Their arrival at the landing port outside of Ariad two days later wasn’t greeted with a patrol of red-shirted warriors as she’d feared. Instead, the Princep himself awaited them when they stepped off the shuttle.

He stepped away from an open vehicle, what looked like a sleeker, much sportier version of a hovercraft from back home. In gleaming white, like most everything else in Ariad, except for the splendor of the colorful natural backdrop that was Primaria. As Kerr moved forward, his eyes settled on Cierra.

“Congratulations, cousin. She is beautiful.”

“Cousin?” Stunned, Eryn’s gaze darted from her mate to the Princep, the most powerful man on the planet and, for the first time, noticed the similar hair, same strong physique, impressive height, and the golden eyes almost identical.

“You didn’t know?” Kerr asked. “I’m not surprised. Name-dropping is not Ram’s style. He has attained his position in his own right, by who he is and what he has accomplished, not because of who he is related to.”

“Seeing you together, the resemblance is obvious. I’m amazed I never noticed.”

“I don’t often go around without my shirt, but if I did, you would have seen we bear the same marking, the indicator of our familial line.”

She had used her tongue to trace the swirling design on the back of Ram’s neck last night, consigning it to memory. That Kerr had the same marking, and Eva had likely done the same, tasting him with her tongue, made it seem like an intimacy they shared. The thought made her cheeks flood with heat.

To cover her wayward thoughts, she blurted, “You don’t have a dimple.”

He grinned, proving he did not. “I wasn’t so blessed. In our youth, Ram’s drew quite an interest from the females.”

“Kerr.” His name, drawled in Ram’s deep voice, became a subtle warning.

“Ah, yes, I probably shouldn’t tell you about his youthful transgressions. I can say his dimple was often the sole means our fathers had of telling us apart.”

“We fooled our teachers easily, if I recall.” Ram chuckled.

“And paid for it when caught.”

“You were troublemakers in school?” Smiling, she couldn’t wait to hear more childhood stories about her mate.

“Yes, indeed.” Kerr grinned. “Except Ram, as the older cousin, corrupted me, which resulted in my being on the receiving end of several memorable punishments.”

Her gaze shot to her mate in wonder. “You’re saying the Master Warrior used to be a rebel? Interesting.”

Ram grunted, his lips twitching. “Don’t believe a word of it,” he murmured, arching a brow at his leader, who just grinned in response. “He knew he had a future of leadership, tradition, and ritual looming and got into as much trouble he could find before that happened. I was the one earning punishments by association. My only misdeed, trying to save our future Princep’s troublesome neck.”

Kerr laughed with the same rich, rolling sound as her mate.

“I’m sure you’ve come to welcome us for a reason, cousin. Is it because of Eryn’s sham summons to appear before the elders, or to see if we’re still in one piece after engaging with the Denastrians?”

The Princep’s smile faded, his handsome face turning serious. “I have addressed the first with the council already. They all deny it, although the transmission came from the elder’s private console, so someone with access is behind it.”

“The plot thickens,” Eryn noted.

“So it seems,” Kerr concurred. Turning, he extended his arm toward the vehicle. As they moved its way, Eryn’s eyes were drawn to the spectacular mountain vista in the distance, the brilliant green, bright yellow, and vivid pink that made up the trees, flowers, and grasses shimmering as the twin suns dipped low in the purple-hued sky. No artist could capture such splendor.

Ram, who didn’t seem to notice the landscape, an immune resident after seeing it for thirty-four years, no doubt, took Cierra from her arms so she could climb into the rear seat. He kept her, moved to the front, and climbed in beside Kerr. That’s when she noticed the steering controls, not a wheel but levers, were on the right side, opposite of what she was used to.

The Princep, acting as their chauffeur, pushed a button and started the craft. She could only tell by the slight vibration because it was whisper-quiet. As they sped off, despite the rush of wind, the noiseless engine allowed her to keep up with the men’s conversation.

