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Kara waited nervously in the Grand State Room. She was surrounded by dignitaries and diplomatic officials, and Vahn was right next to her. But she still felt exposed. Like a rabbit in headlights.

“What’s taking so long?” she asked.

“Patience, beloved. Apparently the general faced a bit of a battle to get your mother to accept the translation microbes. That, plus the extra security checks she’s imposed have caused a delay.”

There had been a number of threats since Vahn had announced his intention to make the human his Zhaalini. But they were very much in the minority. He had couched their marriage as part of the peace deal with Earth and overwhelmingly, Vraxians had backed him.

The truce was holding. Each side had extended the ceasefire indefinitely and each had pulled back their frontlines, designating the area between them a neutral zone.

For the first time in two decades, Earth and the Vraxian Empire were no longer at war. Amidst much fanfare, the President herself had arrived to negotiate the Chennai Accords, as the peace agreement had been christened.

And, of course, to see her daughter.

When President Dana Cameron swept into the State Room, her gimlet gaze immediately fastened onto Kara.

“Finally.”

“Hello, mother.”

“The Vraxian general injected me with something.”

“It’s so you can understand their language. I had the same.”

“You look well.”

“I am well, thank you.”

For Kara and her mother, this was about as gushing as it got. They’d never been touchy-feely with each other.

Still, seeing her again after so long did make her feel a little wobbly and she was surprised to find tears pricking at her eyelids. Her mother didn’t approve of emotional outbursts though so she covered it up by introducing Vahn.

“Madame President, may I present Zhaal Talvahnax Castellian, Emperor of Vraxos. And my husband-to-be.”

Vahn bowed his head as a sign of respect. President Cameron nodded in response.

“I am pleased to finally meet you, Zhaal Talvahnax,” she said crisply. “Particularly since you’re about to become my son-in-law, apparently.”

“It will be my honor to join your illustrious family,” he said gravely. “And, of course, to symbolize an enduring union between our people.”

“An interesting strategy.” She fixed him with the piercing glare Kara had grown up with. “Uniting warring tribes through marriage is an archaic and primitive form of negotiation.”

“And in this case is not mandatory. I would have honored the peace deal regardless. But Kara has agreed to marry me of her own free will.”

“Unfortunately, as I know only too well, my daughter’s pigheadedness often outstrips her common sense.”

“Mother!” Kara was horrified and embarrassed at the same time. “Seriously?”

“Madame President, can I offer you some refreshment?” Vahn gestured to the small ante-chamber behind him. “You have had a long journey and I’m sure you must want to speak with Kara in private.”

President Cameron allowed herself to be led to the salon. Kara breathed a sigh of relief as the doors closed behind them, shutting out the assembled welcoming committee.

“Let’s cut to the chase, Zhaal.” The President completely ignored the array of cakes and savories which had been prepared under Kara’s anxious supervision. “My people are overwhelmingly in favour of a peace deal. If I can secure an iron-clad agreement during my visit, so much the better. It will be my legacy, along with any trade privileges and free resources I can wring out of you. But I refuse to do it at the expense of my daughter.”

“Mother!”

“Shush Kara. I’m talking.” She fixed Vahn with a stare. “The Chennai Accords could be historic. They could set the template for Human-Vraxian relations for centuries to come. But I will not use Kara as a pawn to achieve that. I would rather the accords fail than force her to marry an alien.”

Kara was shocked. Her mother had never spoken up for her before. To be honest she’d rarely been affectionate, even when she was little. And suddenly here she was, coming over all Mama Bear.