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Ardol shrugged. “It’s about as good as the reasons you gave—and technically, in this case, it’s not a lie. It could spare us both a lot of trouble. If you marry this Hawkite, you won’t have cubs. No one will ever question it.” And I’ll think of something to save face—and my place as heir. Sure, I don’t want the stuffy, boring life of District Lord now, but I’ll want it later, when I’m tired of adventures and travel, when I just want a plush estate, my own waterfall, and private hunting reserves. There will be more Queens by then. Young ones. Plenty of them will want me—as long as I still have a title, money, and land, that is.
Cala’s frown was puzzled. “It’s not the truth.”
“It’s true in this case.”
“Fine, Ardol. I owe you whatever lie you’d like to tell. My father said you’d do anything to save face.”
“And yet he allowed you to wait until now to end things. You’ve had plenty of time!”
“And so have you. Plenty of time to woo, to court, to simply get to know me. Did you?”
Ardol seethed in silence.
Cala shrugged. “There’s nothing more to say. This is a sneering match now, Ardol. We’ve talked more to end our relationship than we did to begin it! See, that’s what’s wrong with this idea of keeping Knights and Queens separated until they’re almost ready to wed. This whole idea of assigning someone a marriage partner based on a deal their fathers make...”
Deals my father makes... Ardol felt a deadly weight in his chest. He had to fix this, and he had next to no time. In a few weeks, his father and his associates would expect to meet a bride, attend a wedding—unless he could do something drastic to forestall them.
“I have to go. I have things to attend to.” He hoped the level of disdain in his voice would make it clear that he held her personally responsible for the mess he was in. She ought to look ashamed.
But she just looked...sad. Understanding, even.
She could have been mine. Should have been mine.
Ardol hung up, secretly annoyed that Cala didn’t speak more now that there were no more barbs to shed.
He felt odd. Small. Not sure of himself, and he was always sure of himself. Am I... petty?
No. Just stressed because of some silly young Queen who made a mistake. Her father must be going senile. I ought to tell my father!
But if I tell him the truth...
Ardol put his head in his paws, for once uncaring about mussing the silky knot of fur on top of his head.
Damage control. Damage control. His father’s watchword. Well, that and “Stay out of the ornamental lilygrass!”
A horrible idea was forming in his mind. One that he ought to be thoroughly ashamed of—but one that would have the ultimate result his position demanded.
Time to see the doctor on board.
Chapter Two
“Ardol! What brings you in?”
Marcus, the chief medical officer aboard the Comet Stalker, was going over some complex-looking screens of data with Skyla, a beautiful reddish-brown Canid female with a tight gray flight suit. Dax, the shaggy blonde human foster brother of the human Queens on board was also there, his gaze focused more on the lithe Canid than the data.
“I need to talk to you. Please.”
Marcus’ paws froze. “Ah. That’s enough training for the day, Dax. Skyla, thanks for pitching in to explain the Canid blood panel.”
“No problem.” Skyla flipped her long, asymmetrical shag of russet-colored fur over her shoulder, and Ardol watched Dax’s nostrils inflate.
“Happy to learn!” Dax beamed. “Thanks, Doc! Thanks, Skyla!”
“You’re welcome, cutie.” Skyla tossed a wink to the human, who blushed and nervously ran his fingers through this hair.
Ardol rolled his eyes. Was everyone aboard this ship suddenly obsessed with humans?
“You’re coming along nicely as a tech, Dax. See you two at breakfast.” Marcus waited until the others had left the medical bay before fixing his eyes on Ardol. “Sick?”
