“Are you all right?” she asked softly, and he stopped pacing to draw her into his arms.
“Yes and no. I am excited at the thought of our new life, but I am concerned that the Council will come after us. I am delighted that I have found my mate, but I worry that I cannot protect you.”
She smiled up at him and ran her hand lightly over his tail. “I know you will protect us so I am going to concentrate on the positive.”
“You are a wise female, s’kara,” he said solemnly, then kissed her. Passion immediately flared between them, but he reluctantly pulled away.
“I have things to do before we leave. Please rest.”
“I’ll do my best,” she promised, but sleep proved elusive. Her mind raced with possibilities and worries and the lingering warmth of Selik’s touch. She’d bonded with him in a way that defied scientific explanation and cultural understanding. His knot had formed inside her, tying them together in the most intimate way possible, marking her as his mate.
The memory sent heat pooling low in her belly. The feel of him moving inside her, the exquisite stretch as his knot swelled, the devastating pleasure as they’d climaxed together—nothing in her experience had prepared her for the intensity of that connection.
David had been a considerate lover, attentive and gentle, but their physical relationship had lacked passion. She’d accepted it as the natural state of mature adult sexuality and assumed the breathless desire described in romance novels was fiction designed to sell books.
She’d been wrong.
What she felt for Selik burned with an intensity that frightened and exhilarated her in equal measure. This wasn’t the comfortable companionship of friends who occasionally shared a bed. This was raw, primal need tempered by genuine affection and growing love.
She dozed fitfully, waking every hour to check on the children and wonder when Selik would return. Finally, as the chronometer showed six hours had passed since she’d left his office, the door chimed softly.
She climbed out of bed and opened it to find him standing in the corridor, fully dressed in his uniform with a small pack slung over one shoulder.
“It’s time,” he said quietly. “We have two hours before the civilian transport docks, and I need to brief you on the plan.”
She nodded and stepped back to let him enter. Anya was already sitting up on the bed, alert and ready despite the early hour. Mikoz stirred in his crib, making the soft chirping sounds that meant he’d be fully awake soon and demanding breakfast.
“How much can we bring?” she asked, eyeing their few possessions scattered around the small quarters.
“Not much. The flyer has limited storage.” He set his pack down. “Essentials only—clothing, medical supplies, anything with sentimental value that you cannot bear to leave behind.”
“What about Mikoz’s crib?”
“I will fabricate a new one once we reach Tillich Two. For now, you will need to carry him in the sling.”
She nodded and pulled out the makeshift baby carrier. It had served her well during their escape from the Vedeckians and would do so again.
“Tillich Two?” Anya asked. “That’s where we’re going?”
“Yes. It is a water world with a mixed population and regular trade,” Selik explained. “Tarak assures me it’s peaceful andrelatively anonymous. We can settle there without attracting undue attention.”
“Will we be safe?” the girl asked, a tiny tremor in her voice.
“Safer than remaining here,” he said gravely. “The Council will come looking for Mikoz, and when they do, I cannot guarantee what action they will take. Removing ourselves from their jurisdiction is the best way to protect our family.”
“Then let’s go.” Anya started gathering her belongings. “The sooner we leave, the sooner we can start our new life.”
Corinne fed and changed Mikoz while Selik helped Anya sort through their possessions. They had so little to begin with—clothes scavenged from the ship’s stores, their datapads and a few books from the small library, and the handmade toys Selik had crafted for Mikoz. Everything fit into two small bags.
“Is that all?” He gave their meager pile a concerned look.
“We lost everything when we were taken,” she reminded him. “These are luxuries compared to what we had in captivity.”
He growled low in his throat, the sound vibrating with suppressed rage. “I wish I could have killed every Vedeckian who touched you.”
“You saved us. That’s what matters.” She reached up to cup his face, feeling the slight texture of his skin against her palm. “And now you’re keeping us safe. That’s more than enough.”
He turned his head to press a kiss to her palm. “You deserve more than ‘enough’. You deserve everything.”