“We have some disturbing information to share along the lines of plots, more so than false summonses from the council,” Ram told him. “We have a traitor in our midst and, subsequently, big problems.”

“I’m afraid you are correct. As such, once I learned of your arrival, I called for a leader’s conference. It is scheduled for later. Until then, I’m here with a personal invitation on the Prima’s behalf to join us for the evening meal. We thought it time the new cousins meet.”

“I agree, and thank you for the offer,” Ram said cordially, adding, “although I would have preferred to deal with this nasty business first.”

“Some key individuals can’t join us until later. Be patient, we’ll get to it soon enough.”

As they reached the outskirts of town, and stopped to allow pedestrians to pass at an intersection, Cierra, who was enjoying the breeze, began to babble that her new game had ended. Smiling, Kerr reached out and trailed the backs of his fingers down her downy-soft cheek. “She really is beautiful, Eryn.”

“Thank you, sir,” she murmured as she leaned forward to watch her baby girl.

“It’s Kerr. As Ram’s mate, you are family. No need for formality amongst us.” Kerr chuckled as Cierra, who seemed to agree, batted both arms and laughed, displaying the dimple in her chubby, baby cheek, the mirror image of her daddy’s. “You certainly cannot deny her, cousin.”

Ram, who had a protective arm around their daughter, twisted enough to meet her gaze, pride gleaming in his golden eyes, “Never. There will be no denials in the Master Warrior’s family.”

She felt the heat of a blush rise to her cheeks, and the Princep declared with a grin as he started them forward again, “Now that’s what I like to hear.”

---

A gracious hostess, Eva appeared happy, glowing under her mate’s attention as she held her son, Kellan, on her lap. A golden-eyed cheerful baby, he looked like a miniature of his father except for the shock of blonde hair which matched his mother’s.

As she took in the small family, casually relaxing in the informal part of their residence which occupied the entire top floor of what was essentially Primaria’s White House. She had to admire their closeness. Kerr’s arm around her shoulders as she leaned into his side, both smiling at their jabbering, laughing son.

Only a few days separated the new cousins, one fair, the other dark, as were most Primarians. A thought occurred to her. “Has there ever been a fair-haired Primarian warrior?” Eryn asked.

“No, and there won’t be.” Eva stressed her point with a definitive nod. “He can be a scientist or a scholar, sticking close to home.” She cooed down at the gurgling baby in her arms. “Isn’t that right, my sweet prince?”

“He isn’t a prince, Sprite. He is, however, the Primmum Ectus and will be whatever he chooses when he comes of age.”

Obviously, a running argument between the two, their eyes met, Eva’s rolling with Kerr’s brow arching in response.

“Whatever he grows up to be,” Eryn interjected, carefully staying neutral, “he is a beautiful baby, and I know you are both thrilled.”

“Yes, and Cierra is a cutie.” She tilted her head, considering Eryn. “And you, Chief? Do you miss being a badass security specialist, kicking butt and taking names, or have you found a maternal side you didn’t know you had, like me.”

“It’s funny. I don’t miss it at all. Besides, I still train and stay fit enough to kick frogman ass and warrior butt on occasion.”

“What’s this?” Kerr asked, looking to Ram in question.

“You’ll have to ask Rollin,” was all the explanation he would give, although he grinned at her, while shaking his head.

“I know him.” Eva grinned. “Seven feet of muscle, sporting a near-permanent scowl and a mouth that makes you want to take him out at the knees.”

“I took him to his knees, except my aim was about two feet higher.”

Eva gasped. “You didn’t?” Then she shook her head. “What am I saying? Of course, you did. I bet you did it with a bo staff, didn’t you?”

Eryn shrugged, letting that be her answer, but then couldn’t resist winking at her friend.

“You shouldn’t gloat over a warrior’s defeat, little one,” Ram put in with a gentle scold. “I believe we’ve had a few discussions about this.”

“For beating a warrior twice her size, she should gloat,” Eva declared in her defense. “If we’re lucky, it brought him down a peg and curbed his arrogant tongue.”

