Light fingers caressed her cheek and forehead.A soft kiss was pressed to her lips.“Zelda, we have reached Aten.”
She opened her eyes, and Orex was very close.He grinned.“I have chosen an outfit for you that Harwin assures me is appropriate for meeting your daughter on a warm world.They have brought her pod down with the two they have brought for healing.”
She paused.“I am hungry.”
“A meal is waiting.Come on.”He smiled, helped her out of bed, and brought her a dress that was part ancient world and part fairy tale.She had sleeves attached at the wrist and shoulder, black silk covered the rest of her, and jewelled straps gave the gown shape.It clung to her lightly but wasn’t obscene.
She ate, and he opened a box, looked at her with narrowed eyes, and pulled out a hair net of gemstones, thick bracelets, and anklets.The soft slippers were comfortable, and when she finished eating, he had dressed her to his satisfaction.He picked up a sack and smiled, holding out his hand.“Come on.We are taking a shuttle down.It is the safest way to arrive on Aten.”
Zelda looked at him.“You are looking better.”
He chucked.“I am feeling strong for the first time since the designers set me loose.”He paused.“You look lovely.”
She smiled.“Thank you.You look stronger.”
“I feel amazing.Ready?”
“Yes.Oh, yes.”She got to her feet and turned from side to side.“I look okay?”
He settled the hair net to confine her hair and nodded.“Perfect.”
He took her hand, and they left his quarters.She saw the guards that formed up around them, and she blinked.“I did not know they were there.”
“There was no reason for you to know.They are to protect you.”
“Oh.Right.Well, if anyone ever gets between me and my daughter, I will bludgeon them with their own stunners, and then I will call their mothers and tell them they failed.”
She saw the shoulders of the guards tense.
“What if she is trying to get into my quarters while we are intimate?”
“They tell her to wait one minute, and we come up with a secret knock so that I can pull a robe on.”
He nodded.“Fair and reasonable.How long were you with her father?”
“Two years.We dated in high school, and then I got pregnant.He graduated, and off he went.He contacted us again when she was six but was not much in her life.”
They left the warship and entered the station.Zelda gasped.“Wow.This is lovely.”
Stores from Ra’s worlds had shops touting their specialties.A few Hmrain were wandering through, some with companions and some not.Zelda was getting a bit of attention, and Orex extended one of his wings behind her.She caught the reference immediately.He had her back.
There were several beings moving in a familiar way, and to her shock, they were humans.She wanted to call out, but it wasn’t appropriate, plus, her daughter was waiting.
Orex said, “We are going to be in the launch bay six.The ship is waiting for us.”
She nodded, and they walked at the predatory pace that the Hmrain favoured.She tried to remain calm, but her skin was getting cool.
Orex said softly, “Are you all right?”
“Yes.They took her away from me at gunpoint.I don’t know what they told her about me while they had her behind the walls.”
She saw the bay number and stopped herself from running.“I don’t know if my daughter is the same girl I remember.”
“You will have to find out.She will be provided for, regardless.”
Zelda smiled at him.“Thanks for that.Whether she likes me or not, she was born of me and is my responsibility.She is my heart, whether or not she reciprocates.”
He lifted her hand to his mouth.“I hope to join her there one day.”