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He was gone before Kara woke up. If she was in any doubt that he was avoiding her before, she was sure of it now.

Their brief moment of intimacy the night before had probably made it worse, she reflected. It had shown beyond doubt that she was his kalehsha. And if there was one thing she knew about her husband, it was that he hated being proved wrong.

She joined her mother for lunch.

“Your husband is gratifyingly eager to get the Chennai Accords formally signed,”

the President told her as she poured the tea. “We’ve agreed a date two weeks from now.”

“So you’re here for another fortnight?”

“Good heavens, no. I’m leaving Vraxos straight after the Garana Sana.”

Kara was confused.

“You’re not staying for the signing ceremony?”

“No, that’s just a bit of theatre for the public’s benefit. We’ll broadcast interplanetary pictures of the Emperor and I in our respective capital cities simultaneously scribbling our signatures on fancy matching scrolls. But what actually happens is we sign the agreement beforehand and post-date it. It was General Solarun’s idea.”

“So the Chennai Accords are signed already?”

“As of this morning.”

Kara didn’t know what to say. Twenty years of war had come to an end with the flourish of a pen. Twenty years of bloodshed, done and dusted. It didn’t seem real.

She thought of all those men and women she’d served with, the ones who hadn’t lived to see peace.

She thought of her father.

And she thought of Vahn and the countless hours they’d spent together imagining this very moment. Hours he couldn’t remember.

The President’s sharp eyes settled on her.

“Is everything all right, Kara? You seem a little quiet.”

“I was just thinking about my squad. I haven’t seen them in so long. Captain Koenig’s probably still cursing me for ignoring his orders.”

“Your squad were very relieved when they heard you were still alive. Though I believe the captain referred to you as the luckiest damn fool he’d ever known.”

Kara laughed.

“He’s always busting my ass. I miss the old coot.”

Her mother took a sip of tea.

“You could always come back to Earth with me,”

she said casually. “I’m sure the Vraxians wouldn’t begrudge you a trip home. I presume you’re free to leave whenever you want?”

Leave Vraxos? It had never occurred to Kara. But now she thought about it, the idea was appealing. She could see her friends. Spend more time with her mother.

But that would mean leaving Vahn. Her chest tightened painfully. Although he was being a bit of a dick right now, she couldn’t contemplate being without him.

Even if he never remembers you? She shied away from the thought. We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.

Her mother was waiting for an answer and Kara shook her head.

“Definitely at some point. But not right now. I want to see the accords through. There’s still a lot to be done on Vraxos.”

“As you wish.”

The President changed the subject. “I gather we’re going to be taken to the Summer Palace tomorrow for the banquet. It seems I’ll be seated at the royal table next to you. Apparently I’m to be escorted by one of the Zhaal’s Imperial Advisors.”

“God, not Baelon?”

“No. The charming one. Lord Davorrian.”

“Thank goodness. Rhyn’s much more entertaining.”

“And a little preoccupied, I think.”

Kara was surprised.

“What do you mean? He seems fine to me.”

“Kara Cameron Singh, haven’t I taught you to be more observant than that? The Vraxian is clearly besotted by the general but it appears she isn’t giving him the time of day.”

“How the hell do you know that?”

Her mother sniffed.

“I have eyes and I’m good at reading people. How on Earth do you think I became President, child? My charm and charisma?”

“Erm…”

“Anyway, this is my last official engagement on Vraxos before I leave so I intend to have a good time. I hope you can do the same. You still look a little stressed.”

“I’m fine, mom. Just palace crap. You’d think being Zhaalini would make life easier but it just means more hassle.”

“Welcome to my world. Though I don’t have a husband and his needs to contend with. I take it everything is all right in that department?”

“Um…”

Her mother wasn’t asking about her sex life, was she? “Yes, everything’s normal, thanks.”

“Because if his alien urges are making you uncomfortable…”

“Mom!”

Kara went pink. “I’m not talking about this. Everything’s fine, okay?”

“Don’t act as if I have no idea about sex, Kara. How do you think your father and I made you? In a test-tube? It’s clear that Vraxian males are extremely virile, I just want to make sure he’s not demanding more from you than you can give.”

“Oh my God. I am not having this conversation.”

Kara wanted to die of embarrassment.

“You just look a bit peaky, that’s all.”

“Not because of sex, mom! Jesus. I’m going to go now. I’ll see you at the banquet tomorrow.”

Kara couldn’t leave fast enough. If only her mother knew the truth. Her husband didn’t even want to share a bed with her.

