“Reward for us or you?”

  “Both.”

  Kuran eyed the time. He still had a few minutes before Stacy’s return with her family in tow. “Make it quick.”

  Chapter Eleven

  Stacy caught Kuran’s eye and shook her head. His clanmate Imdiko Etnil had barely stepped in Government Hall’s living area’s great room, and he was already acting outrageously.

  In short, Etnil was being Etnil.

  His handsome face, disarmingly gentle and hiding the mischief that was part and parcel of the psychologist, registered dumbfounded awe the instant he set eyes on Rosa Nichols. He ignored his clan leader Rihep, who was in the middle of bowing and speaking a respectful greeting to shout, “Mom! You’re here! I’ve been waiting forever to meet you in person!”

  He rushed forward to sink to his knees before Stacy’s mother. He grabbed her hands. She was already rolling her eyes but smiling, her broad face beaming. She’d spoken to Etnil on the com prior to the visit, and she’d been thoroughly warned about him by his clanmates. She understood what she was getting into.

  “Oh dear. I appear to have forgotten my baseball bat to ward him off,” she sighed to Stacy.

  “Your warmth and sense of humor are what makes me adore you.” Etnil tilted his head charmingly and batted his lashes at her. “Come live with us forever?”

  Rosa bellowed laughter. “Get up and hug me, you ridiculous creature.”

  He sprang to his feet immediately and wrapped his arms around her, pillowing his cheek on her black spiral curls. “Oh my gosh, you’re so cuddly. I’m never letting go.”

  “Cuddly? You mean fat. Enough of you, rascal. Go harass Toni so I can say hello to the other two.”

  “But…but…” Etnil pretended to hang on desperately as she pushed him aside. Then he caught sight of Stacy’s younger sister, who eyed him with pretended disdain. He released Rosa and bounced toward her. “Hi, little Stacy!”

  “Little Stacy? Don’t try me so soon on this visit, Etnil,” Toni warned, her arms folded over her chest.

  “You two look so alike. Stunning, beautiful, the same beguiling attitude of readiness to knock me across the room.” Etnil gave her a puppy dog look, which he was surprisingly adept at.

  Toni cracked up and held her arms out. He picked her up and swung her in a circle until she squealed like a teenager instead of a thirty-three-year-old woman.

  “Quit, fool! You’re making me dizzy!”

  While they carried on, Rosa greeted the far more sedate Rihep and Kuran with smiles and less enthusiastic, though warm, hugs. “Hello, gentlemen. It’s so good to finally meet you in person.”

  “We couldn’t be happier,” Rihep assured her. The Dramok’s joy, lacking Etnil’s hectic enthusiasm, was understated, quiet, and calm. His demeanor was fitting for someone who’d once seriously contemplated entering the Temple of Life’s priesthood.

  Kuran was more reserved, the warrior uneasy about being embraced and fussed over by the elder of the Nicols women. Stacy was aware his mother was caring but not terribly demonstrative, so his awkwardness was no surprise.

  “I’m a hugger. You’ll have to get used to it,” Rosa teased him.

  He grinned. “For you, I will.”

  Rosa laughed and called to Etnil. “You have competition in the charm department.”

  “If he has anything remotely approaching charm, he learned it from me. I wrote the book on it.”

  “I notice you’ve charmed my sister off her feet. Literally,” Stacy raised a brow at the pair. Etnil had propped Toni on his hip, as if she were child.

  “Nichols Mataras are wonderfully portable, like sandwiches. You can pick them up and take them anywhere.” He beamed at her.

  Meanwhile, Toni was shaking her head at Stacy. “I don’t have time or patience for this nut’s foolishness. If he doesn’t put me down in two seconds, I’ll pop his head off his shoulders. Or I’ll tell Kuran to.”

  The sight of his Nobek clenching his fists, an anticipatory grin on his face as he came toward them, convinced Etnil to quickly set Toni on her feet.

  “That’s power,” the youngest Nichols grinned, patting Kuran’s shoulder. “If I ever grow tired of human boyfriends, I’m snagging myself a Nobek.”

  “Just a Nobek?” Rihep chuckled.