“Seems to be the consensus,” Eryn muttered.

Kerr glanced at Ram, cocking a brow at him for verification.

“It’s true.” Ram grinned, pride in his tone when he added, “And only took her about two minutes.”

The Princep looked at her with new respect.

Curious about something ever since the challenge, Eryn asked her mate, “What did you say to Rollin that day?”

“I told him he needed to work on his technique to let a little thing like you beat him so easily, and, if he ever swung anything at your head or any other part of your body again, it would be his last swing.”

Eryn sighed then repeated an old protest. “You have to stop threatening to kill everyone who peeks at me sideways. It was a fair match. I had safety gear on. He might have rung my bell if he connected, but it wouldn’t have been the first time.”

“It will be the last time,” Ram stated tersely. “They have orders to be on defense only if you spar again. Like I was.”

“Like you were?” Eva’s blonde eyebrows rose.

“Yes, she forgot to mention the part where I pinned her.”

“What?” she gaped in surprise. “But you were undefeated.”

“Give me a break. Look at him.”

She did. With Ram both larger and taller than Kerr, who was a big man, she also nodded in understanding.

“Besides,” Eryn went on to say, “I couldn’t take him out like I did Rollin and ruin our chances for future little warriors and badasses.”

Eva laughed. After a moment, Kerr joined in, as did Ram, although he hauled her close and whispered in her ear. “We’ll see who brings who to their knees tonight, little rebel.”

She tingled all over, her face flushing, but the arrival of dinner spared her from further temptation.

An informal meal among the four of them, Janus had the care of the babies. According to Eva, Kerr’s chamberlain jumped at the chance when offered. The major domo was like a personal assistant, managing Kerr’s appointments and screened the visitors constantly lined up at their door.

“Without him,” she affirmed, “we’d never have a moment’s peace. And he adores Kellan.”

Dinner conversation focused on the progress at the new colony and the integration. One thousand mate applicants had arrived on Primaria, and the people were practically euphoric. Kerr expressed concern over the increasing violence on Earth at the prospect of the two-species mating, but left it at that, keeping the meal light and casual.

Afterward, they made their way downstairs to the large conference room on the first floor where the others had already gathered.

It looked much like Ram’s command center with a communication console and wall mounted vid-screen, except twice the size. In the middle of the room sat a long table with high-back chairs, all in white. What was it with Primarian’s and white?

Seated around the table were Kerr’s leaders, Trask was present, along with Jarlan the lead physic, Roth had joined via satellite relay from Earth, Maggie and Ellar joining him. Ram, of course, and two of the elders, Mordrun and Aylan, were sitting in. Eva had accompanied Kerr to provide her input, having been a victim of at least one of the evil schemes, and lastly, Juna rounded out the group.

The Princep remained standing when he began. “I’ve called this meeting to discuss a disturbing trend Trask and Ram have brought to my attention. Although most of the Purists have been identified, we continue to have incidents of sabotage cropping up.”

“Sabotage?” Eva repeated, her hand flying to her chest in alarm.

Kerr placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “Eva and I were first, as you all know, the efforts to separate us almost turned deadly. The Purist faction has become known since then, and the jealous woman who shot her has been disciplined and mated to a strong man. We have had no further incidents from her.”

“Except I still must endure Zalina’s presence in the market every week, which serves as a painful reminder,” Eva muttered.

Zalina had hopes of a match with Kerr and of becoming Prima herself, determined to let nothing and no one stand in her way. Eva’s hand held her side where the woman had blasted her, the physical wound long since healed, but still festering deep—she’d almost lost her mate and the father of her child from the woman’s malicious intent. Kerr moved his hand to her nape, his thumb stroking the side in a tender, comforting gesture. She offered him a smile after a moment, rested her cheek against his side.

“Maggie and Roth weren’t immune from the scheming,” Kerr noted. “The poisoner has never been found, and now we have Eryn and Ram. It seems the culprit or culprits are getting more desperate, although we still have no inkling who might be perpetrating these plots.”

