Chapter Twenty-One

Hope slipped into the penthouse. To her astonishment, Krogan sat on the sofa in the conversation pit. What is he doing home? Why isn't he at work? Although she'd raced to catch him before he left, nothing had gone right, and hours had passed since she'd disembarked the ship.

"Krogan? Why aren't you at work?"

He jackknifed to his feet and whirled around. "Hope?" He blinked like he didn't believe his eyes.

She couldn't believe hers. His blue skin had grayed to dull slate, and the sigils had lost their gleam, all but fading away. "What happened?" She moved closer. Had more women in stasis died? Had Stervak committed some heinous criminal act? "Are you all right?"

"You left me. I forced you to go home." His face contorted.

Her stomach fluttered with frantic, crazed, hopeful butterflies. "This is my home. My home is with you." She took a breath and a leap of faith. "I love you. I want to make our marriage work—aieeeee! "

He leaped over the sofa. Hauling her into his arms, he kissed her fiercely and swung her around. Had there been furniture, they would have demolished it.

"I love you." Kiss. "I'm sorry." Kiss. "I was an idiot."

She hugged his neck hard, reeling at his change of heart. She'd psyched herself up for an argument, to have to convince him to let her stay. She'd anticipated he might be angry she'd left the ship.

"I went back for you," he said. "I missed the ship by mere minutes. I feared I'd lost you forever. I've been such a fool." He tipped her chin so he could peer into her eyes. "I'm sorry I said those terrible things to you. I do want you. I need you. I love you."

Secure in his love now, she didn't need the words—but it was still nice to hear them. "It was my fault, too," she said. "I shouldn't have given in so easily. I should have fought harder to stay."

His color had returned, the gliteri reappearing and sparkling like diamonds.

She hugged his neck hard. "What about protecting me from Stervak?" she voiced a lingering concern. Hadn't that been the sticking point ?

"Don Juan will become your bodyguard and accompany you everywhere. He can take out five men before the first can take a step. And, Stervak will be caught," he vowed in a determined tone. "I'll triple the security force. I'll keep you safe, I promise." He leaned his forehead against hers. "When did you get off the ship?"

"A few minutes before launch. We'd already disconnected from the terminal. The captain wasn't happy, but I tossed your name around, and he let me off. Your name opens doors." She hadn't bothered to retrieve her bag but had left it behind and run off the ship.

"Feel free to use my name any time." His grin turned to a frown. "What took you so long getting home?"

"Trouble vapping again," she replied, crossing her fingers as she delivered the tiny, temporary white lie of omission. The full story could wait for a better time. She did not wish to mar their reunion by alarming him. Headed to the penthouse from an unfamiliar spaceport, she had vapped to the wrong building. When the vaporator opened, a chanting cluster of protesters had pulled her out of the transport. She'd managed to break away and run down the street. It had taken a while to locate a transport not blocked by agitators.

"From now on, don't leave without Don Juan. He will get you to the right location." He carried her toward the bedroom.

"I won't." The protestors had been scary. "Are you taking me to bed?"

"Can you think of a better place, wife of mine?" He smiled.

"Nope, husband of mine." She kissed him.