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The next few hours were bittersweet for Vahn. The joy of rediscovering his memories was tempered by desolation at what he’d put Kara through. He was ashamed of how he’d treated her.

“I will perform farnor to atone,”

he said heavily. Kara shook her head.

“You’ll do no such thing, snake-boy. You did what you did because of Baelon’s bloody booby trap, so you get a pass.”

“But with everything we meant to each other, how could I simply let you fade from my memory? It makes me sick to my stomach that I forgot you, my kalehsha.”

“And then you fell in love with me again. Don’t you see? It proves we’re meant to be together.”

“Yes. Vannla showed me the way twice. Or perhaps it is some magic peculiar to this planet.”

“I thought Vraxians didn’t believe in magic?”

“I’m beginning to realize a lot of the beliefs I’ve held recently are wrong.”

“I’m just glad your memories are back. You remember everything?”

“Every last detail.”

“Even that time we…”

She stood on tiptoe and whispered into his ear. He laughed.

“Even that. Especially that.”

Her obvious happiness eased his mind. But he knew that for the rest of his life he would carry regret for the hurt he’d caused. He had failed her. And from this day forward he would do whatever it took to earn the right to be her kalehshun.

The more immediate concern was what to do about Baelon. When they got back to their camp, his body and that of the two soldiers were gone.

“Wow. Not a single scrap left.”

“The beasts have no doubt taken the corpses to their lair to devour at their leisure.”

“Let’s hope they don’t get indigestion.”

“This is serious, Kara. I wish you had resisted the temptation to kill him.”

She lifted her chin.

“You weren’t here. You didn’t have to stomach what he was saying. He threatened to take the throne from you and use the Vastos Bomb against Earth. I’m sorry you’re disappointed in me but…”

“No, kalehsha. stop.”

Stricken, Vahn cupped her face. “I could never be disappointed in you. If you say you had no choice, then I believe you.”

“I truly didn’t. But I know I’ve put you in a tough position. I’m sorry.”

Vahn sighed and dropped a kiss onto her head.

“What’s done is done. Now we have to decide what to do next. Baelon was right about one thing. If it emerges he was actively working against the peace deal, it could deepen divisions on Vraxos. His clan might well decide they share his views.”

“So what if they do? You’re the Zhaal. The rest of the clans are loyal to you.”

“The balance of power in the Empire is always delicate. Until the Chennai Accords are signed and its conditions fully enacted, I would prefer not to put their loyalty to the test.”

“But Baelon’s gone. He can’t spout his hate-filled rhetoric anymore. And no-one knows he’s dead, they’ll just assume he’s fucked off somewhere.”

“That might be even worse. Conspiracy theories grow where there’s a vacuum. If Baelon simply disappears, his clan will assume he wanted no part of the Chennai Accords. Worse, they may suspect I had a hand in making him vanish. In either case, he gets what he wanted. Suspicion and division.”

“Have I told you how much I hate office politics?”

Vahn smiled ruefully.

“You are part of the Empire now, kalehsha. I fear this second-guessing will become part of your life.”

“I’ll bear that in mind. So do you have a plan?”

“I do. It is amoral and deceitful.”

“My favorite type.”

She laid a hand on his arm. “You know I will back you one hundred percent, kalehshun. I trust you. I always trust you.”

He kissed her then, relief and gratitude mingling with his love for her.

Vannla chose my mate well. She was his partner in everything, good or bad, and he trembled to think how close he’d come to losing her.

They went back to Baelon’s transport and placed the body of the pilot into the cockpit. Then Vahn programmed the auto-nav and turned off the safety features.

“The vessel will travel back to Vraxos where it will crash in a remote uninhabited area,”

he told Kara. “When the wreckage is discovered, it will be assumed that Baelon died in an accident. An unfortunate tragedy, but nothing more than that.”

“Why will they believe this guy is Baelon? He’s years younger.”

“No-one will know. The body will be incinerated beyond recognition. My chief investigator will identify it as Lord Vantrax and produce evidence to satisfy scrutiny.”

“I see. And who is your chief investigator?”

“Another shintu clan member of course. I will appoint Rhyn.”

Kara shook her head admiringly.

“I never know you were so cunning, snake-boy.”

“I dislike subterfuge,”

he said gravely. “But sometimes there is no other choice.”

“Then let’s send this thing on its way.”

The thrusters were set to fire after a thirty second delay. Kara and Vahn left the ship and watched as it took off vertically. When it reached the correct altitude, it turned and started its journey back to Vraxos.

In four days, Baelon’s story would come to an end in a ball of fire.

Kara shivered to think that in reality, his slowly rotting corpse would lie half-eaten on the planet where he’d sought to end her life.

“Good riddance,”

she murmured as the ship left orbit.

They walked back to camp hand-in-hand. Their main shelter was blasted beyond repair but the smaller emergency tent that had served them the first time round was still standing. It was a bit saggy and grubby, and they had to empty it of dead leaves and insects, but they didn’t mind.

“It’s karma,”

said Kara as she spread the bedding on the floor. “Our relationship began in this tent.”

Vahn tried to recreate the romantic breakfast he’d prepared for Kara. Fresh coffee, more fruit. They ate ravenously. And afterwards they made love, their hunger for each other just as pronounced.

By unspoken agreement they left Minerva-6 in the early hours of next morning. Dawn hadn’t yet broken when they said goodbye to Rocky.

“I’m going to miss you, boy,”

said Kara, her face buried in the beast’s neck. The rest of the pack watched inquisitively from the safety of the trees. “I wish you could come with us. But your home’s here. Your family’s here.”

She raised her head to look at him sternly. “Don’t think I didn’t notice one of your pack’s pregnant. You have to protect her, and your cubs. You hear me?”

Rocky whined softly.

Vahn patted him on the head.

“Thank you for your help. Your bravery will never be forgotten.”

Overcome with delight at the attention, Rocky reared onto his hind legs and licked Vahn’s face. For once, the Vraxian endured it.

They walked back to the planet-hopper. Kara tried to memorize every detail of her surroundings, wanting to fix it in her mind.

“Do you think we’ll ever be back?”

she asked.

“Perhaps. If you desire it. Or if I lose my memories again.”

“That better be a joke, snake-boy. I can’t go through that again.”

“And by the grace of Ayanlesh, you never will.”

They boarded the ship and set a course for home.