Read Online Zen by KD Jones - Free Book Online Page B

dinner and let you have some time alone.”
    Rage looked up at her in concern. “You’re not staying?”
    “You two need to get to know each other. This is a start. Shawna will be here for almost two weeks. You guys will finally be able to have time to bond as brother and sister. I am going to go check on the security measures for the next event. But first, your dinner. Steaks sound okay to both of you?” At their nod Rachel ordered their meals and then left them alone.
    “Wow, she’s pretty great,” Shawna said admiringly.
    “Yes she is.” Rage smiled with pride.
    “Are you going to get married?” Shawna asked curiously.
    He frowned. “We’ve mated.”
    “Oh, I guess that’s the same as getting married.” She didn’t sound too sure about it though. Rage could tell the doubt in her voice.
    “Is this marriage thing such a big deal to humans?” Rage asked.
    “Well, the wedding is for most human women. It’s something we fantasize about as little girls.”
    “My Rachel isn’t like most human females.”
    “Maybe not, but there has to be some part of her that longs for some kind of wedding.”
    The dinner arrived and Shawna let the staff bring in the food. She and Rage sat the dining table and ate while talking about their lives. She told him about growing up with her restrictive and conservative family. He told her about his life with the GCFA and Rachel.
    “I often wondered what it would have been like if mother had taken me with her,” Rage admitted.
    “I can tell you that it wouldn't have been anything special. I grew up with her and she's always all about appearances. She has never been very motherly. I got more affection from the house staff than my own parents. Father being a Senator is big in politics and wants to protect his image. I had to look just right, act just right, and date just the right men. I learned early on that nothing I did was ever going to be good enough to satisfy them.”
    “How did they handle you taking on this story and coming here?” Rage asked.
    “Father was too busy to pay any attention. Mother flipped a lid. She tried to call my boss and demand that he fire me.”
    “She didn’t.” Rage was shocked.
    “Oh she did. She thought she could bully him. My boss doesn’t like to be threatened. He asked how I wanted to handle this. I told my mother if she ever interfered with my career again that I would have a three way with a Plutian and Voltan and start popping little purple halfsie babies out left and right.” Shawna took another sip of her wine.
    “Oh boy. I bet she just loved that,” Rage laughed.
    “She backed off quickly. I know I have a temporary reprieve with her. She’ll be back on my case about marrying an ‘appropriate’ man real soon.”
    “You could though, marry someone appropriate. A full human like you, who is rich and could take care of you. Not some bum of a fighter who is known throughout the galaxy as a playboy.” Rage gave her a pointed look.
    “I’m not dating Zen. He is just a story. What I don’t understand is why you would be against it to begin with. I thought you guys were friends.”
    “We are. But that doesn’t mean I think he is good enough to be with my baby sister,” Rage said with force.
    Shawna should be angry but hearing him call her his sister made tears form in her eyes. “I have to confess something.”
    “Has he touched you? Did he pressure you? I will kill him!” Rage was about to stand and hunt down Zen.
    “No! No! Nothing like that. I just have to confess that I requested this assignment so I could come here…and spend time with you.”
    “Really?” Rage looked pleased and shocked at the same time.
    “Yeah, I wanted to get to know my big brother.”
    “I…am glad. I still don’t want you near Zen, but I am grateful to be able to spend time with you too...little sister.”

    Zen had walked up and down the hallway Shawna’s suite was on. He wanted to go see her but didn’t want to come across as too