Page 27 of Advance and Retreat (Dark Empire #6)

She wasted no further time being amused by Harm or the situation. She triggered the hatch and hurried past two rows of watchful Earther security guards to greet Toni.

“Look at you! Who would guess you were in the hospital only days ago?” she cried as she wrapped her arms around Toni’s diminished figure. Her little sister was too skinny, but no longer skeletal.

“Why are you on Earth? Are you sure it’s safe? You couldn’t wait a little longer? A warning you were on your way would have been nice.”

Typical Toni, expressing fear and concern under the guise of scolding her. Stacy laughed as tears sprang to her eyes. She was delighted to be lectured by a woman who’d appeared to be on her way off the mortal coil too recently.

“I bet you would have appreciated some forewarning so you could hide the evidence of your nefarious activities.” She stepped back and gave the trio of Kalquorian men hovering nearby a suspicious mock-glare.

“If you count being waiting on hand and foot as nefarious, then find me guilty. Dramok Imon, Nobek Wovir, and Imdiko Feru, this is my sister, Stacy.”

“Governor, it’s an honor and a pleasure.” The dapper goateed Dramok bowed.

Stacy’s eyes narrowed at him. She was certain she recognized the twinkle of a mischief-maker in his purple eyes, thanks to her own trickster of a boyfriend, Etnil. She managed a civil nod to the feral brute of a Nobek and the sweet-faced Feru as they added their bows.

“Gentlemen. Would anyone care to tell me how long this has been going on?”

“Shorter than we would like, but longer than is proper with you unaware,” Imon said.

“She’s my sister, not my guardian,” Toni snorted. “I’m a grown-ass woman. My business is my business.”

“But your health is our concern and hers. Governor, if you’d care to come inside so Toni can sit...she really needs to rest as much as possible—”

“I agree,” Stacy told the Imdiko, but her tone was warm. “I realize how stubborn she is, but she looks incredible for how sick she’s been.”

“Stubborn? Look who’s talking,” Toni smarted. Chuckling, Imon and Wovir stepped to either side of her and took her by the arms. “Great, now the oversized nursemaids are at it again. I can walk on my own.”

“Of course you can, but we can’t stand feeling useless.” The gruff-voiced Nobek’s strong features softened a touch as he smiled indulgently at her. The men gently but firmly prodded her toward the house.

Stacy already approved of them.

Feru motioned to the door. “We’ll give you privacy for a proper reunion. What can I get you to drink? Would you like some cake, Governor?”

“Cake sounds wonderful, and I’ll have coffee. Oh, please call me Stacy.”

She found more to be impressed by regarding Clan Imon at this admittedly early stage.

Toni’s sofa, which Imon and Wovir led her to and settled her on, was a snug nest of carefully arranged pillows and covers of various thicknesses, depending on how much warmth the recovering patient wanted.

A pitcher of water and a pot of coffee were in reach on the nearby table.

The entertainment system’s remote and a handheld were also at hand, as were a trio of bottles of medications.

It was obvious a lot of thought had gone into making Toni as comfortable as possible while she recuperated in the clean, tidy living room.

Imon and Wovir murmured to Toni, asking if she were all right and if she required anything else.

Feru directed Stacy to the coziest of the chairs, then brought in clean tumblers and cups after verifying the coffee in its insulated urn was still at peak temperature.

“Made less than half hour ago,” he smiled at Stacy.

“Now for cake, unless you’re hungry for something substantial?

The pantry and cooling unit are full, so whatever you’re hungry for—”

“Cake is fine for me, thank you.” Stacy couldn’t wait to tease Toni for drawing in a doting clan after being so adamant about her disinterest in romancing a trio of men. Toni loved to claim she couldn’t find one man worth her company, so Kalquorian clans need not apply.

Imon and Wovir straightened and bowed to Stacy. “We’ll leave you two alone, but call us if you wish anything. It was a delight meeting you,” the Dramok said. As Feru hurried in carrying a tray, he spoke to his clanmate. “We’ll be on the back deck.”

“I’ll join you momentarily.”

“This looks amazing,” Stacy said, her mouth watering at the sight of a stunning triangle of golden iced cake topped by photogenic berries. “Almost too pretty to eat.”

“Then I’ll take both slices.” Toni shivered with unconcealed greed as she eyed her serving.

Feru chuckled as he poured them coffee. “Toni had no appetite for a couple of days. I’ve been pulling out all the stops to get her to eat.”