She went to the gym hoping Vahn would be there. At the very least she could kick his ass again. But he didn’t make an appearance and after an hour of unenthusiastically sparring with a virtual opponent, she gave in.

“I’m calling it a day,”

she told her bodyguards. “I’ll be in my room for the rest of the night so you two can knock off. See you in the morning.”

This was the one concession she’d wrung from Ela. The bodyguards had their own room down the hall and weren’t required to sleep outside her door.

Vahn still hadn’t returned when she’d finished bathing. She raised her arms and stretched, feeling the pull in her shoulders and neck. At least there was something she could do about that.

“Vee, activate the massage unit,”

she said out loud.

“Complying.”

The Voice Command Automated Programming computer, otherwise known as V-CAP, responded. A section of the wall in the vast bathroom slid aside and the unit slid out.

This was one of the technological delights she’d been introduced to during her time as a Potential. The massage unit was a full-length couch made of high-tech gelatinous material that molded to the shape of the user.

Inbuilt sensors detected areas of muscular tension and semi-organic tendrils extended from the bed to gently but firmly knead away the knots.

The best bit, Kara decided as she reclined in the warm cradle of jelly, was the aromatic oil. It was sprayed liberally all over her naked body and then massaged into her skin. Bliss.

“Vee, play some relaxing music,”

she commanded.

“Human or Vraxian?”

“Either. You choose.”

“Complying.”

The soft sounds of Vraxian music filled the bathroom as the massage unit soothed Kara’s aches and pains. The smart-gel rubbed her neck and shoulders while beneath her, rhythmic waves pummeled her back.

“God, that’s good,”

she murmured. “Vee, more oil please. Make it a little warmer.”

“Complying.”

Along the entire length of the bed, tendrils rose into the air and bent over her prostrate form. Warm oil squirted onto her skin. Kara gasped as several drops landed on her nipples and ran between her breasts. The tendrils began to undulate along the length of her body.

She closed her eyes, luxuriating in the slippery warmth, and couldn’t help thinking about Vahn.

Where the hell was her husband? Last night they’d shared that moment of closeness. She’d been sure he’d been about to kiss her. But now he was avoiding her. Again.

The oil pooled in her navel and ran over her tummy. Without any conscious thought she parted her legs a little, allowing the buttery stream to spill into her crevices.

God, she missed him. Mentally and physically. And surely he was affected too? If she could just get him to kiss her – touch her – she was almost certain it would trigger his memories. But so far he’d resisted the temptation.

The gel began to massage her in earnest, working the long muscles of her calves and thighs; pressing firmly against her back and shoulders; kneading her torso, her stomach, her breasts.

Damn, that felt good.

She let her legs fall wider apart and warm tendrils rubbed against her inner thighs. She caught her lip between her teeth.

“Vee, more oil,”

she managed.

“Complying.”

Her body was slick with lubrication, every inch gleaming. The gel was everywhere, rippling up and down, pummeling her, stroking her, caressing her. She wished it were Vahn touching her like this.

It had been so long since she’d enjoyed the feel of his hands or tongue on her body. Or the touch of his gloriously dexterous serpetri. So long since he’d made her come.

No wonder she was tense.

Oil dripped between her legs, stimulating her sensitive tissues. A slow pulse began to beat low in her belly. Without any conscious thought, she reached down and touched herself.

She thought back to the last time Vahn had made love to her. It was the night before the wedding. He’d stripped her naked and kissed every inch of her body, starting at her feet.

He’d deliberately left her pussy till last, teasing her, tormenting her, until she was screaming for release.

By the time his wonderfully long, ridged tongue had circled her mound, she was ready to explode. He’d made her sit on his face and brought her to jarna over and over until she could no longer hold herself upright.

Kara stroked herself more urgently as she thought about the intensity of those orgasms. And of what Vahn had done next.

He’d put her on all fours and forbidden her to come again until he allowed it. And then he’d ploughed her with his monstrous alien cock.

She circled her clitoris faster and faster, remembering how the hungry little dendra along the length of that solid blue shaft had licked at her G-spot each time he penetrated. It had taken every ounce of her willpower not to climax until he gave permission.

And when he did they’d both exploded into seething ecstasy – pleasure so intense they’d barely been able to speak afterwards.

Sweet Jesus, it made her quiver just to think of it.

Her free hand went to her breasts and she palmed them roughly. The sensations she was wreaking on herself threatened to tumble out of control and she moaned with excitement, all the while imagining it was Vahn who was stroking her, fondling her.

So when she heard a noise and opened her eyes, she thought at first the shirtless figure in the doorway was just an extension of her fevered daydream.

But it wasn’t. Vahn was there, and he was watching her.