Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 76864 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 384(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76864 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 384(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
A hollowness in her stomach had her free hand going to her belly. “Did Skars have a tru-mate? Did she die on Raum?”
“Neinn.”
“Then he hasn’t found her yet?”
“I had a vision about Skars before he reached manhood. There is no tru-mate for him. There will only be you.”
Raine truly wanted to believe in Reva’s gift, but what if she was wrong? What if there was a tru-mate out there for him and he just hadn’t found her yet?
Reva must have read from her expression what she was thinking because she told Raine, “I don’t make mistakes. This is why Skars didn’t want to tell you about tru-mates. He didn’t want you to doubt his love for you.”
“He hasn’t even told me he loves me yet.”
“Your wedding wasn’t supposed to take place until after we left Earth. He asked the chieftain to make it as soon as possible, as our customs allow us to.”
“Like not being able to talk to each other for seven days?”
“Já. We know our Viking men are lusty and charming when they want to be. With our customs, it makes the wedding night more enjoyable after they are deprived.” Reva grinned.
At least she had that to look forward to, if she went ahead with the ceremony.
“When the survivors are brought on board, were any of them of Viking descent?”
“Neinn. No men, four women. The two Milly believed to be traded to King Jurzed …” Reva paused. “And two Bjorn found hiding earlier today before the grones attacked.
“The first two weren’t traded?”
“Neinn. When they didn’t match with anyone from our clan, they were sent to King Jurzed. Because Thorsen and Skars used to be friends, his clan is given the privilege of possibly matching with someone from their clan. If neither of the women match, then they will be sent to the High Archuru.”
“What if they don’t tru-mate with anyone?”
“They will be given a choice of which clan they want to live with or return to Earth.”
“What if the women aren’t willing to be tru-mates?”
Reva’s lips quirked in a smile. “We haven’t had that problem since discovering our need for a tru-mate. The Martian side of us easily accepts their mates. On the other hand, the Viking side has had their … difficulties. It is quite amusing to watch, but in the end, both succumb to their fate. Like I said, Viking males are lusty and charming. Our women share the same trait.”
“Are you sure I don’t have a small portion of Viking DNA in me?”
Reva’s forehead puckered in confusion. “Do you mean because you are with child?”
“Let’s go with that.” There was no way she was going to confess that Skars brought out the lusty side out of her … frequently.
Reva gave her hand a small squeeze. “I knew what you meant. I was teasing.”
Laughing, Raine then quickly grew serious. “Where are the women Bjorn found today? Did either of them tru-mate?”
“They are waiting for me to begin the ceremony. I want you to come with me, to see what my clan struggles with daily. We lost Thane before we came to Earth. He couldn’t bear the pain any longer, and he was our computer operator. Our ship was damaged by a meteor shower, and, without Thane, we could have all have died. Thane was training Erik. Sadly, he isn’t as competent, which is how Skars met you. He didn’t trust the computer after the meteor shower about how long it would take our lungs to adapt to Earth’s atmosphere.”
“That was the day I met him?” Raine guessed.
“Já. Will you come with me? See for yourself what Milly saw so you will be able to make your own judgment?”
Twice she had nearly lost Skars before they had met. She would still be on Earth if he hadn’t claimed her as his wife, still searching for food, or she could have been killed, like Dobbs. Ultimately, it came down to whether she trusted Milly or Skars more.
Remembering Milly’s hate-filled face when she had been sitting in this room made the decision for her. Only one thing was holding her back.
Indecision flickered through her mind. Did she really want to be there if, by some chance, Skars’ tru-mate had been found?
“Be brave, Raine,” Reva urged her.
She was carrying a child. Her days of being a coward were over.
“I’ll come.”
Chapter 29
Raine
“You must not talk to anyone, especially Skars,” Reva warned her. “Afterward, I will take you back to your room. Whatever you see, remain silent. I will answer any questions you have afterward.”
When Raine nodded, Reva moved closer to the door so it would open. Following her inside, Raine saw clansmen were inside, all of them staring at a clear plane of see-through glass.
Reva motioned her to the side, where she stood separate from the men, but would be able to see clearly what was taking place inside. As Reva moved away, she saw why Reva had situated her to the side. Skars was in the front on the opposite side.