“So, are we surfing the worm today or do you have something special planned?” Ivy asked, wheeling her one bag alongside Ms. Wilder. The cargo and transport bays were moving at the speed of light with arrivals and departures. Literally.

“Special?” Gerri asked.

“Or maybe we’re egging it again?” Ivy winked. “You know. The same way we got here.”

Henley snorted. “You are too much, Ivy.”

Eyeing the girls with a smirk, Gerri shook her head. “Galaxa is too close to go through all that bother, especially programming another spectrum ovule.”

“A what?” Riley asked.

“That silver egg, honey. Remember?” Henley winked. “Gerri is just showing off.”

“So how are we getting to Galaxa, then?” Ivy asked, but then grinned, her eyes wide. “I know! It’s some kind of molecular integration, right?”

“Molecular integration?” Henley laughed. “I knew it! Ivy is a closet trekkie!”

“I am not!”

She rolled her eyes. “Suuuure you’re not. This isn’t Star Trek, babe. Do you see a transporter room anywhere to energize us out?”

“And you know this how?” Ivy retorted.

“I just do.”

Riley piped up. “Henley knows because the freaking Amazon queen wouldn’t shut up about molecule mixing, so I made her ask Gerri.”

Henley’s eyes shifted to her friend. “Thanks for throwing me under the bus, pal.”

Gerri had to laugh at the interchange. “Actually, there is a deep space process that uses molecular integration, but it is only sanctioned if a worm hole isn’t stable enough for travel. I’ve never tried it.”

Ivy tsked. “And here I was hoping to use the phrase, ‘Beam me up, Scottie.’”

“Maybe next time, lovey, but to answer your question on how we’re getting to Galaxa, Vander Kasaval is sending a royal ship for us.”

“Vander Kasaval.” Ivy repeated the name and an unusual tickle started in her belly, and that same feeling of missing something important rang in her mind again. “Exotic name. Who is he?”

A slow smile crossed Gerri’s lips. “Vander Kasaval is the King of Galaxa.”

Before Ivy could respond, a porter waved them toward the embarkation dock and they followed her up the metal planking toward the airlock. At the end of the ramp was an impressive looking man, although not the hunky hottie Ivy envisioned.

“Maddox. It’s nice to see you again.” Gerri greeted the man with a stiff smile.

“Ms. Wilder. A pleasure, as always. Unfortunately, I bring both the king’s salutations and regrets.”

The girls exchanged glances, but Gerri lifted one hand. “Regrets? I hope his majesty is well.”

Maddox nodded. “Perfectly well. He’s on a scouting expedition with Prince Jag and Damen Iceri. You might remember him, he’s the king’s security chief. Alas, Galaxa still has frontiers that need a firm hand, if you know what I mean.” He chuckled, but the sound was hollow. “In fact, King Alyx’s human wife refers to our planet as the Wild West. Nevertheless, I am here to escort you to Galaxa, so welcome aboard.”

Ivy exchanged a look with the other girls. Human wife? Dude.

“Thank you, Maddox.” Gerri’s tightlipped reply was followed by a slight narrowing in her gaze, and the interchange wasn’t missed on Ivy.

“Excuse me, Maddox?” she began.

He turned, giving Ivy a long-nosed look. “Yes?”

“I’m curious. Saying Galaxa is the Wild West conjures images of an untamed place. Is that what’s in store for us when we arrive?”

Maddox sniffed. “Our planet is vast compared to Nova Aurora and our terrain harder to manage. I can’t speak to the imaginings your human lingo invokes.” He gave Ivy a curt nod and turned his attention back to Ms. Wilder, and the two walked toward the illuminated cabin doors.

“Oops.” Ivy smirked, hanging back with the other girls.

“Yeah, seriously. I’m getting the feeling we’re heading into a place that’s a cross between Downton Abby and Game of Thrones,” Henley added. “Did you get how formal Mrs. W was with this dude compared to Alyx? I mean who is this guy?”

“Based on the crest on his chest and the epaulette on his shoulder, he’s got to be the king’s chamberlain or something close.”

Henley turned with a surprised grin. “Riley, where the hell did you pull that from?”

“I pay attention.” She shrugged. “I was a military brat and learned very early how to read a uniform and a person’s demeanor so I didn’t end up in trouble with my dad.”

“Really?” Ivy replied.

She nodded. “We moved all over the place. I got to see most of the world. It was great, if not a little lonely. Uniforms and protocols are something I’m comfortable with, so yeah. I’m good with that stuff.”

“C’mon, we’re falling behind,” Ivy said, nodding to where Gerri waved for them to hurry up.

They stepped through the ship’s entry doors and into the main cabin. The ship’s interior was spacious and choked with amenities, but what struck Ivy most were the cool swivel chairs and matching tables lining the perimeter of the large convex exterior window. They were clearly positioned for viewing the expanse of space and she itched to head over and check it out.

Maddox cleared his voice, clapping his hands for the crisp waitstaff standing in a straight line awaiting orders. Henley was right. This was Downton Abbey Does Space Travel.

“Pay attention, you lot. This is Ms. Wilder. She and her young friends are guests of His Majesty King Vander. See to their comfort. We will be firing the engines, shortly.”

He turned to Gerri and smiled again. “My apologies, madam, but I have some communiques to deliver so I must leave you in my staff’s capable hands. The king wanted to know the moment you were safely onboard, plus I must inform him of your other friends.”

Gerri nodded politely. “I trust my friends aren’t an imposition, not considering the nature of Vander’s request.”

Maddox’s jaw tightened. “I assure you they are most welcome.”

“Good. Then we will see you after takeoff.”

He inclined his head and walked toward the inside cabin doors leading to the bridge, and Gerri let out an aggravated exhale. “Pompous windbag.”

“Who is he anyway? He walks like he’s got a stick up his butt.” Ivy took a glass of pale gold liquid offered in a chilled glass.

The server stifled a chuckle. “Oops, again. That’s twice.” Ivy winked at her.

Gerri took a glass, as well, lifting it in a salute. “You said a mouthful. Maddox is the Lord Chamberlain of Galaxa. He’s been serving House Kasaval since God was a boy, and if you ask me, Vander only keeps him around for posterity.”

Riley clicked the inside of her cheek. “See? Lord Chamberlain. I was right.”

“What does Maddox have to do with us, though?” Henley added. “I can’t help it. I get a bad vibe from him.”

“I know what you mean. When you asked if we were an imposition, I thought the guy would choke on his tongue. Like he’d just as soon jettison us into deep space than take us to Galaxa.”

Gerri sipped her wine, but didn’t say anything.

They moved to the viewing chairs and sat, Ivy nearly jumping out of her skin when the seatbelt fastened by itself the minute her butt hit the seat.

She exhaled. “I will NEVER get used to this place.”

“You’d be surprised, Ivy. Bella said the same thing until she laid eyes on Alyx. Cassie, too, with Talen.”

Ivy drained her glass. “I’m not a romantic, Gerri. It would take more than a pretty pair of biceps attached to a pretty face for me.”

Gerri smirked into her wine. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

A server filled her glass and she nodded. “Thank you. This stuff is delicious. What is it?”

“A white Sidaii,” the server replied. “From Galaxa.”

Ivy looked at her glass. “Does it have the same kick as the ruby one?”

The server laughed. “It’s an aphrodisiac, but only if you’re human.”

Ivy exchanged a look with Gerri and the older woman burst out laughing.