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Zoran rubbed the base of one horn where an inauspicious pain throbbed. Why had he not reversed the order of the calls and spoken with his beloved mate after dealing with Drexus? Then, at least, he would now be calm and at peace instead of frustrated at the other warlord’s blatant lack of regard.

The DVDs were a huge hit. Mia shouldn’t have been surprised by how popular this small taste of home was among her fellow abductees, or how curious the Xeruvians were about entertainment, Earth style.

It hadn’t taken long for one of the engineers to sort out the power issue, for others to sort through the DVDs and pull out the ones most likely to be suitable for group viewing, and for the Xeruvians themselves to organize a pre-showing meal.

Mia just hoped the movie studios would forgive any copyright infringement for a group viewing.

Later that evening, after two meetings with Alara and a satisfying dive into her own research, Mia settled onto a cushion in the compound’s dining room for the evening meal. Leona and Kira had flown in with their mates, though the males had retreated to another table, giving the women time together. Mia and her friends were joined by Jyrak and her daughter, Rejala, and by Isabella Rossi.

Zoran, Alara, and a little boy entered after the meal had begun. Mia waved them over and stood as they approached.

“Hey,” she said, taking them all in with her smile. “I was afraid you wouldn’t make it.”

“And miss the exciting new Earth DVD?” Alara replied. “We would never!”

Mia and the other women sitting at her table laughed.

“Come sit with us,” Mia said. “We’ll make room.”

Zoran caught her fingertips in his. “I shall sit with the other males, allowing you females to gossip about us to your heart’s content.”

“Oh, we have been,” she said. “Trust me.”

He leaned closer and whispered, for her alone, “Must I punish you again when we return home?”

“I wouldn’t call that punishment.” Especially since her body remembered all too well what he’d done to her. She drew away from him and smiled down at the boy standing calm and watchful beside Alara. “Hello. My name’s Mia.”

The boy looked from Alara to Zoran before turning to Mia and nodding solemnly. “I am Nem, son of Nyklan of Clan Zikri.”

A fork clattered to the table. Mia glanced around as Isabella murmured, “Sorry.” The other woman casually picked up her fork, her attention so focused on her meal that it pricked Mia’s curiosity.

“My nephew,” Zoran said. To Nem, he added, “Would you prefer to sit with the warriors or the scientists?”

With another look around, Nem dropped his grandmother’s hand and tentatively placed it in Mia’s, shocking her.

“Oh!” she said. “I’d enjoy the company.”

“Someone must protect the women,” Nem responded, so seriously Mia had to bite her lip to stifle a laugh.

Even Zoran’s lips twitched with amusement. He knelt beside Nem and murmured something too low for Mia to catch, then pressed an encouraging hand to the boy’s shoulder and rose.

Mia touched his elbow before he could leave. “You’ll sit with us during the movie?”

“I shall never wander far, beloved.”

She nearly melted into a puddle where she stood, and was saved from complete ignominy by Leona’s snort.

Alara turned a speculative look on Mia, but all she said was, “I shall retrieve portions for myself and Nem, if you would make a place for us at your table.”

“Of course,” Mia said, and tugged Nem forward to do just that.

The meal hour sped past. Nem sat between her and Isabella while Alara chose a seat between Leona and Kira, drawing them into a conversation about their lives on Earth. Mia got the feeling the older woman would jump at the chance to visit.

For her part, Mia enjoyed a conversation with Jyrak and her precociously charming daughter. Nem sat silently beside her, his hand never far from hers. Isabella withdrew so far into herself, Mia wondered if she should do more to encourage the other woman to speak.

Finally, the time came for the meal to be cleared away and the movie to start. Everyone helped with cleanup and moving tables out of the way, as the dining room was the one room meant to fit everyone at once. The cushions were rearranged. Mara Sullivan fiddled with the projector and the DVD player. When she was done, someone hit the lights and the movie began playing against a large wall.

Zoran settled beside Mia and pulled Nem into his lap. “I was uncertain what to expect from these DVDs.”