Chapter Twelve
Some time later, Toniwoke and knew she was alone.The stillness of her home told her Clan Imon had yet to return.She checked the time and was surprised to see she’d slept only forty-five minutes.She felt refreshed, as if she’d slept half the day.She took it as a good sign the nap had been shorter than what her post-illness had prompted thus far.Full recovery was in sight.
She snuggled in her sofa nest, enjoying the scent of her lovers that remained.Rested and satisfied, she smiled to have such men determined to take care of her.After years of no hits and plenty of misses where romance was concerned, she’d finally lucked out.
Except they were leaving soon and not coming back.
The thought chased her contentment away.“So typical.I finally find what could be an amazing relationship, but it’s temporary,” she groused.
The abrupt sting of tears shocked her.Loss crashed against her, and a sob threatened to break free.
She swallowed it in a flash of temper.“Stupid illness is making me ridiculous.”
Toni flung blankets and pillows in every direction and sat up.She glanced around at her living room, which she’d nicely decorated to suit herself.Her gaze came to rest on the pitcher of water and glass Feru had left for her, and her heart lurched again.
She dragged her vision to the pictures on a hutch against the wall across the room.There were family photos of herself, Stacy, their mother Rosa, their late father Martin, and their brother Chris, who’d died as a toddler.
Stacy was here.Rosa was on Haven, but a few hours’ flight could put Toni on her doorstep.
Lovers were nice, but family was essential, she told herself.She had a new potential career to think about, something to finally fulfill her as education hadn’t.A never-ending jaunt to an unknown, no doubt danger-filled universe, shouldn’t be on her radar.
Nonetheless, she reached for her handheld, waiting next to the water pitcher.“Just for shits and grins.It can’t hurt to see what they offer a would-be negotiator,” she murmured as she brought up the site for the Coydidak expedition.Maybe she’d get lucky and discover they wouldn’t consider her a worthwhile candidate beyond her supposed ability to produce offspring.
“No way I’d go only because they want uteruses for the next generation of explorers,” she vowed.
To her surprise, she discovered the expedition was open to those who had no current experience as ambassadors.Arbitrators were needed between the Coydidak, traditional Kalquorians, and humans chosen for the mission.As long as she signed a contract to train and complete her studies while on board, she could apply.The long-distance com system to be used to communicate between the expedition and the Kalquorian Empire would allow her to finish her classes even if they took the typical two years of coursework.She’d also be mentored in person by someone already established as a negotiator.As an added temptation, there was a hefty sign-up bonus so she could purchase not just necessities, but also some luxuries for the trip to serve her beyond when the ship left known space and its amenities.
Her heart thumped painfully as the application to join the expedition filled the holographic screen without her prompting it.
“Name?”a friendly voice asked as the appropriate blank lit up.
The Kalquorian Empire was pushing hard to get personnel on their endless journey to the unknown.Toni could understand why.Who in their right mind would leave behind everything they knew and everyone they loved on such a perilous undertaking?
For all her arguments against considering the opportunity, her lips twitched, as if they’d utter the response that would begin her application.She pressed them together and shot a look at the pictures of her mother and sister, the two women she couldn’t possibly abandon.
* * * *
Kalquor