“Mowf fwum gud,” Toni garbled around her first mouthful.

“Whatever you said, don’t repeat it. You’ll choke.” To Feru, Stacy said, “Her appetite appears to have returned with a vengeance. At the rate she’s going, you’ll have to put her on a diet soon.”

Toni growled at her.

Feru laughed and bowed. “Don’t hesitate to call if either of you need me.”

Stacy didn’t miss how Toni’s gaze followed him as he left the room. She’d done the same when the other two had departed.

Partly because she wanted to fully enjoy the cake and partly because she believed Toni wouldn’t welcome conversation until she’d eaten every crumb, Stacy concentrated on the treat.

The cake was luscious. The berries were at their peak ripeness.

The icing had the perfect amount of sweetness.

The cake itself was airy and practically melted on her tongue.

The man should open a bakery. Maybe he already has.

Stacy sighed regret when the last bite was gone. “You know it,” Toni agreed.

“What do he and his clanmates do when he isn’t baking edible versions of heaven?”

“Feru is a psychologist. Imon is a computer programmer and tech wunderkind extraordinaire. Wovir does the security thing. They recently left the fleet for new vistas.”

“How serious have things gotten between you?”

Stacy expected a smart-ass comment. Perhaps even defensiveness, since Toni had made such a big deal of not entertaining a clan in the past.

Instead, her younger sister’s brow creased in consternation. “It might be more serious if they weren’t leaving on the Coydidak expedition. You’ve heard of it?”

“The never-ending tour of the universe, sponsored by Kalquor as a safeguard against extinction by the All. We’re keeping quiet where the public is concerned on how grim our chances currently appear.”

“I think most are getting the gist, seeing as how the call has gone out for experts we’d expect to keep close to help fight the enemy.

” Toni’s gaze shifted toward the direction Clan Imon had gone, despite her inability to see them.

“The guys have been hoping for a new and thrilling career. They’re excited to join the mission. ”

“This is a temporary romance, then. Indulging your curiosity but no commitment.” Except Toni had said it might have been otherwise if Clan Imon stuck around.

“Something like that.” Toni licked her lips and met her gaze. “It has me thinking.”

“About?”

“About my own future. I never intended to remain in education.”

“I remember that was your attitude when you finished high school. You turned out to be really good at teaching and as an administrator.” To the point Stacy had made her the head of Earth II’s educational department. Putting her in charge had been a no-brainer.

“I might be good at it, but I wouldn’t call it a passion. In fact, I’d characterize it as a chore. I don’t enjoy it.”

“I had no idea. I thought you loved being in education.”

“I don’t hate it. It has its good points, the kids in particular.

..but I don’t get out of bed in the morning looking forward to teaching.

Or even directing other teachers and figuring out budgets, which was what I ended up doing.

” Toni hesitated, then visibly braced herself.

“How upset would you be if I resigned as director of planetary education?”

Stacy’s jaw dropped. She hadn’t seen this sudden change coming.

Toni rushed on, leaning toward her. “I know you need me. Finding my replacement will be a major pain in the ass. You said as much when you asked me to take on the position.”

“I need my sister to be happy. If being Earth’s education director makes you miserable, then resign.” Though it would be difficult to find someone of her abilities to fill the post, Stacy wouldn’t dream of insisting she stay on, having learned how unhappy the work made her.

“I can wait until you hire someone else. I’ll be researching and training on my new focus, so I don’t have to leave you hanging right away.”

“Don’t delay your life, Toni. You have my full support.” Stacy set aside her disappointment. “Do you have any idea what this ‘new focus’ is? Or are you figuring it out?”

“Well, part of Feru’s job as a counselor was to administer career aptitude assessments. He gave me a test and...you’re going to laugh so hard...among my unrealized talents, my favorite is negotiating.”

“Negotiating?”

“I plan to learn to be a diplomat or mediator. Something along those lines.”

For an instant, Stacy nearly did laugh. Her prickly porcupine of a sister a diplomat?

Then again, she talks to me in my language, giving as good as she gets from me. And Etnil. But not everyone. Certainly not Mom.

No, when it came to their mother Rosa, Toni usually displayed sweet and dutiful respect.

Stacy recalled how often while growing up Toni had gotten their mother to agree to letting her do things she’d never allowed her elder daughter.

Stacy wouldn’t have ever accused Toni of being manipulative, but she was a masterful negotiator.