Total pages in book: 131
Estimated words: 118860 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 594(@200wpm)___ 475(@250wpm)___ 396(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 118860 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 594(@200wpm)___ 475(@250wpm)___ 396(@300wpm)
Again, Luiz’s eyebrow shot up, and he directed his comments to Solange. “Well, they don’t. My memories include warriors cognizant of our origins, and I see no recollection of Carpathian babies showering.”
“The ceremony is called a baby shower,” Dominic supplied, “because the baby and mother are showered with gifts.”
Luiz shook his head. “This isn’t logical. Carpathian mothers can give their children whatever is needed by simply manufacturing those things.”
“Women have very little logic,” Lojos stated, “when it comes to babies.”
Sarika glared at him. “This is your informed male conclusion because you know so much about women?”
“Careful there, brother,” Mataias said. “Sarika has been known to become violent in certain situations. This is likely one of them. I want to point out, sisarke, for the sake of family honor, we have an audience.”
“Family honor?” Sarika bristled, glaring at him. “Are you implying I’m going to dishonor your family because I’m going to hit your misogynistic brother over the head?”
“One does have to protect him when he spouts his nonsense,” Mataias pointed out.
“Tomas?” Sarika turned on him.
“I’m all for hitting Lojos over the head as often as possible,” Tomas said and leaned down to feather a kiss across her nose. “He isn’t an environmentalist.”
“I want to point out that Luiz cleverly manipulated everyone by changing the subject so he wouldn’t have to weigh in on his opinion of balloons,” Lojos said.
“He did do that,” Dominic agreed.
“Have you considered giving Lojos a good brotherly beating?” Luiz asked.
“Many times,” Tomas answered. “But he often is right, and in this situation, I believe he is. You are deliberately trying to get out of answering. That means you do have an opinion. You just don’t want any of us to know you do.”
Sarika would have thought it meant Luiz didn’t have an opinion, but she realized Tomas had read the situation correctly just by the way the other males were looking at Luiz. She could feel their shared amusement. Best, she could feel Solange’s. That had been the ultimate goal: to get her to feel relaxed and even, maybe, to have fun.
Luiz waved a dismissive hand. “If it is necessary for me to share an opinion on the hideous and frivolous invention of the balloon for children, I know Riley and Dax’s daughter, Maureen, is afraid of them. She becomes very anxious around them. She doesn’t convey this to her parents as she should because she doesn’t want to upset Riley, who always has balloons at any party.”
“How would you know this if Riley and Dax don’t know?” Solange asked immediately.
Sarika couldn’t detect any humor in her. She’d gone into protective warrior mode. In that moment, Sarika saw the true woman. Solange wouldn’t hesitate to take on an ancient warrior if it meant she was protecting a woman or child. The man standing behind her, with his good looks and scars, arms around her waist, would back her up without hesitation.
“I feel her when she is afraid, Solange,” Luiz confessed. “I speak with her to calm her fears. Dax is aware of my connection with her.”
There was a sudden silence as comprehension dawned. Solange pressed back into Dominic, one hand going to her throat as if protecting herself from an attack.
“Maureen, Dax and Riley’s daughter, is your lifemate?” She whispered it. “Luiz.”
“They know, but we do not want this getting out because she would be in more danger than she already is. Dax is a powerful Carpathian, very ancient, and he has enemies. Many of them. I stay close to help protect Maureen and Riley. So yes, when she has fears, I comfort her. I do so from a distance. She is far too young to give me back emotions and colors. It can be…difficult to be so close to her and know it will be many years before I will have my lifemate with me.”
“Dimitri found Skyler when she was far too young,” Dominic said.
Skyler is the adopted daughter of a legendary Carpathian, Gabriel Daratrazanoff. Her birth father is Razvan, a Dragonseeker like Dominic. She is unusual and is held in very high regard. She saved Dimitri when a faction of the Lycans took him prisoner and sentenced him to death by silver. A war was nearly started over that particular incident. But it is true, she was far too young when Dimitri found out she was his lifemate. Over time, they developed a very unique bond before he ever claimed her. That bond was what allowed her to save him when no one else could track him. She was very young, and no one even considered that she would mount a rescue with two of her friends.
Sarika wanted to meet the famous Skyler. She sounded courageous, a woman to be admired. The more she learned of women like Solange and Skyler, the more she felt she had a chance of being happy as Tomas’ lifemate. It was clear the women weren’t shut away in a safe house while their men went out to do battle.