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Zell murmured, “She is inside the ship’s systems and understood from some comments that my people needed to be educated as to the effect of your presence.”

“She’s what?”

The captain nodded. “She’s linked her computer to the ship’s systems and has been using it to continue her work as comptroller.”

Sage murmured, “She doesn’t have a computer.” Her eyes went wide, and she stared at her food.

“What is it, Sage?”

“She is the computer.”

“What? She is engaged in long-range communications.” Zell frowned.

“That doesn’t make my statement less true. What is that implant?”

“It doesn’t say.” Zell frowned. “The scans weren’t clear.”

Sage blinked. “Well, that would explain it.”

“Her injuries are accurate. She took a metal panel to the back of the skull, and it stopped above her ears, but then her file is blank until she is bonded out to Wenavik.”

Sage finished her meal and sipped at her drink while Zell and the captain talked. She kept thinking about Reem’s calm expression and the warm hug that she had managed to give while not emoting.

Sage kissed Zell on the cheek and said, “I am going to see if Harwin is up. Someone has to know Reem, and Aten has a lot of human colonists.”

“Sound thinking. Use the com in our quarters.”

“Yes, my lord.” She nodded, and he pulled her in for a kiss. He was definitely improving at kissing a Terran. Practice was making perfect.

She left, and to her surprise, a guard came with her on the way to her quarters. Zellic officers bowed as she passed, and Sage was going to give Reem another hug.

She got to her quarters, got a glass of water, and settled in at the com, dialling Aten.

It took forty minutes for the connection, and then she saw a sweaty Harwin and laughed. “Apologies for the timing.”

Harwin snorted. “ He’s congratulating me on the pregnancy, again. ”

“Wow. Shaking the baby’s hand?”

Harwin laughed. “ He’s in there a lot. I am pretty sure he doesn’t think the bump is a baby. ”

Sage snickered. “I am not going to ask about the options. Look, I am carrying Jasmine’s cousin, Reem, and she has some issues and can’t remember any details about Earth.

I am wondering if any of your colonists know her.

She’s six feet, with bright green eyes, and looks like she works out.

She has a sense of humour, but it comes out deadpan and is a bit dirty. ”

“ Anything else? ”

“Her voice is smooth and controlled, and it makes you lean in to hear more.”

“ Okay. I will check things with Jasmine, and we will go looking for someone who has met her. It might help her fill in some blanks. ”

Sage smiled. “Thanks. The way she moves and carries herself, she has done something. She’s used to authority.”

“ Okay. That narrows it down. So, how are you doing with Zell? ”

“Better. We are... better. And, he’s right behind me, isn’t he?”

Harwin laughed. “ I know that look. Prepare to get sweaty. ”

Sage looked behind her. Zell was standing with his arms crossed and wings out. “Aw, come on.”

He laughed and clicked off the com. “You promised me we could continue what we started this afternoon, and I gave you an hour for your call.”

She sighed and got to her feet. “It took forty-five minutes to connect because Ra had the same idea.”

Zell chuckled and pulled her into his arms. “Well, your presence is improving me, and your contributions are very well received.”

“Well, at least you don’t drink blood.”

He paused. “Is that an option? I wasn’t able to consume the Zellic, but... you are consumable?”

She squeaked. “Um, according to Kethen and Ra.”

“Do you mind if I try?”

“As long as you distract me first.”

“Oh, you will be distracted.” He swung her into his arms and carried her to the bed. He set her down near the edge, flipped her skirt out of the way, and then dove in.

She gasped and whined as he fanned the embers of her previous arousal to a bright burn. She arched up against his mouth and begged him to put her over when he slid his tail into her sex and turned his head to bite her inner thigh.

She felt the push and pull of his tail while his mouth sucked strongly a few inches away. Her orgasm hit and pulsed with every pull of his mouth. It was sudden, it was intense, and she fainted.

She woke with Zell holding her, caressing her cheeks, and feathering kisses over her face. He smiled. “Are you well?”

“You weren’t worried?”

“I was until you muttered Do that again .”

She blushed. “Oh. Yeah, I can see why you look so cheerful.”

“I can also drink directly from you if I need to, which is helping my cognition tremendously.”

She looked down at her thigh. “Your tail is wagging.”

“It is. This is an excellent development.”

Sage snorted. “Yeah, well, you don’t talk in your sleep.”

He laughed, kissed her softly, and then with more intensity. The sweet moment got rapidly hot, and he soon moved over her and into her.

They rocked together while he whispered how he was very lucky that he had a gracious and generous consort. She didn’t disagree.

An hour later, he held her as she lay boneless and satisfied. Sage smiled as she curled against him, and he held her tight. He was holding to his half of the contract, and the tail wrapped around her thigh told her he didn’t mind at all.