Page 75 of Faron

Sala groaned. “A shot of cold water in the face does that. Again.”

He sucked in a breath. “She makes me feel like I’m standing on a planet that’s spinning too fast and too close to the sun.”

Sala clapped his hands together. “Better. What else?”

“She makes me feel like I’m in a spaceship, hurtling toward a comet, and I have minutes left to save myself. She makes me feel...” He spread his arms out.

“Yes, she does! She makes you feel like a fucking superhero. That’s what your woman should make you feel like. She needs to keep you on your toes and keep you interested. She needs to keep you looking out for her all the time, and when you see her, you get that ache in the pit of your stomach and your balls tighten because you know she’s the one for you. If this human makes you feel like that, then you have to go get her.”

Faron stared at Sala. “When did you become so wise when it comes to relationships?”

“Me, I’m a genius when it comes to love. I always have been. It’s a Lillip speciality. If I wasn’t, I wouldn’t have half a dozen women who adore me. I love them all in my own special way.”

Faron nodded. He did not want half a dozen women. He wanted only one. “I have to get Kendra. I have to win her.”

“Of course you do.” Sala clapped him on the back. “I wish you the best of luck.”

Faron hurried away. He didn’t need luck, but he knew what he had to do to make this happen. He strode to his family’s room and pressed the door alert.

His mother opened the door. Her lips pinched together when she saw him. “You have decided to return.”

“I must speak with you all.” He strode in without waiting for an invitation.

“I trust you are packing to leave with us today?” Siblis said.

“No. I have come to tell you I will not be leaving with you. I will also not be joining with Donik.” He turned and faced his mother, refusing to flinch under her angry glare.

Bartlek walked out of the bedroom and jabbed a finger at him. “After all our efforts to find you a mate, you are refusing our generous offer.”

“This is not about your generosity. It is about you saving face. You cannot bear the thought of me being away from you, living my own life, and not living it the way a Tolong should.”

“Of course, that is a concern of ours,” Siblis said. “Faron, you have lost your way. We are here to set you back on the right path. You cannot refuse us.”

“No, I do not desire to be with Donik.”

“Which means you don’t desire to be a part of this family.” Rhodan stood in the doorway of the bedroom, his arms folded across his broad chest.

“I do. But that is your decision to make. I do not want to be excluded, but I will not join with a female I have no interest in just to make you happy.”

His father shook his head. “You always were an embarrassment. I have never had to fight so hard to get a child to conform as I did with you.”

Faron drew his shoulders back. “I remember each and every conformity lesson, Father.”

Rhodan shrugged. “As you should. Those memories should help you conform to our ways. Perhaps I was not as tough with you as I should have been.”

“You were tough enough.” Faron traced a finger along the scars under his jumpsuit. “It is time for you to return home with Donik. I won’t be coming with you.”

“You cannot mean that,” Siblis said. “What about my grandchildren? Are you to deny me them?”

“They will come when we are ready.”

“We. Who is this ‘we’ you refer to?” Bartlek asked. “Are you joining with that female we met yesterday?”

“That is for her to decide. I know my feelings are true, but I have offended her. She may no longer desire me.”

“Feelings!” Siblis advanced on him, her hand raised.

Faron stood his ground and stared her down. She was his mother, but she did not have the right to strike him.