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Jade held up a hand. “Wait. Stop, do I really need to know the entire Leopardine political system today, or can I study it later?”
“You’re right, that was too much. All you need to know is that my father intends to announce his candidacy for Archlord, even though the election is not until next year. He needs to begin campaigning now, and to do so, he needs to show he has a son ready to succeed him as District Lord. He must announce his choice for Lord Apparent.”
“What? Like... Now? You’re becoming District Lord now?”
I have to leave Claude and Griselda right now? And Avis? What about Layla? I like her. Wendy’s kind of timid and that gets on my nerves, but I bet there’s some story behind that. Maybe she goes shy to hide her trauma, just like I tended to be a standoffish bitch to hide mine.
“No, no. My father would never be foolish enough to let go of power unless he was sure he would get more. I’m just making a quick trip home for a show of force. He knows I have to finish out my contract onboard—especially if we want a cub of our own. Only Lynx-Nineteen and this ship have the right supplies and trained staff to use them right now.”
Jade nodded, biting her lip. “But you have to leave for a little while?”
“And my father wants to meet you. Very much.”
There was something her husband wasn’t telling her, but Jade decided she would ask for more information later. “You said something about tomorrow?”
“Rupex gave me leave to go home for a week, and then we’ll rendezvous with the ship as it’s leaving the Lynxian System. Elio will handle the freight that’s coming in while we’re gone and confirm the orders on our flight path with Layla and Talos’ help. The thing is, the shuttles we have aren’t equipped for such long-distance travels. We need a ride to Lynx-One, and from their orbit, we can hyper jump to the Leopardine System, and then it’s only a day’s travel to Leopardine-One.” He stopped and gave her his most charming smile. “There’s a mithrium freighter that heads out of Hillhead to Lynx-One tomorrow, and Talos and I were able to arrange passage on it. Jaxson and Lycen are giving the biggest shuttle a thorough systems check now so we can fly out at dawn to get a spot in their bay.”
The pit deepened and started to spread. “Then... Then by the time we make it back, we won’t be coming home? Er, I mean, to Lynx-Nineteen?”
“No, my love. The Comet Stalker will already be off-world by then.”
“Oh. Okay.”
I wanted to leave before winter, anyway. I wanted to be gone before the first blizzard hit. It’s no big deal. “I’ll pack. Do I have to pack? I have to pack.”
“Yes, you have to pack, and so do I. But...” Ardol came and took her hands in his, “I know it isn’t luxurious, but while we’re in the shuttle and traveling onboard the freighter, we’ll be alone together. Once we land on Leopardine-One, you’ll see the most beautiful estate. I’ll take you through the gardens, we’ll have the most beautiful nights alone in my old suite. Wine. Candles. Music. You, covered in nothing but your wedding jewels...”
“Ardol.” Jade allowed herself to fall into his arms, and everything else was temporarily blocked out.
“It’s a beautiful planet. A beautiful district. I can lay it at your feet, and once I am District Lord, I can change it to be the best place for our family to flourish.”
A man laying a kingdom at her feet. A man who loved her. Every desperate half-thought wish and prayer she could never bring herself to finish was suddenly coming true.
She pushed thoughts about a dusty little town with only one main street and far too many people who’d seen her at her lowest from her mind.
“Take me home, lover.”
Chapter Sixteen
“Will you come home for Bast Festival?” Claude wiped his sleeve across his eyes.
“I don’t know, but if not, I’ll send you a big present,” Jade wiped at her own eyes. It was barely dawn, and the mine was a hotbed of activity. Shuttles and speeders hauling carts of shining metallic fragments were whisking across the atmosphere, and two giant ships, one still larger than the other, hung in the sky.
In the frantic mass of miners and freight workers, Jade found half the town had come to say farewell to her, knowing that now she would be leaving before the Comet Stalker and its crew.
“Here. I packed you some millet muffins,” Avis pushed a bag into her arms. “Send lots of vids, honey!”
“I will.” Jade hugged her friend hard, surprised that the lump in her throat was growing—and for once, she simply couldn’t detach her brain and ignore the feelings swarming in her chest.
“You ever end up back this way, you’ve got a home with us,” Griselda whispered, taking her turn for a hug.
“And you and your fella can have a job with me.” Miles shook her hand in both of his paws.
“What you really ought to do is come back and open a shopping complex like they have in Shade Point. Not something huge, but a place where you could find human-sized clothes, Sapien-Three foods, and goods from the Leonid, Leopardine, and Tigerite Systems. We’re pretty limited out here.” Cherie and Sheriff Dane shook her hand next, and then Ardol reappeared beside her.
Ardol placed his arm possessively around her waist, and she leaned into him, taking comfort in his presence. “Shuttle’s in the bay, and we’re checked in. They just need to scan your personal computer, and we’re good to go. The Captain said this shipment is flying out in under an hour.”
“You need to go and get strapped in and make sure the shuttle is properly pressurized once you seal the door and turn on the oxygen regulation,” Talos said in his deep voice.
