When she checked in with him, Nate was pale but in his office working. Condolences were arriving every hour.

Telling his mother had been traumatic. The woman had broken down and cried, scaring both her son and Brianna. The Provost was heartless—usually. Apparently, everyone had their limit. Provost Tiberius had met hers in the death of a man she still loved.

Sheena’s theory about Nate’s illness was that he was currently suffering withdrawal symptoms from all the stuff he’d taken to combat the sedative. Medic Larsen’s report on Nate’s condition was detailed, but she’d also listened to the vid recording of the events.

Worse, they’d all watched the one from Nate’s office. While he had no direct recall of it, the drama had played out expertly. Nate’s father had drugged his drink and then summoned help. In rendering aid, Darcone had turned his back. Nate’s father had managed to take them both down and did so in under two minutes. Nate vowed it would never happen again, but Bri knew it would. No one would have seen that coming. It was human nature to trust your parents, even when they were intending to hurt you.

Bri’s chest was still hurting from the laser blast that had seared her, but nothing was broken. She’d reported for duty, interrogated the shuttle pilot her crew had put in holding, and praised her Lieutenant for his handling of their crisis.

All in all, the ship was running smoothly. Novus Prime Director Lance Vader denied all connection to Director Tiberius and all knowledge of wanting to retrieve Maslin Jones for any reason. Why would they want to be put some random woman in the bride program?

Sheena had told her the Guardians were not fooled by Director Vader’s denials. Actions would eventually be taken, but at the moment, Guardian Tiberius and his wife were mourning the loss of their misguided son.

Everything that could be put right about the airship had been, but Bri had one final thing that she’d been putting off. Now it was time. She straightened her uniform jacket and ran her hands over her hair. It already needed another trim. She’d have to track down Prudence again. It might have to be a weekly appointment if her hair kept growing. Getting Pru settled into her own quarters was her first priority when the ship returned to normal.

Toorg nodded when he saw her and stepped aside. She nodded back and knocked. After a short wait, a surprised Darcone opened his door to her.

“May I come in? I’d like to meet your guests.”

He looked like he wanted to refuse, but instead, Darcone stepped aside to let Bri walk by him. The door closed with a quiet click behind her.

“Hey, Toorg,” Maslin whispered from her position beside the door of Darcone’s quarters.

“Sexy,” Toorg whispered back, grinning as he looked away.

* * *

The older woman on the couch was nearly a female version of Darcone. The thought ran through her mind that he’d taken after his mother when the woman stood and walked directly to her. The woman lifted one side of her lip and snarled. Brianna narrowed her gaze and snarled back, her tone far more menacing. There were stranger ways of saying hello, she supposed.

The woman took a step toward her and looked her over from head to toe. Then she looked at Darcone and growled. Bri watched his head bob up and down.

The woman came closer still. She was much smaller, but Bri knew that did not mean his mother wasn’t stronger. Darcone was not the biggest alien on the airship, but he was definitely the strongest and most fierce. She lifted her chin and let the woman inspect her. What she hadn’t planned on was the woman standing on her toes and pulling her neck down so she could sniff her.

As if the stink was suddenly too much, the woman flung her away and stumbled back several steps. Bri automatically reached out—some instinct telling her to. The woman eyed her hand suspiciously but eventually she took Bri’s hand in her own.

“It’s okay. I’m sorry if I smell bad to you,” Bri said softly.

Still holding her hand, Darcone’s mother came closer again. Bri held very still. The woman eyed her all over then reached out and put her free hand over her stomach. Bri’s insides fluttered nervously. All the old fears of aliens yanking out organs came to visit. The woman growled at Darcone. Suddenly his hand was next to his mother’s on her stomach. Things were getting really weird here.

“First alien who tries to yank anything out of my body dies,” Bri warned him, knowing damn well he’d understand the threat.

Darcone’s startled gaze met hers. “No worry. Mother… intuitive,” he said, looking quickly away.

Great, Bri thought. Her energy was being read by an alien female who wanted her out of the way. This should be good.

To her surprise, the woman slipped her hand free and lifted both her hands to Bri’s face. She growled softly and soothingly, patting her cheeks softly. Then she took Bri’s hand again and lifted it to her lips. She kissed it and held it lovingly to her cheek.

