172 Days Novels & Stories

My legs felt unsteady. He walked to the laptop. Closed it. Unplugged it. Wrapped the cord with efficient movements. "Your father is pleased," he stated. Not a question. An observation. He looked at me. "The timeline is accelerated. That's good. Less time for complications." He picked up the laptop. Carried it back to his equipment case. "Two weeks after we return. That gives us thirteen more days here. Then three days to transport you back and prepare you for handoff."

"She'll hold them while we build. But not forever." "How long?" Julian said again. Rowan looked at his hands. "Two weeks," he said. "Maybe three. Before they get too close to hold." Julian looked at Claire. Through the bond: calm calculation, the steadiness of a man who had had enough practice with impossible timelines to know that impossible was a matter of framing. "Two weeks," he said to Grey. Grey looked at his monitoring equipment. At the trajectory charts in his memory, thirty-two years of data organized into a single operational picture. "Two weeks," he said. "We'll need everything ready in ten days to have the buffer."

Behind him, maids followed, carrying suitcases. “Honeymoon?” I repeated, my heart sinking. “For 725 days,” he added casually, as if it were nothing. I stared at my mother, my chest tightening. “Tell me that’s not true,” I begged, grabbing her hands. “Stephanie…” she began, but I couldn’t let her finish. “You said we’d be a family now. You brought me here, and now you’re leaving? For 725 days?” My voice broke with every word.

“Something tells me you’ll dream up horrors I wouldn’t dare.” Our monsters match, I reminded myself. “How many days passed between the first pup and the last?” The question was deliberate—they’d soon learn why. “About five months,” Ortiz muttered. “Exact dates.” My tone left no room for refusal. “First was January 12th. Last was June 27th.” I did the math. “166 days.” A slow smile curled my lips. “Fortunately, the human body has 206 bones.” I tapped my chin, feigning contemplation.

Today is April 29, 2025 I just arrived back at the Mrithun palace. I haven’t slept a wink thinking that Freya is here. I should stop this non-sense. I don’t know what would happen if Bella finds this out. I should be cautious of my surroundings while I stay here. The maids can always start a rumor when they see us together. I shall remain far away from her as much as possible. No contact at all. I should do that starting by focusing on my report.

I put the vile in the pocket of the coat I'm wearing. "Thank you. How many days left?" I said as I turned to look at him. "Hmm. 10-15 days. You know its not always the same. But I'll monitor it completely so you could ask for a leave before it's too late. We don't want to commit the same mistake we did in the past" he said and laughed. I laugh with him and shakes my head in disbelief. "Of course. Okay, thank you, Loki” I said teasing him.

My brow rises and my heart begins to beat faster, "Days? How many days are we talking about?" "For the next twenty-one days." "Twenty-one days?" I echo and my eyes widen, "that's three weeks!" I get up from my seat and move to the kitchen to grab a bottle of whiskey and a cup from the counter. I don't drink in the morning, but it's too early for all this. "You want me to be your replacement for three weeks and your fiancé of all people is not supposed to find this out. He's not an idiot is he?"

LANDON: "Wow," I exclaimed as I made another mark on the glass, making know that I had been here for exactly ninety-one days. I have run out of everything and even hibernating wouldn't help. I threw a disgusted glance over what had served me for the last ninety-one days. Nothing was left of it except bones which were beginning to dry up.

I stated as I ducked down to aim myself through the open window. “Where will you go?” “It's probably best I don’t tell you.” She nodded in agreement. “How long do heats last?” “Around seven to ten days.” I stood up, placed my hands on her shoulders, and then kissed her on the cheek. “Well, you look after yourself and Tristan for me, and I will call you in ten days.”

“Right, we only have fifteen days left to complete thirty days and I know how you must feel about me but that won’t change how I feel about you either.” “I don’t understand Mariano. What do you mean?” I asked confused. “What am trying to say is that, I just want to spend the remain last fifteen days with you alone.” This time, I was totally dumbfounded. I had no idea of what to say to him neither could I think of the words to say. He had sealed off my lips completely. We finished with our dinner and made our exit. Taking the next few steps, the sky began to let down it’s downpour of water. It was accompanied with cold air.