Educating the Alien: Raedyn (The Azurite Series Book 1) Read Online Free PDF

necessary deposits for years. It’s all so impersonal. The more I study Earth life, the more I find I want it. I want the connection to another being. I want someone to love and that someone to love me back. It’s not unheard of for people to commit without being partnered, it’s unusual, but I’ve seen it work. Would it be difficult? Yes. Impossible? No. All I’m asking is for you to consider the possibility. Consider taking the job, working alongside me, and maybe one day, living alongside me too.”
    Lexi was speechless. It was a speech she could have heard in a romance movie and she didn’t know how to respond. She didn’t want to hurt Jaime’s feelings, but she wasn’t in love with him.
    “Jaime,” she whispered.
    “Don’t answer me now. Just think about it. I’ll see you tonight. Deck eleven’s rec. room at 1900.” With that, Jaime left her alone in the office to her thoughts.
    ---
    Lexi was the last to arrive at the book club that evening. Overwhelmed with her own inner struggles, she hadn’t paying attention to the time, running to deck eleven already late. The room was filled with conversation and laughter, not yet convening, while everyone gathered snacks and drinks before settling down.
    Forgoing the refreshments, Lexi found Jaime in the crowd and reluctantly took the empty seat next to him. He smiled warmly at her, any hint of discomfort from their previous conversation erased from his face.
    “You made it! Tonight’s discussion is over Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.”
    Lexi gasped. An Earth book! And one she knew well, being an avid fan of Harry Potter.
    Jaime leaned in conspiratorially, “I might have had some sway with the selection this go round.”
    She smiled. “Thank you. I’m really excited to hear the discussion from an Azurite standpoint.”
    The discussion was jovial, Lexi and Jaime interjected help when needed for understanding vocabulary and the witch world. It was sometimes difficult to explain the words that didn’t have any meaning in English, but were magical terms. The group was friendly and inviting and Lexi was felt at ease when the group split into male and females.
    “This is the part where we get to gossip,” a woman shared with Lexi, taking the now vacant seat to her right. “Yes, we’re supposed to be carrying on our own ‘gender related views’ of the book,” the woman rolled her eyes. “But seriously? Get two or more women together and we can’t help but talk.”
    The women moved their chairs into a circle so they could see everyone for the discussion. They talked amongst themselves for a few minutes before someone launched a question to the group.
    “The women are in charge of next month’s selection. Does anyone have a recommendation?”
    The group silenced as each of the women considered the question.
    “Should we offer the second Harry Potter? I enjoyed the first.”
    Several women from the group groaned.
    “I liked it fine, but I would prefer something more mature,” another volunteered.
    “There’s a great mystery series from the Grathorn’s. They sure do know how to write suspense.”
    “That’s because they only talk in questions.”
    Some of the women laughed.
    “Perhaps a biography? There are some very interesting cultures out there.”
    “I wouldn’t mind reading ‘Grey.’ It’s a man who has blue eyes and doesn’t like to be touched. Sound familiar?”
    Lexi choked, “Grey? As in Fifty Shades of?”
    The women burst out laughing, receiving a few looks from the men across the room. Lexi blushed. She had read the series in question, but was surprised that some of the women in the group had. Actually, the majority was now discussing the merits of Christian as an Azurite.
    “I’m not sure we could convince the men to read that book. They might go running off to vomit.”
    “Or to the CR.”
    The last comment had the group erupting in laughter. Now all the men were staring at the women like they were an exotic species.