Free Craving: A SciFi Alien Mail Order Bride Romance (TerraMates Book 8) by Lisa Lace Page B

medical bay if he didn't get some rest. He made his way down the hall to some temporary quarters he had co-opted from a junior officer and fell into the bunk. It wasn't as comfortable as his, but then again, the junior officer didn't have the Princess of Anquesh as a mother. She had pulled some strings to bring in another mattress and other conveniences to make her son as comfortable as possible.
    Maybe it was the pain of his injuries, or maybe the pain from believing his sindare hated him, but Kai gave into the urge to call the one person who would understand his feelings.
    The screen on the wall shimmered, and he saw his mother standing in a garden with the Anquera night sky behind her.
    "Son?" said Andeleth, her face and voice filled with concern. "Are you well? You never call me when you're in space."
    "I'm doing fine...er...how is the emperor?"
    Andeleth's eyes narrowed. "I know you well. Don't bother hiding behind inquiries about my husband's health. You know I watch him every minute. You never contact me without a reason. What is the purpose of this call?"
    Kap paused. "I have met my sindare."
    "That's fantastic!" Andeleth's sudden expression of joy slowly gave way to consternation. "Wait. Is it an Earth woman?"
    "Yes," said Kai miserably. "And she does not desire me."
    The princess clucked. "That's considerably less wonderful. I don't believe you. Who wouldn't want my handsome son?"
    "Mother," protested Kai. "Even if she did, it presents problems, and you know it. You've hidden many things from me."
    Andeleth raised her head. "I didn't want you to worry."
    Kai frowned at his mother's admission. She had known she was in danger and didn't share it with him.
    "Tell me about her," urged Andeleth, trying to change the subject. "Is she pretty?"
    "I can't get over her hair. It's a combination of gold and yellow hair."
    "Gold! I don't believe it."
    "Her eyes are as blue as the dress you wore at Hanton's wedding."
    "Really? So you consider her exotic."
    "Very much so. She would be an excellent prize for any warrior."
    "Of course. But how can you be sure she is your sindare?"
    Kai felt his cheeks flush, and he tried to look away before his mother saw his face.
    "Ah," said Andeleth knowingly. "You took liberties with her already."
    "It wasn't like that," protested Kai. "It was something special. I didn't know that the mere act of touching her would make me feel completely different."
    "Sometimes it will, especially if the bond is very strong. I speak from experience. I knew Kanton was my sindare when we met at a court party. He took my hand and I was never the same again. Tell me something. How can you function right now when you are not with her?"
    "I told you," Kai growled. "She does not want me."
    "It sounds impossible if your bond is as strong as you claim."
    "I dishonored her by the way I touched her. She is angry with me."
    "So it was like that after all."
    "That isn't the point," said Kai exasperated. "What should I do? I'm trapped in an impossible situation."
    "And how is that?"
    "I thought the Emperor didn't keep anything from you." Kai's voice came out in an accusatory tone, and he immediately regretted it.
    "The Emperor and I have faced many challenging situations over the years. He couldn't imagine you would find your sindare among the Earth savages. Now that your situation has changed, I'll have to convince the Emperor that we should adjust our position."
    "It might not be as easy as that. Tellen says having an Earth woman a heartbeat away from the royal family is intolerable."
    She hissed. "Tellen is not trustworthy, no matter what your stepfather believes. He finds a way to be on every side of an issue. Let me worry about Tellen. I will talk to the emperor. We will make sure your sindare is welcome among our people."
    "Bringing her was never the issue. The question is, will she be safe?"
    Andeleth smiled. "Spoken like a true sindare. I cannot promise her safety, my son. That's your job."
    "First things first. How