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"Now what?" Chrissy asked me when we found a moment alone.
I pulled her into my arms and held her tightly. "Now I will finally show you your new home, Dokkymburg."
She closed her eyes and a beatific smile spread over her lips. "I was hoping you would say that."
Her head lifted up, and I bent down to claim the lips she so freely offered, but when my hand moved over her upper arm and she winced, I hesitated.
She had shunned her uniform some months ago. Instead, she now wore a leather shirt and pants like me—the pants were a concession—and I hoped, in time, she would begin to dress like the other kallinies, but I didn't really care. The shirt made it easier for me to roll up her sleeve to check on the source of her discomfort.
I found a loose bandage wrapped around her upper arm and drops of blood had bled through the material.
"What happened?" I asked, concerned, having no idea how she got injured.
Her smile, strangely, deepened. "Remember when I told you about the implant the Terran Confederation forces on all women to prevent us from having children?"
A dark suspicion rose inside of me. "Kar?"
"I cut it out earlier, after the meeting. It was something I promised myself I would do when—"
"Chrissy," I said, speechless that she would mutilate herself like this.
"It didn't even hurt, Kendryx. I was too excited to feel any pain. Your healer assured me I won't even need stitches."
I shook my head. "You should have told me."
"I wanted it to be a surprise."
I chuckled mirthlessly. "That's some surprise."
Her smile slowly faded. "I thought… I thought it would make you happy."
"That you mutilated yourself?"
"I thought you wanted children."
I placed my palms on both sides of her face. "I do want children, your children, but I would have never agreed to you getting hurt in the process."
Her laughter rang out like a bell. "Having children is never painless."
I glowered at her. "I know that. But that is while giving birth, not before."
"Kendryx," her hands found their way to palm my cheeks. "It was a small price to pay for what we both want. Plus, it would have happened either way."
"I just wish you would have spoken to me before," I objected.
"Kendryx, I love you, but if I told you, you would have never allowed my arm to be pierced."
I sighed loudly. She had that right.
"Let's not fight," her smile returned. "Let's get to work on making those babies."
She was about to turn, but I swung her back with her wrist. "You do know that you are the most infuriating kallini I have ever met, right?"
"That thought crossed my mind once or twice." She grinned.
I remembered something Cassair told me at Grymburg. "Chrissy, I don't think I ever officially asked you."
She looked at me questioningly, and suddenly it was very easy to bow my knee to her.