Eryn sat up straighter upon hearing this, shoulders tense. “Wait, what plots?”

“You haven’t told her?” Kerr asked.

“New evidence seems to be cropping up every day,” Ram explained, “and we’ve had some distractions.”

Feeling like she’d walked in halfway through a movie and missed half of the storyline, she turned to him with her next question. “What new evidence?”

“We have confirmed someone accessed our database and altered your initial compatibility report,” Jarlan told her.

“It goes as far back as that?” Eva gasped.

“Yes,” Eryn replied, “but that isn’t news. The corrected report was sent to Ram months ago.”

“No,” Jarlan stated. “The report you saw was a fake, in fact. We have no record of it. Although, when I reviewed the document, it is an excellent facsimile of one of ours, it did not come from us. We ran a second test to be sure and got the same result. Instead of the accurate rating of 99.43 percent, the report Ram received indicated only—”

“Forty-three percent.” She shifted her gaze to Ram. “Because of that fake score, I was convinced we weren’t mates and never could be, and because of it, I was led to believe Cierra couldn’t be your child.”

“Little rebel…”

“My actions were based on lies.”

“Eryn, despite all of this scheming, we found our way back to each other. It is our fate.”

“Yes, and at 99.43 percent, there is an excellent chance you are fated mates,” Kerr suggested quietly.

“But I don’t have Ram’s marking,” Eryn countered. “Have you ever known a fated female not to be marked?”

“No, that would be unusual,” Jarlan put in. “However, as ill as you became after less than two days apart is telling.”

“Kerr was the same way.” Eva’s hand visibly tightened around her mate’s. “A few more days and he would have been dead. If Trask hadn’t brought me back in time, we both would be.”

“Sometimes, there is a delay in the marking’s appearance.” Roth’s deep voice came over the speaker as if he was in the room. “Maggie didn’t acquire mine until well after the breaching.”

“So it could still happen? Even after nine months?”

“It could,” Jarlan stated, although he looked doubtful.

“It doesn’t matter,” Ram insisted. “We are mates, fated or not, forever.”

She leaned into him, and his hand slid over hers where it lay on the table.

“There is more to this than altered reports,” Juna announced into the heavy silence. “Three pregnancy tests which produced a false negative response, to start.”

“Three is unusual, isn’t it?” Eva’s scientific side inquired. “If they came from the same lot, maybe all of them were defective?”

“No,” Juna answered with confidence. “I checked. Two different manufacturers, and the ones from the same maker had different lot numbers.”

Ram interrupted the low grumble of displeasure from the others. “One is a fluke. Two is questionable. Three is a trend in need of investigation. And there was another serious incident we learned of during Eryn’s illness.” His eyes met and held hers. “I didn’t tell you this, thinking it was a defect, and Juna and I saw no sense in upsetting you during your recovery. With these new developments, however—”

“What happened?”

“There was a hole in your breathing tube, Eryn,” Juna stated without hesitation.

“A hole!”

“One large enough to prevent you from getting the oxygen you needed and I believe is the reason you didn’t improve. I was horrified, although relieved to have an explanation of what had been confounding me the entire time.”

“If the hole was made deliberately, this is attempted murder,” Trask exclaimed with alarm.

“I examined it, and it appeared to have been cut,” Ellar stated.

“But why?” Eryn clutched Ram’s forearm, her fingers digging into his skin. “To harm me, or do you think they meant to harm Cierra?”

“The problem with your oxygen levels began after you delivered,” Juna explained.

“Which means I was the target.” She sat back, stunned. “And the Denastrians showing up when I happen to be on one of hundreds of shuttle trips isn’t a coincidence either, is it?”

“Add the bogus summons from the council making it possible for them to take you is too much for chance, galita.”

“Let’s narrow it down if we can,” Trask suggested shrewdly. “Who had access to her hospital room?”

“She had many visitors, although one of us stayed around the clock: Maggie, Lana, or myself. Roth sat with her several times as well.”

