Terran Times 02 - Deal with a Dhemon (27 page)

“I hope that you enjoy your chambers Miss Samantha. Safra has been working on them based on your color preferences for the last three weeks.” His voice was deep and rich, flowing through the room and washing over them.

“Thank you Lady Safra. It was most kind of you to go to all that trouble.” Sam was amazed. She had not known three weeks before that she would be coming here, how did they?

“It was no trouble. It was the least I could do after what Negotiator Tyrell did for Dhema.” She flushed prettily and took a seat next to her husband. He reached out to pat her hand.

“Did you say Tyrell?” A servant pulled the chair out for her and she sat in the manner she had learned over the last week.

“Yes, indeed. The negotiator was instrumental in landing a trade contract for medical supplies for one of our colonies suffering from a plague. Tyrell saved thousands of lives.” Valnal seemed genuinely grateful for the past assistance.

“Yeah, she’s great that way.”

“She?” Safra looked startled as she exchanged glances with her husband.

“Oh, darn. Just forget that I said that, please.

Tyrell has been a friend of mine since we left Terra 63

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together. It is so rare that I meet someone who has met the Negotiator that my tongue slipped, I’m sorry.” She looked down at her hands and waited for the first course to be served.

Valnal and Safra decided to ignore her gaff and turned the conversation to her trip to Dhema. The attempts on her life came as a surprise to them, but their mention of General Kassil came as a surprise to her.

“What? I’m sorry, I drifted off for a minute.”

She apologized for her lack of attention.

“General Kassil will be here for dinner tomorrow. Valnal and he go back a long way, we are eager to here of his plans for taking a wife at long last now that he is retired.” Safra was enthusiastic, as were most women when the word marriage came up.

“He is planning to marry then? He made no mention of it on the journey here.” She was kicking herself for being seven kinds of fool. Then gave her head a mental shake. She was not marriage material, he had made that abundantly clear.

“His family had been assembling candidates for the last few months. All that remains is for him to make his decision.” Safra was giddy at the thought of a wedding amongst her social circle.

“Is it that easy? I mean to pick a wife?” She was surprised. It seemed so bloodless for a race as 64

Deal with a Dhemon

passionate as they seemed to be. Kassil was certainly passionate—she couldn’t imagine him in an arranged marriage.

Valnal laughed, a rich dark sound, “It is for Kassil, war heroes and men from his bloodline are extremely in demand. Women around the cities have been circling this day on their calendar for months.”

“Oh. I hope he will be very happy.” She tried to put some enthusiasm into her voice, but realized that she had failed as the couple exchanged a long look.

Sam skipped dessert and headed back to her rooms with additional thanks given to her hosts.

She undressed and climbed into her bed, leaving the wide window open and the breeze to caress her heated skin. She blanked her mind and fell asleep, her first night on this new world.

The next morning, she woke to find curious black eyes burning into her own.

“Holy!” Sam flinched back, and was drawn up short by the sheet tucked around her, and pinned beneath her visitor. She slowly relaxed into her bed, scooting down to make sure that she kept her breasts covered.

“Morning. You’re naked. Why are you naked?”

The little face was earnest and curious.

“I was so tired that I fell asleep before I could find my nightgown. Can you get me that robe 65