Page 40

Epilogue

N erx touched the kuta down on the co-ordinates his father had sent him. In the display vids, their quarters sat, alone, with tundra rolling out to the Gaelsi Mountains. He punched the button to open the door, then bounded out of his seat, eager to unbuckle Britta and Lily.

“It smells good,” Britta said, drawing in a deep breath as if to prove it.

“Welcome to your new home,” he said, kneeling to free her.

She kissed his head, then passed him to the ramp.

Lily squirmed, kicking her legs as she waited. He lifted her off the chair and set her down. She scampered out the door, sprinting past Britta to squeal, “Granddaddy.”

Nerx smiled at how much Lily and his father had bonded. Time spent with both her grandfathers had gone a long way to cement her place in the world. She now loved them and without hesitation or fear.

Nerx held Britta’s hand and ushered her toward his father.

His stomach wrenched, but he let it calm. Over the last week, he’d come to see his father in a different light. Easy to do now, when Father held Lily with one arm and pointed at the mountains and the house, even as Lily jabbered questions.

He laughed, then met Nerx’s gaze. “Welcome home, son.” He glanced at Britta. “And daughter.”

She sniffled, hesitated, then hugged him and Lily. “Thank you,” she said, stepping back to wipe her cheeks. When she smiled at Nerx, she missed his father’s shock.

“They cry when they are happy or sad,” Nerx grumbled, too low for Britt to hear.

“I welcome her with open hearts,” his father said.

Britta frowned at Nerx. “You okay?” she asked.

He cleared his throat. “I am well.” He laced their fingers, settled beside her, and came face to face with the male he’d hated for decades. He raised their clasped hands to kiss her knuckles. “Before we go farther, I need—”

“We’re going to explore our house, right, squirt?” Britta took Lily from Father’s arms, strode past him, and disappeared into their home.

Father stared after them, then gestured to Nerx to walk with him in the opposite direction.

“The day your mother died, my void expanded at an alarming rate. It is no excuse for the way I treated you, but I could not spare the emotion. Kyerx expected affection, your mother’s influence.

So I suffered, making sure he did not notice a change in me.

I could not bear to love you and lose you too.

So I pushed you away the only way I knew how.

” Father paused to gaze at the mountains, his eyes glistening.

“When Kyerx died, I feared the worst. I meant it when I said I can seek the void. That I need not live like this anymore.” He smiled and twisted to stroll toward the house.

“But my daughter is right. Let me meet these Viqrians first. Now that you have brought joy into my life, I find I no longer want to die. Not yet.”

Nerx rolled his lips. Years of nurturing his anger disintegrated with one realization—he too had felt the void’s expansion and become a hard male because of it.

“News of your accomplishments was met with pride. You far surpassed my expectations. But I had not heard you adopted a daughter or found your Dar Eth. The Maker has truly blessed you.”

“And continues to do so,” Nerx said, clasping his father’s forearm. “Britta bears my son.”

With a yank, Nerx found himself in his father’s embrace, strong and crushing. He blinked back tears and tightened his arms, returning the hug.

“A son…” Father chanted between chuckles.

“We will name him Kyta.”

Father thrust Nerx back to grin at him. “Perfect.” He spun to throw an arm around Nerx’s shoulder as he led him into the house. “Tell me, how did it feel when Prince Citus honored you so? I was both shocked and impressed.”

Nerx chuckled. “You saw. Angry, stunned, close to tears. The Ethera unravels years of control. Now… Now I feel everything.”

Father paused. “And the void?”

“A bright light.”

A single tear slipped down Father’s cheek. “I am…pleased.”

“Nerxie, come see my room.” Lily skipped to him, grabbed his hand, then tried to drag him.

He laughed. “All right, minus susa .”

“Thank you for this,” Britta said, gesturing to the house the moment Father entered.

“The size is perfect with three bedrooms and two bath…cleansing rooms. Anything bigger would be a nightmare to clean. The wall-to-wall windows are amazing, the views spectacular. It’s like we live on a farm without a soul for miles. ”

“You do,” Father said. “These fields are for kreso grazing. The beasts do not flourish as well as on Etteria, but their numbers are growing.”

Nerx smiled at Lily’s room, all in pink. “Your favorite color,” he said.

“Granddaddy asked me what I wanted. Isn’t it awesome?” she squealed, bouncing on her bed.

