Protector of the Realm (14 page)

Alex stared at Kellen for a moment and then chortled, making heads turn throughout the restaurant. “That’s it. I think you’ve met your match here, Rae. Kellen, now you’ve managed to convince me once and for all. Rae’s definitely the fortunate one in this marriage.”

Gayle looked as if she’d need some time to recover from the unexpected sign of humor coming from Kellen. “God, you scared me,” she said. “I thought I’d offended you.”

“I don’t offend easily. But I might commit a faux pas, since I’m unaccustomed to your culture.”

As if she had sensed the worry behind the light tone of voice, Gayle smiled reassuringly. “I think the ones you can count on as your friends will give you the benefit of the doubt, if any such situation arose. I doubt it, though. You carry yourself better than anyone I’ve met on this station.”

Flattered and surprised at the praise, Kellen felt her skin turn a faint ice blue. Rae hadn’t taken her eyes off her throughout the conversation, and Kellen was curious to know what she was thinking.
Am I charming enough to your friends? Fortunately it isn’t hard since they’re nice people. I just can’t risk anything at this point.

After another hour, Gayle rose, gently tugging at her daughter’s hair. “It’s way past your bedtime,” Gayle told Dorinda, who seemed too tired and too full of ice cream to object.

Kellen watched Rae rise also and reach out for Armeo, who hesitated for only a fraction of a second, then took Rae’s hand.
You trust too easily, Armeo. Have you fallen for her act of protection?
H’rea deasav’h!
I didn’t foresee Armeo bonding with Rae. It’s evident that he admires her.
Kellen wished she could take Armeo aside and warn him to guard his heart. She had a feeling they wouldn’t last long on this station.

Rae held Armeo’s hand for a moment. “I bet you’re tired too. Tomorrow isn’t a school day, but still…”

When Kellen tried to get up, she realized her pain relief had worn off. Forcing herself to her feet, she winced at the stinging sensation in her left thigh. Suddenly she felt Rae encircle her waist and hold her close.
She’s doing all the right things. If I didn’t have to lean on her for balance, I’d show her just how redundant these gestures are.

“You seem a little unsteady. Time for us all to get some rest.”

“Yes,” Kellen agreed, determined to play her part. “It
has
been a long day.”

They accompanied the de Vies family to the rail system, watching as they boarded a car. In another minute, a car bound for deck 3 arrived, and Kellen was grateful to sit down again.

“You’re in pain, aren’t you?” Rae asked in a low voice.

“It’s not too bad.”

“You don’t have to be brave around me. If it hurts, you’re supposed to tell me. I’m your wife.” Rae looked surprised at her own words. “Guess what I’m trying to say is, we’re responsible for each other now, for better and for worse.”

Kellen considered Rae’s words, glancing at the half-asleep Armeo who sat opposite them and leaned his head on the window. She was used to hiding discomforts from Armeo and not worrying him. However, between adults, candidness
was
the road to understanding.
I’m just not used to it.
“Very well. My thigh stings, but Dr. Meyer said it would, as part of the healing process after the derma fusion. It’s normal.”

“But still painful. I have some ointment she gave me for a similar injury. I’ll give it to you when we get home.”

“Thank you.”

After a brief silence, Rae spoke again, her voice soft. “He’s almost asleep.”

Glancing at Armeo, Kellen smiled. “He had a long day too, and a lot of new information to deal with.”

“He took it well. You’re doing a wonderful job of raising him.” Rae lifted her chin a fraction and looked determined. “Kellen, I know you still have doubts, but I’m going to do everything I can to make sure he stays with us.”

For the first time since she had come to
Gamma VI
, Kellen began to feel a glimmer of trust. Something in the way Rae looked at her, the steadfast gaze, reminded her of Tereya. Armeo’s mother was completely devoid of deceit, and Kellen saw the same loyalty and honesty in Rae.
How easy it would be to just give in…To trust her, and let her help me. I can’t. It’s something I can never do.
She felt sad and resentful, and her throat ached as she spoke.

“I can’t lose him.”

