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All night, they’d been on their comms and computers, missing what was likely their only chance to make love in Ardol’s gorgeous suite, but their work was done.
Plan B was in motion.
Ardol’s credits were secured in his account and Jade’s. If Ardol’s father disowned him, he would lose his father’s generous allowance and any money his father might leave him, but he wouldn’t lose the money that had been set aside for him to use as a bride price or his share of his mother’s inheritance. While Ardol arranged money and transport matters, Jade talked to Griselda.
“BASTET HAVE MERCY, child. You only left four days ago. What’s gone wrong?”
“What if I wanted to move back? What if Ardol and I wanted to move back next year and open up a little shop?”
“Then we’d have a party in the town hall. Why?”
“No, I’m sorry, I’m not explaining this very well. Griselda, I know that you had two houses built for your daughters, Cleo and Annie. And Claude obviously gets Cleo’s house when he has his own family. But... But what about Annie’s house? Could I buy it? How much would you sell it for?”
“Ten thousand credits and you have to call me Mama.”
“Oh! Oh, God. Yes, thank you, Mama, please hold off on selling it to anyone else.” Jade wiped her eyes. “That would make Claude my nephew.”
“And you’d best get used to being called Auntie Jade and Uncle Ardol, then. As for the store— ain’t no bother to build one. Got two carpenters and a fabricator in town, and they’re tired of fixing up broken-down houses and building fences. Don’t know the rates, but you’re one of our own, so they’d be reasonable.”
One of our own. The words were like warm honey coating her soul. Jade nodded. “Thank you, Griselda.”
“Come again?”
“Thank you, Mama.”
“That’s better. Take care, little one. I’ll see you back before you know it.”
“THE SHUTTLE’S GOING to hook up to a Servali passenger ship headed back from a star cruise around Leopardine-Three. Once we get in range of Lynx-One, we’ll hyper jump back to Lynx-Nineteen and have a whole day there before we have to turn around and ship back out. At this rate—I have no idea if you’re ever going to get the dresses I ordered,” Ardol remarked with a sigh.
“But our shop will sell all the things humans could want—and the discerning Felid will love it, too. It’ll sell human clothes and food, and all the items from the other Felid Systems that never make it all the way out to Lynx-Nineteen. With you organizing it, it’ll be a cinch to get them there.”
“I hope you’re right.”
“Our cubs will have friends. Half Felid-half human playmates. And Doctor Weaver knows how to perform the chromosomal booster protocol.” Jade managed a weak version of her sultry smile. “Firstborn might happen on the Comet Stalker, but Doc Weaver can handle the rest.”
“Mm. Jade.” Ardol found the energy to give her a swift, passionate kiss. “Come. Help me load the shuttle.”
“With what?”
“Anything we can carry. I don’t think I’ll be coming back here for a long, long time.”
“Are you sure? Your dad might change his stance in a few years when Felid-human couples become more well-known.”
Ardol paused in front of the mirror. “I used to want to be exactly like him. I worshiped him—and I was probably the only cub he gave real time to or showed a real interest in. He was making a clone, a pawn, the next in line that he could still control. He might change—but I don’t know if it’ll be enough. If he can’t treat my mother and my wife with respect, then I doubt he’ll treat my daughters with respect.”
Jade nodded. “Griselda said I have to call her Mama.”
Ardol bowed his head. “I had a mother that I loved—and should have loved so much better.”
“I know. Once upon a time—I had one too, but she was more like your father than your mother by the sounds of it. The point is—sometimes the people we stumble across are the best ones.” She wrapped her arms around his waist. “I’m going to help you load up and then go sneak out and find your brothers and Lena to say goodbye.”
“Meet me at the shuttle. If it goes like I think it will—we’ll be making a record-setting exit.”
ARDOL PACED IN HIS father’s study. Even before his father ate breakfast or said hello to his cubs, he came to this room to begin his day’s work.
“Ardol. I’m glad to see you following in your father’s pawsteps. Up early and ready to debrief.”
“Yes, yes, I’m ready to exchange information. May I start?”