  “No offense, Rihep, but Stacy’s the ambitious member of the family. I don’t have the energy to navigate three men at a time, especially control-happy Dramoks. There are a lot of single Nobeks available. One of them is bound to be happy to have me order them around.”

  “I’m sure there would be.”

  “Wow. I’m feeling unloved,” Etnil griped.

  “Don’t. Toni and I have plans to take you shopping while we’re here,” Rosa said.

  Etnil, utterly in love with human culture and its trappings, damned near squealed as Toni had when he’d picked her up. Thanks to the Earthtique dislike of Kalquorians and the recent attack on the space station orbiting Earth, he hadn’t experienced as much time on Earth II as he’d wished. His astonished delight wasn’t an act. “Really? Do you mean it?”

  “There’ll be a security detail assigned to Mom and Toni, so you’ll be protected,” Stacy said. “I already let Chief Adams know there’d be an Imdiko to watch over as well.”

  “Try not to wreck what decent relations we have with the Earthers, Etnil,” Kuran groaned. “I’m begging you to keep your mouth shut for a change, if only so the bodyguards won’t desert you.”

  “Don’t worry. He’ll behave himself for me,” Rosa said, giving Etnil a significant look. “Won’t you?”

  “Um. Well.” Etnil couldn’t resist the opportunity to pretend he wasn’t sure if he could manage such a feat.

  Or maybe he wasn’t pretending. Stacy suppressed a sigh.

  “Don’t make me smack some sense in your skull,” Toni warned him. “On second thought, go on and give me a reason. It would be fun.”

  “I’m off to bed.”

  “You had a long flight, then we kept you up late for dinner and talk.” Stacy hugged Toni, who’d been yawning for the last hour Clan Rihep had been present.

  Her sweethearts had left minutes before for the space station. Stacy wasn’t looking forward to a night alone in her bed. It had been weeks since she’d slept without the three men crowded close to her. Despite the late hour and having put in a stressful day, she was certain she’d manage little rest.

  Toni left Stacy and Rosa alone after trading good nights. As her footsteps faded down the marble hallway, heading to the guest suite prepared for her, Stacy’s mother patted the sofa cushion next to her.

  “Come here, my sweet girl. Let’s talk while I finish my wine before my eyelids slam shut.”

  Stacy happily joined her mother on the velvet couch. “Are you doing okay, Mom?”

  “Wonderful. Seeing you in the company of your clan and how they treat you, I’m happy.”

  “I’m glad you like them. They’re everything to me.”

  “I noticed.” Rosa regarded her, love shining from her gaze. “I feel a lot better about your situation here while Kuran is watching over you. I appreciate how Rihep asks your opinion on matters too. I’ve watched Dramoks on Haven strut around giving orders, thinking they’re the cock of the walk just because some test told them they’re natural leaders.”

  “Rihep’s wonderful when it comes to taking everyone’s feelings and experience into consideration. When he’s certain he’s right, he doesn’t budge an inch. I appreciate it.” Comfort curled in Stacy’s stomach.

  “It’s a good way for him to be, because I know how you are when you want something so bad, you forget to consider the consequences. You need an angel of conscience sitting on your shoulder.”

  “To offset not only my tendencies, but a certain Imdiko devil on the other shoulder?” Stacy grinned.

  “Etnil. That boy is nonstop. I’d give up my life’s savings to have a quarter of his energy.” Rosa chuckled. “You can tell there’s a lot of decency in him despite the foolishness. I wonder if he’s using humor to cover some deep hurt?”

  “No. His whole family loves to laugh. Maybe they aren’t as outrageous, but they do live for a good joke.” Stacy snickered, remembering the last com to Etnil’s parent clan and the continuous humor.

  “I look forward to meeting them someday. You still have to do so in person, don’t you?”

  “We’re trying to arrange it. Meeting parents is a signal to Kalquorians a relationship is serious. They don’t take it lightly.”

  “You’re holding off on actual clanship until you’re done as governor?” Rosa sipped the last of her wine.

  “Maybe longer, depending on how much influence I can continue to wield. The Earthtiques seem to be coming out of the woodwork lately.” Stacy sighed.

