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Tension drained from Tranis in an instant as his Nobek clanmate walked in. The admiral hurried around his desk to fling his arms around Lidon. “You’re back! Thank the ancestors.”
“Was there doubt I’d return? Unless you feared I’d die of boredom while I was on my mission.” Lidon chuckled at the enthusiastic greeting.
His feral features were handsome in a very Nobek fashion, framed by shoulder-brushing black hair. Lidon was thirty years older than Tranis, but they were well matched.
Tranis gazed at him, his affection undisguised. “I’m glad it was boring. Piras was the same as ever? No sign of anything off from him or anyone else?”
“Nothing out of the ordinary. Everything seemed well in hand.” Lidon’s smile lessened in voltage. “I understand word has leaked he and his clan are assigned to the space station.”
“It was inevitable. You know we’re trying to make it so he can return home someday. He’s still beyond empire borders.”
“But closer than he was…and now his location is public.” A muscle twitched in Lidon’s jaw.
Tranis tried to ignore a jab of jealousy. Piras had been Lidon’s promised clanmate prior to clanning with Tranis. The pair had a long history.
I trust Lidon.Otherwise, Tranis wouldn’t have sent him to play Piras’ bodyguard while the other man’s Nobek was off on a mission. Still…
“No threats to the Terror of the Fleet while you were there. Good. Captain Kila will be back in time to deal with the fallout of Piras’ presence being leaked.” Tranis finished shutting his computer down.
“I battled only the threat of overwork and Earther drama. I’m dying to hear the latest about the Bi’is situation.”
They started for the door, and Tranis huffed a depressed snort. “Good, because I’m ready to give you an earful as soon as we leave headquarters.”
* * * *
Cassidy was hanging out with her Imdiko clanmate Degorsk, who was cooking dinner in the clan’s roomy kitchen, when her other clanmates came in.
Both of them. Cassidy shrieked in delight and leapt in Lidon’s arms. “My Nobek! When did you get in?”
He beamed at her enthusiastic welcome. “Less than an hour ago. I went straight to Tranis’ office, hoping to catch him before he came home. How are you? How is our little one?”
He caressed her belly, the evidence of the baby just beginning to curve its surface.
“We’re fine.”
“She’s tired,” Degorsk groused. He squeezed Lidon’s arm in greeting. He flipped his waist-length braid over his shoulder as his handsome face skewered her with a glare. “I had to threaten to fetch her from the lab to get her to come home.”
“I’m not tired. I told you the tests I was running might go late.” Cassidy’s eyes rolled, but her irritation was slight. She’d known her clanmates, particularly Degorsk, might become overly cautious when she’d decided to continue her pregnancy rather than freeze the embryo. Kalquorian men were notorious for becoming mother hens in such situations.
“You were at work for ten hours today. You have to be tired.” He scowled and returned to basting the ronka ribs on the kitchen island.
She shook her head. Her position as a microbiologist was exhilarating, far from tiring. “You won’t be happy unless you can keep me in bed all day.”
“That would make me happy.” Lidon’s brows wiggled to show her the scenario he had in mind was lascivious. He sniffed the air appreciatively. “After dinner.”
Cassidy laughed and pressed a kiss to her warrior clanmate’s lips. “I might actually be tempted to spend less time in the lab in such a case.”
Tranis stood apart watching them, his expression lit by a slight smile. Cassidy detected the darker emotions beneath his pleasure to have his entire clan home, however. He always carried a tinge of regret like a second skin. It was stronger than usual despite Lidon’s return.
“You didn’t bring bad news?” She asked the question of their Nobek, casting a significant look at Tranis.
“On the contrary. Our clan leader has had a difficult day at headquarters, however.”
“Top secret fleet stuff,” Tranis sighed as Degorsk turned from the oven where he’d stuck the ribs in to look him over.
“Which I’m cleared to hear about as one of the fleet’s on-call psychologists.”
“You’re no longer officially a fleet operative. Particularly when it comes to the spy department.”
