Free Primary Inversion by Catherine Asaro Page A

“We’ve worked in a Kyle link for years,” he said. “It’s natural she would pick up on tension.”
           “Rex, I’m sorry.” I unplugged the psiphon and stood up next to him.
           “I presumed.” His voice was flat. “I aspired to a station above mine.”          “I can’t think of any man more worthy to be my consort.”
           His emotions broke through his barriers: anger and shame mixed together. “Yet our children aren’t worthy of the Skolia name?”
           “Of course they are! But the Imperial family has to be Rhon.” The room felt so quiet, muted by the thick walls and carpet. “It’s the only way we can keep the Kyle-Mesh alive. If my family doesn’t do it, who will? The Allieds? Ur Qox would eat them for breakfast. If we ever lose the Mesh, the Aristos will douse us like a bell over a candle.”
           “No, our children won’t be able to power the Mesh,” Rex said. “What the flaming hell does that have to do with their ability to lead?”
           “They’ll still be heirs to the Ruby Throne. It’s only the Triad they can’t join. Without full Rhon access to the Mesh, that access would kill them.” I spoke more softly. “Our children won’t be Rhon, but they will be empaths, powerful ones. That’s all the more reason to keep the Rhon strong. If Skolia falls to the Traders, then you, me, any children we have—we’ll all become providers.”
           A muscle under his eye twitched. “We won’t let it happen.”
           “No. We won’t.”
           He was still blocking me, though not as much as before. I didn’t push. I wanted things to be right with him, for it to work out where my other two tries at marriage had failed. “Rex. I’m sorry.”
           “I should go sleep,” he said. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
           And then he left.

 
    IV
    Lucifer's Legacy
     
    The spectacular sunset had cooled into darkness, leaving the street below my window lit only by holosigns that glowed in the alley. I couldn’t sleep. The Delos day had no resonance with my internal clock. I wondered if Rex was in bed. What he would say tomorrow, in the early hours of darkness when humans here started their day? I lay naked under the frothy blue blankets, thinking about it. Then I rolled over. Again. And again. I wound the blanket so tight around my legs, I could barely move. I jerked off the covers and turned again, facing the console, the air cool on my skin.
           A button the size of a coin had turned blue on the console. I pushed it. “Yes?”
           “Soz.” Rex’s voice rose out of the speaker.
           My shoulders relaxed. “Heya.”
           “Were you sleeping?”
           “No. Just lying here.”
           “Do you remember Jo Santis? That officer you bunked with in retraining a few years ago?”
           “Vaguely.” Whatever had prompted that question?
           “She told me something about you. I’ve been thinking about it.”
           I didn’t like the sound of that. I couldn’t imagine what in a spacer’s helmet I had done that some woman I barely knew would tell Rex, and that he would find thought provoking after all these years. Warily, I asked, “What did she say?”
           “That you sleep naked.” I could almost see his wicked grin. “That true?”
           Ah. I stretched my arms. “Maybe.” I almost added: Why don’t you come find out? But the words stayed in my throat. Instead, I said, “I used to when I was a girl, when it was hot.”
           “Soz…"
           “Yes?”
           “I can deal with the succession thing. It just caught me by surprise.”
           “I should have said something before. I was stupid.”
           “You’re never stupid.” He laughed. “Dense as hell sometimes. But never stupid.”
           “Hey.” I smiled. “I’m still your