Page 61 of Shadows Approach
“Is it worth your values to hold office? To deny yourself what you really want?”
“Mom—”
“Is being governor more important than the clan? To wait around for you this way, those three have greater patience than any man I’ve met.”
“It isn’t so simple,” Stacy groaned.
“The important decisions never are. Listen, I don’t have boots on the ground where you are. I can only pass on to you what I see from here. It’s up to you to do the soul searching and figure this out.”
Stacy sighed as the weight of what she knew to be right settled on her. “I guess I needed to hear it from someone else. I can always count on you to lay it out plain.”
“Yes ma’am, you certainly can. Now, about this clan of yours, this understanding and patient clan. Do they have older brothers who aren’t looking for one of you young darlings but might appreciate an older woman? I wouldn’t mind meeting a man or three of such persuasion.”
Stacy laughed. “I doubt even three men can handle you, Mom.”
“I’ll let them try. I’m nice like that, once I’ve had my coffee.”
* * * *
Alpha Space Station
Rihep thought about ordering his clanmates to bed. Kuran slowly paced the room, his brows beetled together. Etnil splayed on the lounger next to Rihep, his head resting on the top of the backrest so he contemplated the ceiling.
They had to go to work in the morning. Moping in the common room and staring into space wasn’t doing any of them any good.
Then again, they’d probably toss and turn and still not be able to sleep. He was certain he wouldn’t. Ancestors help him, he missed Stacy, despite her being a short shuttle ride away. Letting her leave earlier had been a blow to the gut. It felt as if she’d gone so much farther than a shuttle’s flight. The circumstances made the distance huge.
He was falling in love. Usually, it was wonderful to find someone to share his heart with. Her particular circumstances, however, caused him no end of worry. He admired her ambition and commitment to lead her fellow Earthers to a hopeful future.
It also concerned him there were those determined to stop her. How long before her detractors’ mischief transformed to real trouble? The type of trouble leading to injury or worse?
He couldn’t even take solace in Kuran being there to keep her safe, which his Nobek was more than qualified to do. Steps were being taken to remove his warrior clanmate from Stacy’s side.
Adding to the misery was having her close less than he wished. Hell, if it were up to him, he’d be breathing down her neck every second of the day.
Rihep concentrated on his breathing. Despite leaving behind a potential priesthood at the Temple of Life years before, he practiced meditation and breathing exercises a couple of hours a day. Most of the time, it did well to keep him steady. He was having to work at it extra hard tonight.
“I’m going to take up contortionist training,” Etnil abruptly announced. “I’ll learn to tie myself up into tiny knots. Once I master the ability to fit into small spaces, I can sneak onto Earth and hide in Stacy’s desk drawer. No one will know I’m there, and she can open it from time to time and say hi.”
Rihep rubbed his Imdiko’s shoulder. “It’s a tough situation this early in the relationship. We’ll have to make every moment count when she’s here to show her how we feel.”
“I could firebomb her opponents’ homes. Names, Kuran.”
“Nothing says love like murder and destruction,” the Nobek said, his steady tread never pausing.
“He gets me,” Etnil told Rihep. “I take back all the mean things I’ve whispered to you about him.”
“What about those you’ve said to my face?” Kuran managed a slight smile.
“Okay, but you’ll have to pay a small fee for each.”
“I’ll check my account.”
Rihep chuckled. The humor was weak, but it was something to hold onto.
Kuran abruptly alerted. He swung to face the opening to the short corridor. Rihep heard it too: light, quick steps hurrying their way.
Only one other person besides his clan had immediate access to their quarters. Hardly daring to hope, he stood as Kuran swept toward the door.