“Thank you for this,” Britta said, gesturing to the house the moment Father entered.“The size is perfect with three bedrooms and two bath…cleansing rooms.Anything bigger would be a nightmare to clean.The wall-to-wall windows are amazing, the views spectacular.It’s like we live on a farm without a soul for miles.”
“You do,” Father said.“These fields are for kreso grazing.The beasts do not flourish as well as on Etteria, but their numbers are growing.”
Nerx smiled at Lily’s room, all in pink.“Your favorite color,” he said.
“Granddaddy asked me what I wanted.Isn’t it awesome?”she squealed, bouncing on her bed.
“It is.Let me see the rest of our home.”What he wanted was to return to Britta and bask in his father’s love—something he’d always yearned for.
“May I offer you a beverage?”Britta asked his Father.“Something from Earth, perhaps?Nerx’s favorite.”
“Please,” Father said.“What do you think of Fuyra?”He settled in one of five comfys while Britta ordered a hot chocolate from rehydrator built into one wall.Father stared at the brown liquid, sniffed it, took a sip, then grumbled his appreciation.
Nerx watched this all unfold from their bedroom doorway.He’d given the space a token glance, then sat in the comfy beside his wife.
She smiled at him and clasped his hand, bringing it to rest on her thigh.“The silvers and grays appeared monotone at first, but then the pops of red trees and foliage, the orange-brown sky, the bright sun...I love it, to be honest.It’s desolate and peaceful.Stark but beautiful.And I’ll need to learn how to fly akutafor emergencies.”She raised her chin in defiance.
Nerx chuckled.“And you shall.”
She beamed and muttered about ‘talking’ to him later.Heat unfolded in his pelvis, hardening him.One look, smile, whisper, or touch from her had him eager to have her beneath him.
“When are the Viqrians due?”she asked Father.
“Some have arrived, but I have not met them yet.The journey is half-a-day away, but I chose to be here, instead.”He leaned back when Lily climbed onto his lap, clutching a sand-coated Ollie to her chest.She curled against him, humming to herself.“I am told their battleships travel toward Etteria, escorted by many of ours.King Xeus is going ahead in hisCeleeri.”
“So a royal visit is imminent,” Nerx said.“About Berrann—”
“Made secure.I checked it myself.”
“Good.”
“Will you be staying for lunch?”Britta asked.“Could I tempt you with a human meal?”
Father looped an arm around Lily to keep her from falling off his lap.He nodded.“Whatever Nerx has tried and deemed worthy.”He smiled.
“Oh.”Britta jumped to her feet.“Challenge accepted.”
What followed would forever remain in Nerx’s memory.She’d ordered plate after plate, letting Father sample from French toast, bacon, cheese, and syrup, to Tagliatelle Alfredo, to pizza, and finally steak, French fries, and barbecue sauce.Soda, beer, and mocktails washed the bites down.Laughter filled the room, his father’s more precious now that Nerx knew the truth.
“Ambassador Tarx, we have a situation.”The voice from Father’s O.D.I.silenced them.
He tapped his wrist.“What is it, Commander Cewa?”
“The Viqrians have escaped.”
Father lifted a sleeping Lily off his lap and tucked her onto the comfy he vacated.He took a moment to stroke a black curl off Lily’s temple.“Thank you for the meal, my daughter.”He smiled at Britta then nodded at Nerx.“My son, I expect you in the office tomorrow.”
“I will be there,” he said, staring after his father as he left.
“Aren’t you going with?”Britta asked, gaping at the empty plates on the table.
“If he needs me, he will ask.”He caught her hand when she reached for a plate.“Now truth, what do you think of your home?”
“Planet or house?”she teased.“The house could use color and a sink, but other than that, the windows… Love those.And the planet, it’s beautiful.”
He released a slow sigh of relief.“Wait until you see Berrann Falls.But first, I will organize a pilot to begin your lessons.Lily needs to start her training as soon as we think she is ready.Though, I expect she will be a bad influence on otherdamu.”He laughed.
“We go with you tomorrow?”Britta arched her brow.
“If you like.Anything big you want to order must come from the central mining office.”
“Rugs, cushions, furniture?”She swept her gaze around the common room devoid of color with the white Fuyra stone walls and floors.The rehydrator and replicator were stark dark shapes and the comfys white as well.“Yup, I’ll come with.We need some color.”She leaned over the side of the comfy, bringing her lips close to his.“Have I told you today how much I love you?”
He wanted to lie, to deny he’d heard it, in the hopes she’d tell him again and again.
“Well, I suppose I could show you…” She feathered a kiss along his jawline.“Wait for me in our bedroom.Let’s christen that bed.”
Eagerness drove him to obey, but as he reached the door, he glanced over his shoulder.His heart swelled and the bright light in his chest pulsed when Britta tucked a blanket around Lily.
With anger, resentment, unforgiveness no longer tainting his soul, he accepted that his life, love, and future were perfect.
