“Even though Sazo can be unstable when Rose is in danger or threatened?” Dav was sure they would be prepared to accept a lot of risk to keep Sazo on their side, but he asked the question anyway. He was pretty sure Sazo would be listening in.
“Weʼd rather have him with us than against us,” Krale said.
“Why should either of them trust you?” Dav crossed his arms and looked Krale directly in the eye in challenge.
The admiral took a threatening step forward, and then dropped his gaze. “We are hoping they trust you, Captain Jallan. That you will vouch for us.”
“After you just admitted to betraying him?” Hoke asked.
Gaumili grimaced. “What was being proposed never sat well with me, and I would be angry if I were in your shoes, Captain, but this is the safety of the four planets weʼre discussing here.”
“Sazo.” Dav spoke up a little. “Can you forgive them?”
Again, they gaped at him, all except Hoke, who gave a small smile.
“Heʼs thinking about it.” Roseʼs voice, rich and smooth, came over the comms. “But if any Grih thinks theyʼll ever set foot on his Class 5 now, theyʼre living in la-la land.”
Dav nodded.
“And you, Captain Jallan?” She spoke formally, but he could hear the hint of amusement in her voice, a private joke between the two of them. “Can you forgive? Because it all hinges on you. Just say the word.”
Suddenly, he was the center of attention. He let the moment draw out.
“I will tender my resignation,” Kraleʼs voice was hoarse.
Rose suddenly appeared on screen, and the technician leaned back in her chair in surprise.
Dav looked at her. “Is that enough?”
She smiled at him. “Not to put you on the spot, but itʼs your call. Sazo and I can understand wanting to protect the Grih. What we donʼt like is they were greedy. They didnʼt want anyone else as Sazoʼs ally, but they didnʼt want him as he is. They were going to betray him and you.”
Dav glanced at Hoke. “Who would be promoted to head of Battle Center?”
Krale made a face. “Under the circumstances, Admiral Hoke seems the best candidate.”
“Then yes, thatʼs acceptable to me.”
“And Vulmark?” Hoke tipped her head and studied the leader-elect.
Vulmark took a step back. Drew himself up. “Iʼm as guilty as Krale, but my position is elected, not appointed. If you want stability through this transition, I need to stay where I am.”
“Dav?” Rose asked.
“Heʼs right.” Dav would like the leader-elect to fall on his sword just like Krale, but he made sense.
“Well then, he will never know privacy until he no longer has any power.” Sazo spoke up again. “He will not have the opportunity to try to enslave me again.”
Vulmarkʼs eyes snapped, but he kept quiet.
“Are we done here?” Dav suddenly wanted to be away from them all. To find Rose and actually have some uninterrupted time with her.
Hoke nodded. “Youʼre free to go, Captain Jallan. You have some leave coming to you, I believe.”
“Good.” Rose smiled from the screen. “Iʼll meet you back at your house.”
The screen winked off and Dav turned to go.
“Captain, a word.” Hoke walked to the door and they stepped out into the thickening snowfall together.
“Did you know Rose has a light-gun?”
Dav staggered to a stop. “What?”
“Shh.” Hokeʼs eyes were quite alive with mischief. “Keep it down. I take it from that you didnʼt know. She knocked out one of my men with it. Nearly took me out, too, when I made a move she thought was threatening.”
“What?” Dav kept his voice a tight whisper this time.
“He deserved it. He shot her in the arm. It was a clear case of self-defense, but Iʼm going to find it hard to explain his injury without giving her away.”
But Hoke didnʼt seem all that upset or inconvenienced by it. She was head of Battle Center now, after all.
“Where the hell did she get a light-gun? Theyʼre banned.”
“Where do you think?” Hoke smiled.
“Sazo.” Dav moved in the direction of his hovercar.
“She really is quite extraordinary.” Hoke had stopped and he turned to face her.
Rose had changed the leadership of Battle Center. She would challenge the very fabric of their society. And sheʼd only been in their lives a week.
He laughed. “Admiral, Iʼve been meaning to compliment you for some time on your capacity for understatement.”
50
When Rose finally returned, Dav had a fire blazing in the fireplace and dinner cooking slowly on the stovetop.
He heard the thrusters and opened the door, watching the explorer land at the edge of the forest.
He met her halfway.
She slowed as he approached, almost shy, and came to a stop, her breath misting between them in the cold air.
He lifted a brow, held out his arms, and she sighed, taking that last step to bring herself up against him.
Her arms tightened hard around his waist, and he gripped the back of her shirt with his hands, pulling her even closer.
“So tell me,” he had to keep things light, or he would go far too deep. “What was that song you sung in the drone?”
“Oh.” She tipped back her head. “That was Dream a Little Dream of Me, the Mamas and the Papas version.”
He brushed a kiss along her forehead. “What was it about?”
“Someone asking their lover to dream about them, when they are far apart.”
“It was beautiful.”
She sighed. “Thank you. To be honest, I sang that one because I know I sing it well. It was pride talking.”
There was more acceptance in her tone than heʼd heard before. And heʼd seen the lens feed of her song in the launch bay before Valu had grabbed her.
She had come to some kind of peace with their love of her voice.
She would change them, he knew, because she didnʼt see music the same way as they did. She saw it as an infinite well of inspiration and joy, not a limited resource, to be carefully rationed. She would slowly bring them round to her view, because they were so hungry for her songs.
She sniffed the air. “Is that dinner I smell?”
“Yes.” He refused to let go of her, so he pulled her close under his arm and walked slowly with her back to his cottage.
She stopped when they reached the top of the stairs, turned her head to look up at the night sky.
“Theyʼre somewhere out there. My family and my friends. Wondering where I am.”
“Sazo could take you back. If you really wanted him to.” He forced himself to say it.
She shook her head. “Iʼm not going back.” She rested her head on his shoulder. “Iʼm just sorry I canʼt tell them Iʼm happy and safe.”
“Are you happy?” He pulled away from her a little, so he could see her face.
She gave one of her sweet, devastating smiles, raised her hand and cupped his cheek. “I am.”
“Thatʼs good.” His voice dipped an octave, and he lifted her up against him, and then gave an exaggerated grunt as if he could barely hold her.
She laughed, soft and low. “You're happy I'm happy?” She was looking down at him, her arms looped around his neck.
“I am. I knew you missed Earth, but I hoped . . .”
“You were waiting for me to tell you I wanted to stay?” She bent her head, brushed a kiss along the tip of his ear.
He shivered and let her slide down his body until her feet touched the ground. “For some time now.”
He pulled her over the threshold into his warm house. “You Earthlings are slow,” he closed the door, and then pressed her up against it, leaning in until his lips were just above hers and gave a slow, satisfied smile, “as well as heavy.”
Acknowledgments
A huge thank you to Edie for helping to knock this manuscript into shape, and to
Jo, who always helps make my stories the best they can be. To Kim, thank you for putting your finger on what needed to be expanded, the book is so much better for it. And a very grateful thank you to EJR Digital Art for the amazing cover.
About the Author
Michelle Diener writes historical fiction, fantasy and science fiction. From the Tudor court, to the streets of Regency London, and into magical landscapes, she's never happier than when she's building worlds and crafting suspenseful plots and unforgettable characters.
Michelle was born in London, grew up in South Africa and currently lives in Australia with her husband and two children.
You can contact Michelle through her website or sign up to receive notification when she has a new book out at www.michellediener.com.
@michellediener
www.michellediener.com
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Dark Horse Page 36