Rae nodded. “I know. Believe me, I know.”

*

Rae rummaged through her cluttered medicine cabinet, scowling as she found one outdated container after another. Silently promising to sort through her old medication later, she sneered at her own delusion, knowing something more pressing would make her forget.

Triumphantly she grabbed the ointment she had promised Kellen and returned to the bedroom. “Here. I found it.” She wiggled the tube. “This should take the worst pain away.”

Kellen was sitting on the side of the bed, an odd expression on her face. “Thank you.”

“What’s wrong?” Rae sat down next to her. “Want me to help you?”

“No, I’m fully capable of rubbing ointment on my leg.”

“Then what is it?”

“This is…awkward. I feel I’m invading your personal space. It was not so bad when I took a nap here earlier today, but now…”

“We’re both here. Kellen, listen to me. Go take a shower, and then I’ll help you with the paste. I’ll use the guest bathroom to get ready for bed. We have to share a bedroom for appearances. I honestly don’t mind.” Rae was surprised how true the last statement was. She was used to having these quarters to herself, yet having Kellen and Armeo here didn’t bother her.

Kellen had taken up a lot of her thoughts during the day, and having her in close physical proximity was logical. Armeo was endearing, someone she’d instantly felt protective about, and having him in her quarters would make this task easier. And unexpectedly, she enjoyed his company. After all, she wasn’t used to dealing with children, not counting Dorinda.

The entire evening had been interesting and pleasant. Rae was happy that Gayle and Alex had readily accepted Kellen and Armeo. They would make it easier for her wife to acclimatize. Gayle de Vies was pivotal to the important social life on the station. She worked as a coordinator among the civilians with family members in the military and knew everybody.

Kellen rose from the bed. “If you’re sure?”

“Very sure.”

After her shower Rae stopped by Armeo’s room and peeked inside, finding him fast asleep. The night-light shone dimly, and Armeo had tucked the covers close around himself.

In her bedroom, the sight of Kellen reclining on the left side of the bed made Rae stop on the threshold. She wore a fairy-silk mid-thigh shirt and rested her head against the bulkhead behind the bed, looking breathtakingly beautiful. Rae quietly observed her for a moment, trying to wrap her mind around the fact that they would share this bedroom from now on. Rae’s past lovers had never reached “sharing bedroom” status, but now she had a wife, someone with as much right to this room and its bed as she had.

Kellen turned her head and gave a short nod.

“Armeo’s fast asleep. I checked on him.” Rae shrugged at Kellen’s surprised look. “So while I’m on a roll, why don’t I help you with the paste? It needs to go only on the scar, since it’s pretty strong.”

“Very well.” Kellen pushed the covers down, nudged the shirt out of the way, and removed the bandage.

Rae grabbed the tube and a tissue, flipped open the lid, and squeezed a string of the white paste out on the tissue. Leaning over Kellen’s leg, she gently applied the paste, cautious to rub it only on the scar. “There. It should last you all night.” She attached the bandage again.

“Thank you.” Kellen cleared her throat. “Do you prefer this side of the bed? I can move over…”

“No, it’s fine. I usually sleep in the middle, but any side is fine.” Rae climbed in between the sheets, ordering the lights to zero percent.

Lying there, she thought how her life had changed. She was now caring for two refugees who were fighting almost unbeatable odds, and she was not about to let them down. Kellen stirred next to her, her slender fingers ending up on Rae’s shoulder. It sounded like she was already asleep, her breathing slow and deep. Determined to not disturb her new wife, Rae remained still, looking out at the stars.

In a few days her father would arrive. Admiral Ewan Jacelon was the highest-ranking officer in the fleet and set on running her life. Though she had never allowed it, he kept trying.

She turned on her right side and watched the woman next to her sleep. This was the person she would spend the next five years of her life with. The pale light shining in through the porthole illuminated Kellen’s exotic beauty. Thoughts whirling, Rae gazed at her, dwelling on her soft, full lips, recalling how they felt against her cheek.

