“We ran a DNA test on the deceased, comparing it with the police records on Rhylos. She’s Chantal Benzowitz all right, but her identchip identifies her as Treanna Hwerthen—and her implant matches it.” Suharken’s swarthy skin and piercing black eyes made him a forbidding presence, but his smile was apologetic. “Our friend Nate obviously has connections with some pretty shady characters. Chantal landed here with a fake ID—a damn good one, by the way—and was married to him at the spaceport.”
“Married?” Sara could hardly believe her ears. “After all that crap about him wanting to marry
me
?”
He nodded. “And as the spouse of a current resident, she was automatically granted permanent status.”
Sara took a moment to put the pieces together. “Oh God, that was brilliant! Single men advertise offworld for wives all the time. Nate would’ve looked as though he’d been duped into bringing her here to find Jerden—and with her dead, she couldn’t say otherwise. He’d be a widower and free to try again with me.”
“Possibly.” Suharken scratched the back of his neck, tugging at his collar as though it choked him. “For the record, at the time of her arrival, we had no reports of the escape of Chantal Benzowitz and therefore had no reason to question her identity. It wasn’t as though she’d escaped from jail here, and Rhylos is a long way from Terra Minor.”
He was either explaining or making excuses, Sara wasn’t sure which, but she wasn’t interested in that. She had other questions. “What I want to know is if Nate was broke, who paid her passage? Space travel isn’t cheap and neither are fake identchips.”
“He isn’t saying,” Suharken replied. He leaned back in his chair. “My guess is he borrowed the money from someone, promising a big payoff after he gained access to your fortune.”
Sara’s face grew hot with anger. “He would never have gotten a single credit out of me. I would
never
have married him. Ever.”
The magistrate shrugged. “Maybe someone owed him a favor. You never know with those types. His record was clean, or he couldn’t have immigrated here to begin with, but there’s no way of knowing who his friends are. We can’t screen everyone for everything.”
Sara heaved a sigh. “I know that, and right now, I’m not sure I care. I’m just glad it’s over.”
She was letting him off the hook, and Suharken obviously knew it. He seemed relieved now, his smile almost genial. “I’m afraid the formalities will take a while, but it’s nothing you need to worry about. We’ll keep you posted.”
Sara thanked him and terminated the link. She sat for a moment, only then realizing how exhausted she was. It had been a very long day. She got ready for bed and went into the bedroom, just as she had done the first night Jerden ever spent in her house. Cria lay beside him and several of the cats were curled up at the foot of the bed. As before, Cria relinquished her post when Sara approached.
She stroked the big cat’s broad black head. “Thank you for saving his life, Cria. And don’t look so modest. You saved him, and you know it.”
Cria purred, nudging Sara’s hand.
“And now it’s up to me to
keep
him safe.” Her other hand slid across her stomach where Jerden’s children were growing. “I’ve got to keep them safe, too.”
Cria blinked slowly, as though promising her assistance.
“Thanks. I’ll need all the help I can get.” Sara shut off the lights, pulled back the covers, and slid in beside Jerden. Unlike that first night, she didn’t hesitate to draw close to him, resting her head on his chest. His heartbeat was slow, but steady. He would sleep a while longer yet.
And so would she.
“He’s gorgeous!” Bonnie exclaimed as Sara trotted out Ajax, Jerden’s new Friesian stallion.
Sara nodded her agreement. “Too bad Jerden hasn’t seen him yet.”
Contrary to Vladen’s prediction, broken bones did not heal in “a day or two” even when said bones belonged to a Zetithian. Jerden had already been out for three days and counting when the stallion arrived at the spaceport. Sara had barely gotten Ajax settled in his new home when Bonnie dropped by for a visit, along with Ulla, Trent, and Karsyn, whose “inflamed appendix” turned out to be nothing more than a stomachache from eating too much at the wedding.
Unable to drag the kids away from the horses, she and Bonnie returned to the house without them. “I’m surprised that a Zetithian child would even
have
an appendix,” Sara said, taking a seat at the kitchen table.
“They don’t, actually,” Bonnie explained. “Vladen was just being melodramatic—probably so he could have an excuse to spread the news about Nate and—what’s her name?”
“Chantal,” Sara replied. “Isn’t that a breach of etiquette or confidentiality or something?”