Bri looked at Darcone. “Uh… why is she being so friendly now?”

Darcone sighed. “She understands. No more questions. My woman, you are.”

His mother growled and grumbled at him.

“Leave tomorrow, she will. Sorry, she is,” Darcone translated.

“Sorry for what? Bringing you a bride?” Bri asked. Darcone shrugged without meeting her eyes. “Darcone? What are you not telling me?”

“Talk later, we will,” he said.

Bri turned to him. “Did you tell your mother about Maslin?”

Darcone shrugged. “I tried. Listen, she would not.”

Bri rolled her eyes. “Males are all alike when it comes to their mothers. You’re afraid of her.”

“True,” he answered.

Shaking her head, Bri turned and walked to the door and knocked until Toorg opened it. She leaned out and then pulled Maslin in beside her.

Amid much hissing, Maslin slunk into the room. She looked at Darcone. “Is hissing good or bad?” she asked.

“Hiss back. Be fierce,” he ordered.

Maslin put on her most fierce expression, hissing first and letting it roll into a growl. Moments later, Darcone’s mother had Maslin wrapped in her arms. Tears flowed from Darcone’s mother’s eyes.

Bri snorted. “Let me guess. Maslin reminded her of you as a child.”

“Wise you are,” Darcone said.

“Uh huh… wise,” Bri murmured, crossing her arms. It disappointed her that even alien males were so clueless about feelings.

Darcone’s mother hissed something to him. He shook his head and growled back. He looked at Bri in alarm. “They want to take my clone back with them.”

A surprised Maslin turned to him. “Really?” She looked at Bri. “Can I go? I might find some Darcone-like males there who aren’t related to me.”

Bri chuckled, knowing she’d feel the same way if she were Maslin. “Don’t look at me for permission. I’m just the Commander. Ask your father.”

Darcone sighed. “Learn language first, then go. Easier it will be. I will take you.”

“Okay. I will learn very fast,” Maslin promised.

“We see,” Darcone said.

They listened to him growl at his mother. Bri decided she would expand her skills in his language while he taught Maslin. Then she’d know what was going on when his family visited. She could only understand mating growls at the moment which she was definitely not practicing in front of Darcone’s mother.

While his mother was focused on Maslin, Bri leaned over to Darcone. “I noticed your home-girl bride’s not said much to you or me. She looks kind of bored to be here.”

Darcone grunted. “Too fierce for her, I am. Hates my growl, she does.”

“Huh,” Bri said, looking at the female. “At least she’s beautiful… to you anyway.”

Darcone shrugged. “Not interested. Want great sex, not great beauty.”

Bri turned to him. “Fuck that. So just how ugly am I to you?”

Darcone narrowed his eyes. “Trick question, that is.”

Bri burst out laughing.

Darcone reached out and touched her lips. “Bri’s laugh like no other’s. Most beautiful to me, she is.”

Bri smiled as his fingers slid away. “Aww… that’s so sweet. I didn’t know you could be like this.”

“Manual say… smooth tongue important,” Darcone said, his chest rumbling.

Bri put her hand on his shoulder. “Well, I do like a smooth tongue.”

When she turned away from a rumbling Darcone, three sets of female eyes stared at her. Darcone’s unwanted bride glared daggers and growled low. Bri growled back and dropped her hand from his shoulder.

“Am I going to have to kick her ass?” Bri asked him.

Darcone’s body shook with silent laughter. He said nothing, just shook his head.

Needing to get back to feeling normal, Bri bowed to his mother. “It was my great pleasure to meet you. I love your son with all my heart. But if he treats me badly, I will never hesitate to kick his alien ass. I hope you raised him right.”

Darcone snorted beside her. His mother growled back at her and bowed.

Bri smiled as she started to the door. She turned to Darcone. “What did she say to me?”

“Breed well and prosper.”

“No way. You made that shit up,” Bri accused.

“Is truth. Talk later, we will,” Darcone promised.

Bri lifted her chin and smirked at him. “Right. Talk later. Watch out for Maslin, will you?”

“My clone, she is,” Darcone said, shrugging a shoulder.

Rolling her eyes at his non-answer, Bri walked out of the room.