Her eyes shifted to the screen and the image of the commander looking on. “I didn’t know that.”

“All of us were gravely concerned,” he told her.

She laid her free hand over her heart, touched by the affection in his lavender eyes, and smiled a silent thank you. “I think we can cross the four of you off the list of suspects.”

Everyone laughed quietly except Ram.

“The medical staff was in and out at all hours, like a revolving door,” he stated, his voice raw. “Any of them could have gotten to her. I should have protected her better.”

“Ram, don’t.”

“We had warriors guarding the floor,” he went on. “I should have had someone in your room.”

“You couldn’t have known.”

He moved her hand from his arm, interlacing their fingers as he met and held her gaze. “I should have been more cautious with you from the beginning. I won’t fail you again,” he murmured, repeating his earlier vow.

Someone cleared their throat. When she glanced up, Trask’s gaze had fixed on their joined hands, his face stricken. Gripping Ram’s hand more firmly, she shifted it to her lap, where he couldn’t see. Only then did he blink, his expression becoming neutral. The separation from Lana had left a stamp of grief all over him—he didn’t need any reminders.

“Why would someone target me?” She glanced at the rest of the group. “The Alliance was already established, the treaty signed. We’re bonding and having babies. No one, especially the Princep, will buy into this integration being a bad idea now.”

“To silence you, perhaps,” Maggie suggested. “To keep you from implicating those involved.”

“But I gave a statement before I left.” She turned to Ram. “You said Lorkin and Odo have been tried and found guilty of conspiracy and subversion. They are the only two who could have gained from my silence. It doesn’t make sense.”

“Someone must be worried you have more to tell, little rebel.”

She frowned. “I don’t know what that would be.”

“Whoever is behind this has threatened my mate bond, is responsible for the capture, abuse, and injury of my mate, almost killing her, and putting my child in jeopardy.” Ram looked at Kerr with determination. “I will demand capital justice from whoever is responsible.”

“What is that?” Eryn breathed beside him.

“A punishment reserved for the worst atrocities, and rarely invoked,” Trask replied without specifics. She suspected by the waves of intensity emanating from the man at her side, justice would be served, and well matched in severity—akin to blowing someone to bits.

“Capital justice is your right for the terrible things perpetrated against you and your mate, Ram,” the Princep stated. “And you will have my support, but first we must find whoever is responsible.”

Ram squeezed Eryn’s cold fingers once more. “I need the names of all your contacts. Anyone you spoke to or met with, even if they were in the background when you were with Lorkin.”

“There was no one else. Only Lorkin, as I’ve told you. And Odo, except I think he was only dumb muscle. I’m surprised with his pea-sized brain he manages to tie his shoes every day. He doesn’t have the capacity to pull off something this involved, believe me.”

He glanced at her sharply. “Is there something you didn’t tell me about Odo, mate?”

“Other than he’s a xenophobic misogynist jerk and a ham-fisted buffoon to boot?”

“Ham-fisted?” he repeated, an angry bite in his tone. “Did he hurt you, Eryn?”

“His manhandling became annoying, but I disliked his racist manner most of all.”

“I’ll kill him.”

“Ram, you can’t,” she insisted, with a heavy sigh.

“Watch me!”

“Can we plan Odo’s death after we’re finished with our discussion?” Trask interjected.

“With pleasure,” her angry mate snapped. She had no doubt he envisioned the man’s throat in his hands.

“There will be no more talk of killing,” she proclaimed then turned to Kerr. “He was sentenced, correct?”

“Stripped of his warrior status and reassigned to the mid-south mine.”

“That’s bad?”

“The worst,” Trask assured her. “Unlike most underground caves which are cool, temperatures can reach one hundred ten degrees in mid-south. It won’t be pleasant.”

“What’s keeping him there?”

“A six-hundred-mile trek through barren desert, for one thing,” Roth supplied. “One of our orbiting ships does surveillance. No one has ever had a successful departure, I assure you.”

“It sounds like a penal colony.” She nudged Ram in the side. “See, his fate is worse than death.”

