Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 72065 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 360(@200wpm)___ 288(@250wpm)___ 240(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72065 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 360(@200wpm)___ 288(@250wpm)___ 240(@300wpm)
He did his best to control the hot temper his kind of Kindred usually displayed—diplomacy was his life’s work and it wouldn’t do to let his personal feelings get in the way of an assignment.
“Unnecessary, Commander,” he said shortly. “It’s true the Karpsians demand that any foreign dignitary who wants to do business with them must take a bride of their people, but I’ve been studying their customs—they have a system in place for ending unwanted or impractical Joinings.”
“They do?” Commander Sylvan raised his eyebrows in surprise. “Please explain.”
“It’s called a ‘disavowment’,” Bear told him. “It’s sort of like what the humans call a ‘no fault divorce.’ Meaning that the Joining can be dissolved for any reason at any time. So I’ll simply get Joined to the Karpsian female they have chosen for me and end the Joining when I’m finished conducting the trade negotiations and the wormhole passage treaty.”
Sylvan frowned.
“But are you sure the Karpsians won’t find that offensive? Leaving the bride they picked for you behind after our business is concluded?”
Bear shook his head.
“I’ve already been in contact with Statesmen Greggor Phew, whose daughter I am to Join with. He assures me that a temporary Joining followed by a disavowment is completely fine with him.”
“Well…as long as no one is offended, I suppose it shouldn’t be a problem.” Sylvan nodded thoughtfully. He was a Blood Kindred and the overhead glows shone on his pale blond hair and blue eyes.
His kind of Kindred were more reserved and cold blooded than the Beast Kindred. After Bear had lost his beloved mate, Zelia, that was how he had tried to act. To be cool and calm and dispassionate as a Blood Kindred—that was his goal.
For the most part, he was able to achieve it quite well. Though at first he had thought the grief of losing his mate would tear him apart, he had been able to bury his emotions and throw himself into his work—which was why he was eager to go on this mission now.
“I’m ready to go to Karpsian Sigma at once,” he told his commanding officer. “I’ve been studying their customs and the treaty and agreements. I’m prepared to negotiate the best deal possible for the Kindred of the Mother Ship.”
“I know you are—you’re a consummate professional. One of the best Ambassadors we have.” Sylvan nodded. “Very well, then—please get ready to go.”
“I’m already packed,” Bear informed him. “My long-range shuttle is prepped. I can go at once if need be.”
Sylvan blinked—the only indication of his surprise at this excessive level of readiness.
“Are they ready to receive you?” he asked. “I mean, don’t they need time to put together the Joining ceremony?”
“It’s my understanding that the ceremony will be brief and perfunctory,” Bearick said. “Which is just as well, since the Joining will be dissolved after negotiations are concluded.”
“Very well then.” Sylvan rose from behind his desk and held out his arm for a warrior’s clasp. “May the Goddess go with you and bless your efforts.”
“Thank you, Commander.”
Bear rose and took the offered arm, holding the other male’s forearm in a firm grip. Then he nodded and left the office, striding briskly down the hall towards the Docking Bay where his long-range shuttle was parked.
As he went, he mentally reviewed everything he knew about the inhabitants of Karpsian Sigma. They were a patriarchal society—not the kind of people the Kindred usually dealt with, since they didn’t treat their females very well. Unfortunately, they also had the only access to a special wormhole which led to a different universe.
There were a few other ways to travel to parallel universes, of course, but the wormhole just outside the orbit of Karpsian Sigma was the only reliable way to access this particular universe at all times. It was a place where silium could be mined—the rare mineral was vital in the Mother Ship’s ability to fold space, which was getting harder and harder to find in their own universe. So making a trade agreement and negotiating for the use of the wormhole on a regular basis was extremely important.
Bear was certain he could make the deal—though he had only been a diplomat for the past five years, he was extremely skilled at it. Prior to his current career, he had been a physician on Rageron, the Beast Kindred home world. But then his beloved Zelia had fallen ill with a rare disease. Bear had done everything he could for her and then, when his own treatments failed, he had taken her to specialists all over the galaxy. But none of them had been able to help.
He had been forced to watch his beloved mate waste away before his eyes and there was nothing he could do to stop the progress of her disease. The process was a slow and agonizing one—it had taken several years for Zelia to finally succumb to her illness. And after she died, Bearick was all alone. They had been a childless couple which was probably just as well, he thought grimly—he’d been in no shape to care for a child after he lost his wife. Not when he was half out of his mind with grief.