“It is. Let me see the rest of our home.” What he wanted was to return to Britta and bask in his father’s love—something he’d always yearned for.

“May I offer you a beverage?” Britta asked his Father. “Something from Earth, perhaps? Nerx’s favorite.”

“Please,” Father said. “What do you think of Fuyra?” He settled in one of five comfys while Britta ordered a hot chocolate from rehydrator built into one wall. Father stared at the brown liquid, sniffed it, took a sip, then grumbled his appreciation.

Nerx watched this all unfold from their bedroom doorway. He’d given the space a token glance, then sat in the comfy beside his wife.

She smiled at him and clasped his hand, bringing it to rest on her thigh.

“The silvers and grays appeared monotone at first, but then the pops of red trees and foliage, the orange-brown sky, the bright sun... I love it, to be honest. It’s desolate and peaceful.

Stark but beautiful. And I’ll need to learn how to fly a kuta for emergencies. ” She raised her chin in defiance.

Nerx chuckled. “And you shall.”

She beamed and muttered about ‘talking’ to him later. Heat unfolded in his pelvis, hardening him. One look, smile, whisper, or touch from her had him eager to have her beneath him.

“When are the Viqrians due?” she asked Father.

“Some have arrived, but I have not met them yet. The journey is half-a-day away, but I chose to be here, instead.” He leaned back when Lily climbed onto his lap, clutching a sand-coated Ollie to her chest. She curled against him, humming to herself.

“I am told their battleships travel toward Etteria, escorted by many of ours. King Xeus is going ahead in his Celeeri .”

“So a royal visit is imminent,” Nerx said. “About Berrann—”

“Made secure. I checked it myself.”

“Good.”

“Will you be staying for lunch?” Britta asked. “Could I tempt you with a human meal?”

Father looped an arm around Lily to keep her from falling off his lap. He nodded. “Whatever Nerx has tried and deemed worthy.” He smiled.

“Oh.” Britta jumped to her feet. “Challenge accepted.”

What followed would forever remain in Nerx’s memory.

She’d ordered plate after plate, letting Father sample from French toast, bacon, cheese, and syrup, to Tagliatelle Alfredo, to pizza, and finally steak, French fries, and barbecue sauce.

Soda, beer, and mocktails washed the bites down.

Laughter filled the room, his father’s more precious now that Nerx knew the truth.

“Ambassador Tarx, we have a situation.” The voice from Father’s O.D.I. silenced them.

He tapped his wrist. “What is it, Commander Cewa?”

“The Viqrians have escaped.”

Father lifted a sleeping Lily off his lap and tucked her onto the comfy he vacated. He took a moment to stroke a black curl off Lily’s temple. “Thank you for the meal, my daughter.” He smiled at Britta then nodded at Nerx. “My son, I expect you in the office tomorrow.”

“I will be there,” he said, staring after his father as he left.

“Aren’t you going with?” Britta asked, gaping at the empty plates on the table.

“If he needs me, he will ask.” He caught her hand when she reached for a plate. “Now truth, what do you think of your home?”

“Planet or house?” she teased. “The house could use color and a sink, but other than that, the windows… Love those. And the planet, it’s beautiful.”

He released a slow sigh of relief. “Wait until you see Berrann Falls. But first, I will organize a pilot to begin your lessons. Lily needs to start her training as soon as we think she is ready. Though, I expect she will be a bad influence on other damu .” He laughed.

“We go with you tomorrow?” Britta arched her brow.

“If you like. Anything big you want to order must come from the central mining office.”

“Rugs, cushions, furniture?” She swept her gaze around the common room devoid of color with the white Fuyra stone walls and floors.

The rehydrator and replicator were stark dark shapes and the comfys white as well.

“Yup, I’ll come with. We need some color.

” She leaned over the side of the comfy, bringing her lips close to his.

“Have I told you today how much I love you?”

He wanted to lie, to deny he’d heard it, in the hopes she’d tell him again and again.

“Well, I suppose I could show you…” She feathered a kiss along his jawline. “Wait for me in our bedroom. Let’s christen that bed.”

Eagerness drove him to obey, but as he reached the door, he glanced over his shoulder. His heart swelled and the bright light in his chest pulsed when Britta tucked a blanket around Lily.

With anger, resentment, unforgiveness no longer tainting his soul, he accepted that his life, love, and future were perfect.