He looked at Kerr. “What is Lorkin’s status?”

“After admitting to his crimes, he has been stripped of all authority and status. Because of his age and past service, the council chose to be lenient and assigned him to a farm in the north.” He laughed after this, a marvelous, contagious sound. The other men at the table joined in, excluding Ram, again.

“What’s funny?” Eva demanded of Kerr. “A quiet existence on a farm sounds like retirement not punishment.”

“For most, perhaps.” He gently stroked her long blonde hair—almost absently, as if he did it so often he didn’t notice when he did. “Lorkin thrived on city life and his elevated position as an elder. Digging in the dirt, harvesting crops, and being out in the heat of our twin suns for hours every day is a fitting punishment. He’ll hate every minute of it.”

“This has gone beyond political posturing and plotting,” Ram growled. “It’s conspiracy, assault, and attempted murder of my mate.”

“I agree and want this stopped, now.” Kerr’s golden gaze swept through his leaders, first Trask then Roth, and finally, settled on Ram.

“The conspirators will be brought to justice,” he vowed.

Roth spoke up next. “Krager will take over here, Kerr. Maggie and I are coming home so I can help find these bastards.”

“That isn’t necessary, Commander. You both have crucial duties there. Ram and I won’t rest until whoever is behind this is found,” Trask declared.

“Do so,” Kerr demanded, “before another attempt is made, and this time, the results are fatal.”

With their Princep’s decree, the meeting adjourned. Roth signed off, and the other’s rose and began to move toward the door.

Eryn dug her fingers into Ram’s thigh beneath the table, holding him back, even as her stare locked on Trask. Something about the way he and Lana had parted bothered her, and she hoped, beyond all else, they weren’t the next pair affected, if not already too late.

She opened her mouth to say something, but Ram’s hand curled around her fingers, stopping her. “We have no evidence, little rebel, and no idea what drove them apart.”

“It’s too suspicious not to be a part of this.”

“I suspect you’re right; however, we need to bide our time and let the investigation play out. Trask will be vigilant, and he will keep an eye on Lana. It’s all we can do until we have proof.”

As he spoke in her ear, the elders exited the room. First, Mordrun, who she knew, and Aylan, who she didn’t.

“Who is the other elder? He seems familiar.”

“Unsurprising. He traveled with us to Earth. He and Mordrun visited when you were in the hospital.”

“Really? I don’t remember.”

“Which also doesn’t surprise me. You were still very ill at the time. The familiarity I suspect is the family resemblance.”

“He’s a relative?”

“He is my uncle, as is Mordrun. Both are brothers to Kerr’s late father.”

“But he doesn’t have your eyes.”

“Neither does Trask who is also a cousin. It is unusual in a family line, but it happens. Trask’s father, along with mine and Kerr’s, have all passed on. Mordrun, Aylan, and Valkerr, our grandfather, are the eldest still living.”

“It’s like a royal dynasty, with family having key positions of power and making up the royal guard.”

“Kerr is not a king, Eryn. He had to be voted in by the people, the same as all of his predecessors, and Kellan if he is to follow him.”

“How often has the vote gone against the heir?”

“Once, centuries ago.”

“Mmhmm…” She hummed, eyes narrowing as the pieces of the puzzle began to fall in place. “Who was the heir before Kellan came along?”

“Krager.”

“And his father is?”

“Aylan.” His fingers tightened around her hand. “But stop right there. Aylan stepped in for Kerr until he came of age, guiding him through the first years. He was a mentor, like a second father to all of us, and he loves Kerr. He would never do anything to harm him or any of his family. Kerr almost died because of this plotting.”

“Was he aboard the Odyssey when the males all fell ill?”

His face darkened as his gaze shifted to the door where his uncle had exited. “He was, although I won’t believe it is him. He also fell ill.”

“Which would be a perfect alibi. You can never underestimate what someone will do for power or for the love of a son. Earth’s history is full of it. I’m not saying it’s true in this case, but it’s something you can’t overlook.”