody knowing?”
Fizzlewick shook his head. “It’s not possible. She had to have already been here and somehow we missed her.”
Vero cut him a look, his gaze finally leaving Lyrica so she could breathe. “There’s no way we missed her. We know everybody in this territory.”
Frustration darkened the doctor’s face. “We need to search for methods of transporting a victim here.”
“There’s a helicopter,” Vero said flatly. “That’s it. Somebody had to have flown her in here.”
Grateful to return to a topic other than her tender personal parts, Lyrica relaxed. “You guys are immortal and have super strength as well as endurance. If you needed to do so, couldn’t you physically run to the nearest town?”
“Sure,” Vero said easily. “But it would still take a day or two through the mountains in this horrible weather. I don’t see how a human could survive being brought here. If somebody snowmobiled or drove her in a UTV, we would’ve seen or heard it.”
“Unless somebody in the territory worked with them,” Lyrica said quietly.
Fizzlewick cleaned his glasses on his lab coat. “How did it go with Silas?”
“I’m going to speak with him right now,” Vero said curtly, turning and striding away.
Fizzlewick watched him go. “Is it just me or is he in a mood?”
Lyrica coughed. Was it because of her? Did Vero regret the night they’d spent? She wasn’t sure how she felt about it except confused. He’d been the one who’d shown up with a winter bouquet in an effort to court her. She should smack him for not being smoother about this. Worse yet, she wanted to charge after him and see what was wrong, to somehow ease him. She groaned and tapped her palm against her forehead. She really was losing her mind.
“Are you feeling all right?” Fizzlewick asked.
“I’m fine.” She’d forgotten that he was even there. “I’ll return to searching for the identity of the newest victim.” Then she wanted to check on Maeve.
Fizzlewick nodded. “Good luck. For now, do you know where the sparkling water is being kept? I’d like to take a box to the medical facility.”
“In the kitchen pantry. Bottom two shelves.”
He placed his glasses back on his ancient face. “Those shelves are empty.”
She sat back. “Seriously?” Who kept taking all the water? “I’ll have more brought from the storage depot.”
“Thank you.” He turned on his spanking white tennis shoes and moved down the hallway.
She returned to the computer to broaden her search, having already checked Canada and Alaska. So it was time to try the rest of the United States. There were so many missing persons that it would take her a while to go through the data.
She worked in silence for an hour or so until a noise caught her attention from the gathering room. She paused to listen.
“I said no coffee.” Ralstad’s voice came out strong and irritated.
Lyrica jumped to her feet and crossed around her desk to enter the room. Many of the soldiers popped in throughout the day to freshen their cups at the coffee station. She looked at Ralstad with Maeve next to him. Today the woman wore a long purplish-green gown with a thick wool coat. Her nose and ears were red, so it must still be freezing outside.
“I know. I was getting the coffee for you,” Maeve said, reaching for a bag of grounds on the lower shelf.
“I don’t need coffee if you’re not having coffee,” Ralstad said, his eyes swirling a deep purple with red striations. He towered over the female.
Lyrica’s hackles instantly rose. “I think if she wants coffee, she can have coffee.”
Maeve jumped and Ralstad slowly turned, partially stepping in front of Maeve. “I don’t think eavesdropping is part of your job,” he said evenly.
Maeve slid to the side and into view. “Good morning, Lyrica. How is your day going?” she asked politely.
“It’s going fine. How are you doing?” Lyrica asked pointedly.
“We went for a nice walk and are here to fetch more coffee. I hope it’s all right. Our supplies are low,” Maeve hastened to say.