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The next morning Vahn waited patiently for Kara to wake. He nuzzled the back of her neck and was overwhelmed by happiness.

The gods gifted me with kalehsh, he thought. And I almost threw it away.

She stirred in his arms and turned to face him.

“Hello.”

She kissed his mouth. “Oops. Excuse my morning breath.”

“Your morning breath is fine,”

he said gravely. “Your snoring, however…”

“I do not snore!”

“Like a bandax with a snout-full of sand.”

She slapped his arm.

“Rude.”

“But I suppose since you are my fated mate I will have to endure it.”

“For the rest of your life, buddy.”

She kissed him again then turned onto her back. “It’s our last full day on Minerva-6. Unless you want to leave early?”

“I confess, I do wonder how Vraxos is faring without me. The official signing ceremony is in just a few days and there is much to organize.”

“I’m sure Rhyn and Ela have everything in hand. Do you think they’ve found Baelon yet?”

Vahn’s face hardened.

“In some respects I hope they have not. Because then I could hunt him down myself and make him pay for almost killing you.”

Kara was alarmed.

“Vahn, you mustn’t. If a Castellian kills a Vantrax, his entire clan would demand retribution. Promise me you won’t do anything stupid.”

He raised an eyebrow.

“A human quoting Vraxian politics to the Zhaal? You’ve certainly learned our ways, human.”

“I learned them from you. And you know I’m right. Rhyn would have a fit if he thought you were going on a revenge spree. He’d tell you to leave it to the justice system.”

“Ela would take my side.”

“She’s as bloodthirsty as you are.”

Kara shook her head. “I have no clue why Rhyn likes her so much.”

Vahn raised himself onto an elbow so he could look down at her.

“You know about that?”

“Well, duh. Anyone with eyes can see he’s smitten.”

“And does Ela like him?”

Kara paused. From the very first, she’d known Ela was actually in love with Vahn. But telling him would only embarrass them both. And anyway, she wasn’t sure if it was true any more.

“I don’t know,”

she said slowly. “She always seems so pissed off with him. But then she agreed to dance with him at our wedding and…”

“Ela danced?”

Vahn was incredulous. “General Elaryx Solarun, Head of the Vraxian Army and scourge of the outer galaxies, danced? With Rhyn?”

“Yep. And for about five seconds it looked like it might actually lead to something. But I guess he fucked it up because she went right back to snapping his head off.”

“Drek’aa beresh. Ela and Rhyn.”

He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “I gave Rhyn some advice before I left. Maybe he’s managed to win her over.”

Kara laughed out loud.

“Sorry to burst your bubble, snake-boy, but what the actual fuck? You gave advice on how to win a girl’s heart? Mister Tried-To-Kill-His-Wife-On-Day-One?”

“Well, I…”

“Mister Married-In-Name-only? Mister Touch-Me-Again-and-I’ll-Lock-You-In-A-Cupboard?”

Kara was laughing so much she could barely get her words out. “Mister You-Will-Submit-To-Me-Human?”

Vahn waited patiently.

“Have you quite finished?”

“Oh, I’ve got dozens of these. Let’s see, you said I screeched like a peraj farmers wife, you called me a peasant, you…”

He halted her in mid-flow through the simple expedient of covering her mouth with his own. The words died in her throat as he kissed her thoroughly, a sweet chastisement that left her in no doubt about his current feelings.

When he finally released her she was contrite.

“I didn’t mean to upset you.”

“You didn’t. Everything you said was true. But from this day forward, I will work tirelessly to prove my love for you, kalehsha. Starting with breakfast.”

“Ooh. You’re going to make me breakfast?”

“I have already made it. Come.”

Intrigued, she pulled on one of his tunics and followed him from the tent.

The rug had been laid out on the floor and covered with plates of sliced fruit and Vraxian cookies. A pot of coffee was bubbling over the fire. And standing tall in a water canister was a bunch of pink rose-scented flowers. She gaped in disbelief.

“When did you do all this?”

“I got up early while you were still sleeping,”

Vahn said proudly.

“You went all the way back to the meadow to get me flowers?”

“You said they were your favorite.”

“I… I don’t know what to say.”

She looked at him, suddenly a little shy. “It’s amazing.”

“It is what my mate deserves.”

“And you deserve a reward. Remind me later to show you my gratitude.”

His eyes gleamed.

“I will hold you to that.”

“But coffee first, okay?”

“As you wish, human.”

He reached for a mug, intending to fill it with some of the thick black liquid she apparently considered a choice morning beverage. His fingers barely brushed the handle when it exploded into dust.

“What in the name of…”

The flowers were next. The blast shattered the canister and incinerated the blooms.

They didn’t wait around for the next salvo. With reflexes honed by years of battlefield experience, they both took cover. Kara ducked behind a rock and Vahn dived behind a tree.

“Kara, are you all right?”

“Someone’s shooting at us,”

she said, a tad unnecessarily. “Came from the forest.”

“Did you see anyone?”

“No. But I think I can reach my blaster.”

After the scare with the hound-beasts, Kara had made sure her pulse blaster was always to hand in case more dangerous creatures came calling. She snatched it up and checked the charge. Thirty two per cent. Captain Koenig would have her hide for letting it get so low.

Vahn’s own blaster was still in the tent, but his laser-blade was close enough to grab – he’d used it that morning to slice the fruit. He flicked on the blade, trying to see into the trees. The coffee pot on the fire exploded.

“That came from a different direction,”

Kara said quietly.

“Yes. There’s more than one.”

“Who the fuck are they?”

“Let us find out.”

He raised his voice. “Who’s there? Show yourself?”

The answer was a barrage of pulse rifle shots which tore through the air and ripped the shelter to shreds. Kara and Vahn covered their heads.

As soon as it stopped, Kara aimed her blaster and shot back. Another round of fire ricocheted off the rock she was behind and she ducked down again, breathing hard.

“I can’t get the angle,”

she said to Vahn. “You try.”

She tossed the weapon to the Vraxian who caught it in his serpetrus. He lay down a wide semicircle of fire, sweeping the muzzle from left to right as he blasted continuously. Debris and dirt kicked up as shot after shot rang out. Anything in range was obliterated.

And then the charge ran out.

“Drek.”

He tapped the barrel but the juice was all gone.

“Throw the weapon down, Zhaal Castellian. You are surrounded.”

The voice rang from the trees and Vahn and Kara looked at each other in shock. A figure stepped out, blaster in hand. A figure they recognized immediately.

Baelon.