“On some worlds, perhaps,” Bonnie replied. “But not around here. It’s impossible to keep
anything
quiet.”
“Which makes me wonder how in the world Nate married Chantal without it becoming common knowledge overnight.”
“You have a point,” Bonnie conceded. “He must’ve paid somebody off.”
“Yeah,” Sara said with a snort. “But with what? One of his horses?”
“Maybe. I had no idea he was in such bad financial shape. He obviously managed to keep that quiet too.”
Ulla and Karsyn came dashing in through the back door. “Can we see Jerden now?”
Bonnie laughed. “If anyone could wake a sick Zetithian, it would be those two.”
Sara was anxious for him to recover but wasn’t sure the timing was right. “Is that a good idea? I mean, can you wake them up too soon?”
“They get better anyway,” Bonnie said. “Sometimes I think they just like having an excuse to sleep.”
Assuming that Bonnie knew what she was talking about, Sara nodded and the two girls raced off. Moments later, Trent came inside, followed by Salan.
“She was afraid you wouldn’t let her in,” Trent said, nodding at Salan. “I told her you wouldn’t mind. She says she’s been trying to get up the nerve to talk to you for days and days.”
Salan
did
seem distraught. Her long blonde hair had lost its shine and there were lines on her face Sara hadn’t noticed before.
“It’s all my fault,” she wailed. “I told Nate about Chantal
weeks
ago. I’d heard the story from Bonnie. He was so upset about losing you to Jerden, I had to tell him I knew exactly how he felt, and I… Oh,
Sara
, I’m
so
sorry.”
“No need to feel bad about it. You couldn’t have known what he’d do.” Sara took a deep breath. “But
please
tell me I’m not going to have trouble with you over Jerden.”
“You won’t. I promise.” Salan smiled shyly. “Besides, I’ll be going on an extended trip pretty soon.”
Sara raised an eyebrow. “With Waroun?”
Salan nodded. “I can’t explain it. He’s, well, he’s as ugly as any other Norludian, but at the same time, he’s… different.”
“I know the feeling,” Bonnie said. “Just when you’ve given up and think you’ll never find the one, you do—and when you least expect it.”
“You do understand, don’t you, Sara?” Salan pleaded.
“Of course I do!” Sara replied. “I never thought I’d ever fall in love with
any
man, let alone one that wasn’t even human. But Jerden is the most
humane
being I’ve ever met. He’s everything I could possibly want in a man, and I love him with all my heart.” Sara registered Salan’s wry smile with one of her own. “He’s standing right behind me, isn’t he?”
“Uh, yes, he is.”
A moment later, Jerden’s arms were around her, his lips pressed against her neck and his hair tickling her cheek. A surge of excitement rose to a peak, sending thrills cascading over her like a wave. “Nice to have you up and about again.”
“It’s good to
be
up,” he said. “And I plan to stay that way.”
“Guess I’d better call Vladen to take that cast off—I assume you’re completely healed?”
“Never better,” Jerden asserted. “How about you?”
“I’ve been a little lost without you.”
“It’s ridiculously easy to get hooked on them,” Bonnie confided.
Sara glanced at Salan, who gave Jerden a hasty, “Glad you’re better” and left as quickly as she’d arrived. Karsyn and Trent went out to play with the dogs, but Ulla took a seat at the table beside her mother. She was growing up so fast.
I
guess
it’ll seem that way with our children, too.
Sara waited until the door closed behind them before she told Jerden the news. “Guess what? Salan is going on vacation with Waroun!”
“That has
got
to be a first,” Bonnie declared. “A Davordian woman giving up a Zetithian for a Norludian?” She chuckled, shaking her head. “No one will ever believe it.”
“That’s because it isn’t true,” Jerden said. “She couldn’t give me up because she never had me to begin with.”
As he kissed her cheek, Sara blushed clear to her toes. She could hardly wait to be alone with him again, but she had other news to report. “Someone else dropped by while you were laid up. After Jack heard what happened with Nate and Chantal, she turned the ship around and came right back.”
“Oh, let me guess,” Jerden said, chuckling. “She brought us another Nedwut pulse pistol, right?”
“Close. She brought us a rifle.”
Jerden rolled his eyes. “Why am I not surprised?”