  “In that case, I have a piece of advice for you: keep Kuran happy and close.”

  * * * *

  Alpha Space Station

  Blythe Nelson arrived on the station’s promenade deck and looked around. Kalquorians teemed, as the station’s day-shift hours had recently closed. She wondered at the anonymous summons that had brought her on board Earth II’s orbiting neighbor at such a time, when it would be easy for the contact to be seen in her presence.

  He could be any of the muscled black-haired men walking past, except for the curious and sometimes surprised glances they gave her. Governor Nichols’ frequent visits aside, few Earthers came on board. She wondered if Nichols experienced the same sense of smallness among the behemoth race.

  Blythe resolutely pushed aside the fluttery nervous feeling in her stomach. Her chin lifted, and she affected calm assurance. She wandered among the Kalquorians sauntering the walkway between shops, dining places, and entertainment clubs after work.

  Her thoughts turned to her difficulties on Earth II. She was gathering tantalizing information and rumors, but little in the way of hard evidence of corruption from the current leaders. So many records had been lost when the original Earth had died, and what was left was like putting together a puzzle lacking half its pieces.

  She particularly needed an in where Mitchell’s past activities on Mercy Colony were concerned. Her current source for records hadn’t lived on Mercy and couldn’t offer her access to those files. Her contacts in Galactic Council space were similarly blocked.

  The text that afternoon from an anonymous messenger had been her first hope of finding out if the General Assembly’s speaker had indeed indulged in scandalous behavior with his interns…and perhaps murdered one. It had read we need to talk about Cal Mitchell. Meet me on the promenade aboard Alpha.

  She wasn’t surprised a Kalquorian might have information no one else could find. They were known for their intelligence and ability to break codes. Only Earth’s old Church records had proven impossible to breach. Her Earther source had been forthcoming with the passcodes he’d recorded. As far as Blythe knew, she was the sole person he’d entrusted them to.

  Mitchell didn’t appear in them. She had to get her hands on everything she could from Mercy.

  Where are you? Her attempts to message the contact had met with no success. She had no idea whom she looked for. She walked down the middle of the promenade’s concourse, her head swiveling from side to side as she tried to determine who might have been behind the message she’d received.

  The men sweeping past her didn’t bother her despite their fascinated stares. She was obviously looking for someone in particular. She was also known on the station…the journalist who was always on the hunt for a scandal to report on. The fact no vid-drone accompanied her for a change didn’t seem to matter. She was public relations trouble, and the station’s residents knew it.

  “Thank you for coming, Matara Blythe.”

  Blythe took pride in not jumping or yelping in surprise. She’d had a suspicion her contact would sneak up on her. He’d done so silently, so she was prepared to deal with a Nobek as she halted and turned to face him.

  “You.” She scowled, but her heart jumped a little at the ruggedly handsome and familiar face hovering over her.

  Nobek Selt smiled and dipped a slight bow. “You remember me.”

  “As if I’d forget. I had to do some fast talking to get out of paying my boss back for the vid-drone you smashed. More of it to the stationmaster to be allowed to return and report on the goings-on here.”

  “You were in an area barred to reporters and their recording equipment.” No sign of apology, the jerk.

  “People have a right to be told what their leaders are up to.” She’d caught Stacy Nichols leaving Clan Rihep’s quarters before the relationship had become common knowledge. Like the governor’s affairs prior to Clan Rihep, Blythe had missed the chance to break the story, which would have elevated her at the news bureau despite the boys’ club attempts to keep her relegated to the society pages.

  “People also have a right to live their private lives as long as it does no harm to the public. I noticed you managed to capture an image of Admiral Piras in a public area. You scored your big story legally, at least where Kalquor is concerned.” Selt’s attitude was pointed, yet somehow gentle.

  “Did you send me a message asking to meet?” Blythe demanded. She had the sick feeling she’d been lured to the station under false pretenses.

  “I did. Let’s walk and discuss Speaker Mitchell.” He began to stride in the direction she’d been heading.

  Blythe had to fumble with her handheld while trotting to keep up. “Hey, slow those long legs, would you?”

  “Sorry.” Selt did slow, but she was still forced to walk fast.

