Chapter 13
Cat looked around the spaceship that had belonged to the king of the Kantharians not too long ago. She still shivered when she thought about the last few minutes of the life of the man who had won her in a poker game. The terrible gratification she had felt had been much worse than the gurgling and screaming that had fallen silent at some point. The feeling hadn’t let up until the Krak had pulled back and were out of sight. Even so, she would never forget it. She didn’t want to forget it, because it was an emphatic warning about how easily it was to ignore all humanity and sympathy.
She stood up and left the luxuriously furnished passenger area. She didn’t feel at home there at all. Everything had Ferthoris’ signature on it and seemed completely overdone. She walked towards the cockpit, or more accurately, the bridge, because a huge ship like this surely didn’t have something as insignificant as a cockpit. Talon had taken on the role of captain, and she thought he had mastered the assignment incredibly well. Every day, she could see how much his men – that’s who they were, not the king’s men – respected him. He was tough, but fair, and she liked that.
She walked past one of the men and smiled when she saw Talon. He was in the middle of explaining how to recognize a black hole and avoid it, to another man. When their eyes met, she gulped. It was still a miracle that they were flying back to his home planet together, so they could live there. He had described the desert planet to her in the most glowing colors, and she was looking forward to growing old there with him.
A trace of anger still remained though, buried deeply within her. Talon had told her that he only wanted what was best for her, and that he had trusted Shazuul just like she had. Cat still didn’t quite understand what role the Sethari had played in everything that had happened. At times, it seemed to her that Talon’s trust in Shazuul was even bigger than her own, and that seemed strange to her. She would need to ask him when she had a chance, about what the two of them had talked about behind her back, but there was plenty of time for that. Right now, she needed to familiarize herself with a new people, their customs, and their traditions.
Talon and the other men had long been fed up with their moody and crazy king and were happy that the Krak had removed him. They didn’t know what would happen when they got home, and the people didn’t have a king anymore, but they were ready to take that risk.
Similarly, Cat was taking a risk in spending the rest of her life with a man with whom she still had a bone to pick – and who still made her heart race every time he looked at her. Sometimes, all she needed was a look or a smile to know what he was thinking. Usually, she was thinking the exact same thing, and they would find each other again in uninhibited necking, acting more like teenagers than adults. That didn’t mean that they both didn’t enjoy passionate kisses and the hidden glances they exchanged.
“Cat,” Talon said as he looked up from the blinking surface. “I was just thinking about you.”
She smiled back, and their eyes met. “What are you up to?” Talon asked, and she answered him immediately.
“I was thinking about how you and I are going to grow old together and are going to spend the rest of our lives together. It is a beautiful thought.”
His eyebrows shot up quizzically. “I can’t remember you asking me,” he joked, imitating her appalled reaction when he had made her his companion without asking her. She stepped closer and kissed him on the cheek, because she didn’t want to overdo it in front of his men.
“Then I will ask you now, and you had better say yes.”
“Or else?” he laughed and pulled her to him. “Don’t worry, darling. You can’t get rid of me that easily.”
Good plan thought Cat, because I just happen to know someone I could ask for a favor.
THE END
P.S.: In “The Human”, you just read the third part of the Betania Breed series, and I hope you enjoyed it immensely. Maybe you feel the same way I do and are a little sad that the novel is over but are also giddy with anticipation at diving right into the next book. If so, then I have good news! There is a fourth part titled “The Dragon.” Just like the two books that came before this one, the novel is self-contained and doesn’t have to be read in sequential order. Can you guess who will have the man’s leading role? The fourth book in the Betania Breed series is all about Cat’s twin brother, Coran, and his adventures. You can look forward to a prickling and exciting love story. We have provided an excerpt for your reading enjoyment in the next few pages.
Look for a special surprise on the next page! Have fun exploring the mysterious background information that follows.
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Yours,
Jenny Foster