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“He wants to see you.”

It was almost four hours later. Rhyn emerged, looking weary. He motioned to Kara. “Alone.”

She got to her feet. She’d used the time to wash and change, but she hadn’t been able to sleep. She was too heart-sick.

“Is he… does he remember anything?”

“No. But we went over the draft of the peace agreement and even he can see it’s a good deal. He’s accepted that we’re all telling the truth. He’s just having problems coming to terms with it.”

“Can you blame him?”

asked Ela. “To wake up and find yourself in a different world? Where everything has changed and nothing is how you remember it? That would test even the strongest of minds.”

“What about our marriage?”

asked Kara. “Is he any closer to accepting that?”

“That’s why he wants to speak to you.”

Rhyn hesitated. “He’s on a knife-edge, Kara. If you can persuade him you share a history, that your relationship is real, I believe we can save the peace accords.”

“But you heard him. He’s disgusted by the very idea.”

“Only because he can’t remember the foundation of your love. Of the time you spent together. You have to remind him.”

“How? How the fuck can I do that?”

She dragged a hand through her hair. “Did you tell him about the shaa’baara trials? About everything I went through just so he could claim me as his mate?”

“Yes, of course. And it’s a matter of public record so he knows it’s the truth. It’s just… “ Rhyn threw his hands out helplessly.

“He’s struggling to understand why he would consider marrying a human in the first place.”

“Great.”

She wanted to hide in a corner and weep again. But she’d wept enough already. Ela spoke to her with uncharacteristic gentleness.

“If anyone can do it, it’s you Kara. He might not remember you now, but he is still your kalehshun and on some level he will recognize that. You just have to trigger his subconscious.”

“But how long will it take? People are going to start asking questions if we don’t put in an appearance as husband and wife. And by people, I mean my mother.”

Rhyn’s brow creased.

“Yes. President Cameron is a problem. She’ll be expecting to sign the Chennai Accords shortly.”

Ela glanced at her chronometer.

“The wedding was only yesterday. No-one will think it strange if they don’t see you or Vahn today. But we must have a plan by tomorrow morning.”

She shot Kara a pointed look. “It’s up to you to persuade him to keep the accords in play. If he tells the President the deal’s off, then any chance to end the war will be over.”

“So no pressure then,”

Kara retorted sarcastically. Ela’s face hardened.

“You’re a soldier. This is a battle. Quit whining and make that idiot remember why he fell in love with you.”

She was right. There was no use drowning in self-pity. Kara straightened her back.

“How do I look?”

“Like you’ve been hit by a bomb blast.”

She rolled her eyes at Rhyn’s droll comment, trying to quell her nerves.

“He’s, um, not likely to try and kill me again, is he?”

“I don’t believe he’ll harm you. Not now he knows he was the one who brought you to Vraxos, even if he can’t remember doing so.”

“I concur,”

said Ela. “He wouldn’t attack a guest. He’s too honorable.”

He might be honorable but as far as he’s concerned, humans are still the enemy. Kara didn’t say anything.

“You ready?”

asked Rhyn. “We’ll be waiting right here.”

She nodded. Then, taking a breath, she knocked on the door and walked in.