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“And yet, it is you I see when I close my eyes. Do you dream of me?”

“I am not going to answer that. If I did, you would be lecturing me on how to work with Ranna.”

He snorted softly, lifted her hand to his lips, and kissed her knuckles.

Thankfully, the play started, and the lowering lights obscured her furious blush.

It was an intense romance, and Rath kept his wing around her back, so she knew that the city would be talking the following morning.

She murmured, “What will the Sisters think?”

“That you are honourable and punch like a girl, I believe that was the phrase Teddy used.”

The lights came on after the play, and Rath helped her to her feet. She looked at him. “I have to use the lav.”

He laughed. “You use that excuse a lot.”

“And yet, it works every time.” She patted his arm, and he kissed her forehead before she escaped. She walked down the stairs and to the restroom. She completed her task in record time and was out in the hall when mist wrapped around her, pulled her back, and she felt an injector in her neck.

The rest was darkness.

* * * *

Ranna looked at herfather and said, “Where is Riley? It’s been twenty minutes.”

Rath frowned. “She went to relieve herself and has not returned.”

Ranna blinked. “She does not take long. As she puts it, she is in there for a purpose, not for socializing.” Ranna moved rapidly down the stairs and to the restroom. She looked down the hall and back up. She returned to her father. “She’s gone. Someone took her.”

Nizzen said, “She probably went for a walk.”

Ranna looked at him in outrage. “She would never. She never leaves my side. Not once in five years.”

Rath activated his com. “Are there any diplomatic vessels that have left in the last five minutes?”

“Just a moment, Lord Rath.” There was a pause. “A Zymar courier shuttle has left our soil. They asked for permission to accelerate in system, and there was no reason for it not to be granted.”

“Determine trajectory and find out where they are going. I need their destination.” He started moving. “I also need my ship readied.”

Ranna had tears running down her cheeks as she followed. She was sending orders to Horib.

Nizzen touched her, and she flicked his hand away. Ranna muttered, “My best friend is missing, and it was that Zymar asshole who took her. I am going to disembowel him and then turn his guts into shoelaces.”

Rath looked at her. “One of Riley’s sayings?”

“Yes, delay takeoff for twenty minutes. I want to send her comfort objects with you. She will need them if they hurt her.”

Rath’s eyes flared white. “They are not going to hurt her. I am contacting Nelako’s grandparent and declaring war.”

“Horib is on the way with the items. She will meet us at the spaceport.”

“Fine. Twenty minutes from now, or Riley will have to seek her comfort from me.” Rath took flight.

* * * *

Ranna took to the skywith her new metal-encased wings. Nizzen came with her, asking, “Is it such a big deal?”

“She has been my link to healing and reality. She has been my companion for nearly five years. She’s put her sanity at risk and fed me energy when she barely had enough to keep her body working, and she did it all with a smile on her face. She is worthy of respect and care. If I ever have a child, she will be there when it is born.” She growled. “Yes, it is a big fucking deal.”