Total pages in book: 47
Estimated words: 44256 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 221(@200wpm)___ 177(@250wpm)___ 148(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44256 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 221(@200wpm)___ 177(@250wpm)___ 148(@300wpm)
Uh oh. “Why?”
“Because Melody is coming in shortly to pick up some of the scrap. I suspect she will bring her new mate.”
I flinch. Melody and I have sworn to remain friends even though she has gotten together with another male very quickly after dating me for a second time. I told myself that it was not personal, but I must admit that my pride has been wounded. Melody dated me once before and broke things off…and then did the exact same thing a year later. It is hard not to feel rejected. It is even worse when Zaemen and Salvotor like to crack jokes at my expense.
Dopekh understands this. He knows what it is like to have relationship troubles, and to be unwanted by those you desire. He is looking out for me. Nodding at him, I open the refrigeration unit, toss in the butter to retrieve later, and head back out of the cantina as quickly as I entered.
Melody and I can be friends, absolutely, but I need to be less raw about what happened between us.
I head out of the settlement on foot, following the coordinates in my wrist-comm. It’s not too far away, and I should be able to walk the distance comfortably. It’s better that I’m away from the ship for a bit anyhow. Perhaps it will clear my head and let me think. I enjoy the fresh air and the green hills, the pastures that divide up the land as far as the eye can see. It is a little paradise that Lord va’Rin has created for his rescued humans and I am glad he thinks of their safety. I try to imagine a planet full of rescued a’ani and wonder what that would look like. We would probably all compete to be the most useful. No a’ani likes to feel unwanted. I suspect that is one reason why Erzah wishes to create a cantina here on the human refuge. He wishes to lure a mate to his side, but he also wants to feel needed.
Lord Straik has mentioned only briefly that the crew will need to be slimmed down now that he is no longer operating a corsairing vessel, but I think about it every day. I wonder who will be culled from the crew. I wonder if it will be me, since I’m the newest.
Well, other than Ruth-Ann and Ruthie, but everyone knows they will not be going anywhere. Kazex will stay with Ruthie. Sakkar will likely stay with the ship as he has made it clear he has no desire to retire on Risda. As for the others…I do not know.
My thoughts grow increasingly troubled instead of peaceful, and by the time I see the large barn with the disc-shaped ship painted on it, I am anxious about the future and what it means for me. I am possibly not wanted with Lord Straik’s crew. I am not wanted by the human females here.
There is no place in the universe for a useless a’ani.
I approach the home slowly, eyeing it. The residence is small and tidy, with flowers planted in a container near the doorstep. A sign hangs by the threshold, the writing in Earth’s English language. SPACE BUTTER DAIRY FARM. Below that, in tiny lettering, please ring bell for service.
I glance around, looking for a buzzer of some kind. The only thing I see is an inverted cone of metal, hanging from the wall near the sign. I bend over to look inside the cone, but there is no buzzer or any sort of button inside, just another metal piece. Perhaps I read the sign wrong? I am new to learning English, and maybe the word “bell” means something else to Ruthie, who helped me brush up on my words.
I read the sign again, lips moving. As I do, the door opens a crack. An eye peeks out at me. “What do you want?”
The voice is human. Female. Neutral.
Enchanting.
I smile at the figure hiding in the shadows. I cannot see much other than that the human is shorter than me—the door hides everything else. Small brown fingers hold the door open a crack. I yearn to learn more about her already, and all she has done is eye me from the doorway. “I seek butter!”
“Mm. Are you armed?”
A wise female. Of course she would ask such a thing. “I am not. I am shopping.”
“Cool. Right.” The door opens and splendor stands before me. A human woman with warm brown skin, full lips, and the most enchanting dark eyes gazes at me. She steps aside and indicates I should join her. “Come on in.”
She does not need to ask me twice. My heart pounding with attraction, I step into her home.
She retreats a few steps, a smile on her face. There is wariness in her posture, though, as she watches me. “How did you find me here?”