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“Mother, I’m not being forced, I swear.”

The President ignored her and kept her eyes on Vahn. He didn’t look away, didn’t so much as blink.

“Then we are of the same mind, President Cameron. Because I would see both our planets burn to ashes before I caused your daughter a single moment of unhappiness.”

“You profess to love her?”

“She is mykalehsha.My fated one. My heart.”

The President snorted.

“Fated one?”

“It’s true, mother,” said Kara. “We fell in love while we were stranded on Minerva-6. I wouldn’t have survived without him. He saved my life countless times.”

“And she saved mine.”

“It didn’t matter that we were different. We started out as enemies and we became friends. And now I want to spend the rest of my life with him. Please, mom. Please try to understand.”

The President jerked in surprise. Kara hadn’t called her ‘mom’ in years.

“Well. Let us all sit,” she said after a pause. They took their seats at a table groaning with food but none of them spared a glance at it. “There is broad support for your union among my advisors. They believe it would add great weight to the peace deal. And your pairing scores very highly in terms of approval ratings on Earth.”

“As it does here,” said Vahn gravely, sensing that she preferred to discuss practicalities rather than emotions. “Kara has proved useful in changing opinions about humankind which, as you can imagine, have been extremely negative over the past two decades.”

“No more so than human opinion of snakes,” the President retorted. Kara rose to her feet so quickly she nearly knocked over her chair.

“Don’t use that word,” she snapped. “Don’t ever call them snakes. Ever.”

Her mother had the grace to look embarrassed.

“I apologize, Zhaal Talvahnax. That was inexcusable. Please forgive me.”

“No apology necessary, Madame President. We are both finding our way and old habits die hard. I expect there will be many bumps in the road ahead of us but with perseverance, and the goodwill of our people, we will succeed.”

President Cameron inclined her head.

“You are very gracious, your Majesty. With all that in mind, I see no reason to object to your marriage.”

Kara hadn’t realized how much she’d wanted her mother’s seal of approval until she’d given it, perfunctory though it was. She wanted to throw her arms around her but long experience told her that would be a step too far. She contented herself with a smile.

“Thanks, mother.”

“Do you have a date for the wedding?”

“Soon,” said Vahn. “In a few weeks. There are preparations to make and I think it would serve us all to get the peace negotiations underway before our nuptials. I hope you can stay, Madame President. We would very much like you to be the guest of honor.”

“I accept. And since we are about to become family, I suggest you call me Dana.”

“And I am Vahn.”

“No. I do not enjoy abbreviations. You will be Talvahnax.”

“As you wish, Madame… Dana.”

“And now I suggest we get back to our officials, who must be beside themselves with terror over what we may be discussing without their guidance.”

As they left the ante-chamber to re-enter the State Room, Kara squeezed Vahn’s hand.