“She brought a scabbard for it, too,” Sara went on. “She thought it would be easier to carry while on horseback—though I’m not sure she knows you never use a saddle. Guess I’ll be the one who carries it. Anyway, she said she’d bring us a security system the next time she visits.”
“That’s Jack for you,” said Bonnie. “She is one dedicated woman.”
“She sure is,” Jerden said. “Without her help, we’d have all been hunted down like animals by now.”
Sara grinned. “Guess I’d better give
her
a present—though I can’t imagine what anyone could give Jack that she doesn’t already have. Makes me glad I don’t have to buy Christmas gifts for her.”
“You’re already carrying the best presents anyone could ever give her.” Taking her hand, Jerden pulled her to her feet and into his arms. “And the best presents anyone could ever give
me
.”
Sara gazed up at her husband, thanking God or fate or destiny for saving her for this one special man. Being the mother of his children would undoubtedly give her as much joy as being his wife, perhaps even more. “I’m glad you think so. But until they’re born, I’ve got this fabulous Friesian stallion out in the barn. Want to see him?”
Jerden’s lips curled as he began to purr. “I’d much rather see you swoon—which, as I recall, you promised to do when he arrived.”
Sara faked her best swoon and was instantly scooped up into Jerden’s arms.
“Excuse me, ladies,” he said, nodding at Bonnie and Ulla. “Must go revive my wife now.”
“I didn’t
really
faint,” Sara muttered against his chest.
“Of course you didn’t.” His purr became a growl as Jerden threaded his fingers through her hair, tilting her head back, his blazing eyes locked on hers. “But you
will
.”
As their lips met, Bonnie pushed back her chair and got to her feet. “That’s our cue, Ulla.”
Sara waved good-bye to her friends, unable to take her eyes off Jerden. He was handsome, yes, but she’d seen handsome men before and had never been tempted by any of them—had never even
considered
loving them.
He’d been called so many names—savage, loner, wildcat, hunk. He was all of those and more, but in the best possible way—and he was hers, forever. Crushed in his embrace with his purr roaring in her ears, she barely heard the back door close behind Bonnie and Ulla.
Jerden nuzzled her neck. “Did you miss me, Sara?”
“More than you will
ever
know. Promise me you won’t do that again for a long, long time.”
“I’ll do my best to stay safe and healthy.” With only a trace of a limp, he carried her into the bedroom and laid her on the bed.
Jerden climbed in beside her, and, as always, Cria stationed herself at the door. The big cat gazed at her for a moment before blinking—slowly and deliberately. Sara didn’t need Tisana to translate, for the leopard’s meaning was quite clear.
We
will
keep
him
safe, you and I, and he will live to see his grandchildren’s grandchildren. His race will be restored to its former glory and there will be peace, joy, and prosperity for all.
The words echoed through Sara’s mind like the ringing of church bells. Blinking hard, she shook her head. Had she actually read the leopard’s thoughts? Was that a prophecy or a wish? She stared at Cria, half hoping she would say more, but the huge cat simply curled up on the threshold, letting out a soft, purring sigh.
I’m imagining things.
Nonetheless, Sara vowed to do her best to keep Jerden alive and well and give birth to as many of his children as fate saw fit to bestow upon her. There’d been times when she’d seen fate as needlessly cruel, but no more, for fate had saved her for Jerden. He was hers to love, cherish, and protect. She would do nothing less.
Otherwise, Jack would come after her with a very big stick.
And
no
way
am
I
risking
that…
***
Sara’s scent filled Jerden’s head like never before—her pregnancy the obvious cause. After all, she’d been his mate for some time. The babies were the only change.
Or were they? He recalled the vision in which his fields had been as green and well tended as Sara’s. Looking back, he could see that his vision represented more than the mere state of his land. The tranquility he’d felt at that moment now filled his entire being. The threats were gone—whether Jack would ever admit it or not—he was sure of it. Already, he could sense joy and serenity infusing his life and the lives of his fellow Zetithians with peace.
His world had been destroyed, his race hunted to near extinction, but the future was filled with hope. He would be there to witness that future, and Sara would be with him—his life, his love, his partner, his mate. The danger had passed, and the healing process was now complete. The time had come for life to begin.
Again.