Page 51 of Golden Darkness
He walked to the door of the audience chamber, and the scent was still faint. He followed the scent to the door and tensed. Vreeka was with her, but she had left the stronghold.
The guards pulled the door open as he approached, asking, “Where did she go?”
One of them quickly said, “The food market.”
Kethen nodded. “Right.” She loved the market.
He walked out, flared his wings wide, and launched himself into the air. Time to bring his Pet home and make it clear that he didn’t like her wandering without him.
* * * *
Janessa looked at her gleaming manicure wrapped around the blue-tinted orange-like neth fruit.
A shadow flickered over her, and she swallowed. “Vreeka, can you get six neth and pay for them? Kethen will pay you back.”
“Of course, but why?”
Janessa handed him the fruit and walked a few steps away so that there was an open area around her. She had been in the open for two seconds when Kethen grabbed her and hauled her skyward.
She put her hands over his, and she was really glad she was wearing trousers.
He pulled her higher. “You left the stronghold.”
“I wanted to get out into the open air and buy some fruit for you.”
“You should not have left in your condition.”
“My... what now?” She was confused.
“Your heat is starting.”
The cool air couldn’t stop her cheeks from getting pink. “Terrans don’t have heats.”
“I know what is in your scent, Pet. We are going to spend as long as it takes until that scent fades.”
She gasped when they landed. “It will be less than two days.”
He folded his wings in and turned her to face him. He sighed. “That’s all?”
“Yeah. Sorry. That’s it. The sweet spot is about twenty-four hours, but it depends on how long your sperm remains inside.”
His eyes were gold, and he was smiling. “I can do that.” He lifted her so that their eyes were level. “And if it is not the desired result, I will just wait for the next time you are in season.”
She nodded and swallowed. “I don’t know if you can wait that long.”
He frowned. “How long will that be?”
She shrugged. “Long time.”
He squeezed her gently. “How long?”
“I can only speak to what it used to be and not what it will be after the alterations you have made to me.”
He sighed and nuzzled her cheek. “How long?”
“Twenty-eight days, give or take.”
He jerked back to stare at her. “You are joking.”