Kellen looked peaceful, but Rae was intensely aware of the barely harnessed force within this alien woman who now shared her bed. Fully unleashed, Kellen could become very dangerous.
Will I be able to communicate with her on a daily basis? Will she understand what her new position as the spouse of a high-ranking SC fleet officer entails?
Rae herself had a reputation for being a maverick, no matter how by-the-book she was, but she was also devoted to protocol. Was Kellen going to follow her example, or could Rae expect professional embarrassment when her wife disregarded rules, as she was prone to do?

Kellen stirred, and Rae held her breath, hoping she hadn’t disturbed her when she shifted in the bed. Whimpering, Kellen contorted her face while she slept, and her fingertips trembled where they lay against Rae’s shoulder. Afraid her wife was having a nightmare, Rae reached out and placed a hesitant hand gently on her cheek. To Rae’s relief, Kellen’s breathing slowed and the trembling ceased.

This is part of living together. Closeness, offering comfort, supporting each other. Can we do it, Kellen?
Rae knew the cultural differences between them were oceanic. Kellen’s main objective was to keep Armeo away from the ones out to use or harm him. Rae’s role was multifaceted. On a personal level, it tied in with Kellen’s, but professionally, it was more complex. The SC Council’s orders dictated her actions, and the political aftermath of her victory in space was just beginning.

Kellen, now looking soft and relaxed, might be the best and most intriguing thing that had ever happened to her, but she could also mean Rae’s downfall.
Will I be able to keep my word to you? And will keeping my word to you be the end of my career?

The crew in the passageway snapped to attention as Admiral Ewan Jacelon entered port 1. Rae stood in the middle of the passage and saluted him as he approached.

Admiral Jacelon returned the salute. “Commodore.”

“Admiral.”

“Permission to come aboard.”

“Permission granted, sir.”

Rae looked up at her father, who was more than a head taller than she was. He was impeccably dressed in his SC fleet uniform, as usual, with a few more impressive insignias on his collar. White, short-cropped hair, a neat moustache and beard accentuated his commanding persona, which impressed even Rae. So did the dark gray eyes beneath bushy, gray eyebrows. He looked as fit as he had the last time she saw him, and she felt a secret pride that he looked much younger than sixty-nine. If only he looked happier to see her. Instead, his eyebrows slanted at a foreboding angle, and he had that down-turned expression at the corners of his mouth that she recognized so well.

“Rae.” Admiral Ewan Jacelon took her smaller hand in his. “You look well.”

“Thank you, Father. So do you,” she replied calmly. “If you’ll come with me?”

“Lead on.”

“I take it your trip was uneventful.” Rae escorted him toward the mission room, where they took the elevator up to deck 1 and to her office.

“Compared to what you’ve been up to, downright dull.” His face looked solemn.

“Don’t start, Father, until I get a chance to explain.”

Jeremiah saw them coming and rose to salute.

“Admiral, you remember Commander Jeremiah Todd, my next in command.”

“Of course.” The two men saluted and then shook hands. Jeremiah had met her father on several occasions, and she knew the admiral liked the younger man a lot. It was more than obvious to her now when Ewan Jacelon shot Jeremiah a broad grin. “Always good to meet you, Commander. Carry on.”

“I’ll brief you in my office, Admiral.” Rae fought to keep her voice even. “After that, Kellen’s offered to cook dinner for us. You’ll be staying in the VIP suite.” She showed her father inside the circular room and adjusted the transparency of the aluminum walls to a minimum, obscuring them from the mission room.

“All right, Rae, let’s knock off the chitchat and get to the point. I’m here to see if we can work something out, since your actions seemed to have ignited an intergalactic incident.” The admiral sat down in the visitors’ chair. “What the hell’s going on, Rae? The Onotharian government has inundated the Council with official protests regarding this latest stunt of yours.”

Rae felt her anger rise like a solar storm. “And what stunt are you referring to, Father? My defense of our territory or my defense of my family? M’Ekar violated our rules and engaged in hostilities because of a little boy, who is now in my care. Diplomatic immunity or not, he broke the law.”