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“Your legs.Right.Let’s get dressed and stretch your muscles.”

She got dressed and asked, “May I remain comptroller?”

“Of course.I don’t want to do it.”The confidence of the statement was absolute.

Reem laughed brightly and got dressed.It was time to be seen by more of his people.No surprises for the people around her.

As they walked the halls, she took care of the colony, and he grinned.“You are very good at that.”

“Thank you.Turns out the cranial implant was Designer in origin.It was meant for a Hmrain but was rejected for being unsuitable for them.”

“Why?”

“A Hmrain with this would just remain in place and manipulate things from behind the scenes.That was not their intention.They needed guardians, not beings simply sitting back and watching.”

“Why do you have it?”

“Because I like the world I am in and the people it has brought to me.Rath has asked me to keep my senses open to communications about breaking bond contracts on the part of the bondholder.Apparently, he has a justice boner.”

“What is that?”

She chuckled and explained how some folks focused on justice to the exclusion of all else.

“That does describe him.He and his consort had a daughter before the consort was killed in an accident.His daughter was his world, and she was kidnapped for ransom and tortured.He takes that sort of thing very seriously.”

Reem said softly, “Did she survive?”

“No one knows.Rath created the Daughters and trained them to control their rage and avenge themselves and others.There has been no mention of his daughter since.”

“Oh, that’s so sad.”

“It is.Our children will be under strict guard until they are old enough to defend themselves.”

“That is optimistic.”

“That we have guards on Wenavik?”

“That there will be more than one.”

“I have confidence that you will be fascinated by a child with my features and want to do it again.”Wenvari smiled and slid his arm around her waist.

“Do you think you will know your own children?”

“Yes.They will have part of you, and I can see that.The slight uptilt of your nose, the wide expanse of your eyes, and that funny curve to your mouth when I lecture you.”He chuckled.

She felt the twist he was referring to.She changed direction.“Is the apartment above the Pleasure Centre right for your attempts to start a family?”

“No.I don’t need that proximity anymore.I think my estate in Norweller is sufficient for that purpose.”

“Oh.Right.”She got the maps up and found it.“Yeah, that should do.”

She tried to bring up images, but all she could see was the aerial view.“There aren’t any views of your home.”

“Surprisingly, I like privacy.”

“I can’t be comptroller from your home.”

“Of course you can.It’s a six-minute skimmer ride or four minutes if I carry you.”