  “Can I audio record you, or will you break my handheld too?”

  “Go ahead.” Was he smirking? As soon as she ordered her handheld to do so, he said, “You’re working a lot of angles on Earth’s leadership. Gathering secret information on Earthtiques and new-thinkers alike. Playing both ends is sticking yourself in a vice, don’t you think? You aren’t worried you’ll be hurt?”

  Her gaze narrowed. “I’m a reporter. I have to discover everything about everyone.”

  “Not according to the lieutenant governor’s wishes. Or Speaker Mitchell, who threatened you.”

  She startled to a halt. Selt kept walking a couple of steps before he stopped to regard her, his expression questioning.

  “How do you know that?” she demanded

  He offered a meaningful but gentle smile again. “I also have sources, Matara Blythe.”

  “Who? Don’t I have a right to their names?” She slowly approached him, a single step. As mild as Selt appeared…for a fierce Nobek…a shiver shot down her spine, as if she neared a calm but dangerous predator.

  “As much right as I have to discover who gave you so many codes into the old Church’s secret files.”

  Blythe’s blood froze. If he knew of her access to the old records, did he know the rest? Had he learned who had sent her to Earth II?

  Chapter Twelve

  Blythe drew a steadying breath. She took another step toward Selt, putting her uncomfortably in grabbing distance. “Are you suggesting a trade?”

  He regarded her. “Maybe. Or maybe I simply can’t stand the thought of such an intelligent woman being intimidated by an Earthtique who may have had his intern killed.”

  Her fear she’d been discovered shattered under a rush of excitement. Did he have the goods on Mitchell? “You have access to files on Mercy? Did you find proof of a crime by the speaker?”

  Instead of answering, Selt glanced behind her and smiled. “My Dramok, my Imdiko. I’d like to introduce you to someone.”

  Blythe turned to spot a couple of smiling men nearing. Damn. As if Selt weren’t easy enough on the eyes, his clanmates took her breath away.

  “Matara Blythe Nelson, my Dramok, Deram.”

  The model-perfect man sporting photogenic waves of black hair bowed to her. “Matara, a pleasure. I believe I’ve seen you reporting on the Earth news vids?”

  She was too stunned to reply. If Deram had a physical flaw, she couldn’t find it. His features were perfectly masculine, as if chiseled by a master sculptor. His gray formsuit showed telltale bulges of armor, but it failed to disguise a body worth drooling over. Deram was magnificent.

  “And my Imdiko, Hadlez.”

  The handsomest man she’d ever met was joined by the prettiest. Hadlez had a boyish quality, particularly with him smiling brightly at her. He bowed, his long, straight hair sweeping across his shoulders as he did so. “Hello, Matara Blythe.”

  A beat passed, and she realized she hadn’t responded. “Hi,” she breathed, and her brain promptly froze again. She could only stare.

  Selt came around to stand next to them, adding to the incomparable eye candy. A distant voice in her mind protested. It isn’t fair they’re so gorgeous!

  “Are you hot on the trail of a story?” Deram asked, his voice deep and beguiling. He glanced at Selt and grinned. “What did you do to get her attention? Were you scandalous?”

  “Not yet.” Selt laughed. “At least, not that anyone knows of.”

  “Are you working, Matara? We were on our way to have dinner. Do you like Kalquorian food?” Lovely Hadlez hadn’t looked away from her, his regard warming her from head to toe, particularly in certain places.

  “Yes, join us for a meal. You can tell me what my Nobek’s done to earn the attention of the media and if I should beat him.” Deram nudged Selt.

  “Beat him?” The gears and cogs of Blythe’s brain began to turn again. She all but physically shook off the spell the men cast to realize the Dramok was joking. “Oh, no, unless you want to smack him around on general principles. I have no doubt he’s earned it.”

  She scowled at Selt, though she wasn’t sure he’d set her up. Certainly he hadn’t plotted to introduce her to his clan and ask her to dinner? Not after their less-than-friendly encounter months ago.

  “I sense a story between you two. Now you absolutely must join us for dinner, Matara. Perhaps a few drinks will tempt the tale from you?”