“So?” He took a deep breath, biting his lower lip, touching her telepathically, asking, And for us?
Yes…
Kieran’s eyes widened. Yes, as in, forever? Or just, yes, as in okay?
Forever, yes… That is what you were asking.
She tilted her chin up and met his lips for a “seal the bargain” kiss, feeling his excitement, giggling at the overwhelming joy he felt.
Janz began to stir, opening both eyes, reaching a hand toward Dana.
“Take it slowly,” she cautioned, moving closer so he could touch her left hand, dragging Kieran with her. “Any vertigo?”
“No, I feel fine,” Janz said, though he slurred the words a little. “And I heard…” He focused on Kieran, reading the expression. “She said, yes?”
The nod said it all.
“We have one problem,” the Commodore heaved a sigh. “March is aboard my ship, under house arrest.”
“He tried to kill us,” Dana reminded.
“Will you press charges?”
Janz interrupted, “He was being manipulated. Just like Hawk…Novem…and Dec. They’re slaves. They just need rehabilitation, to be shown that what August was doing was wrong.” He started to sit up.
Dana quickly and forcefully pushed him back. “No! Doctor’s orders…it’s too soon!” She reached for an injector.
“No drugs,” Janz pleaded.
“Then rest.”
“Please… My career in the Star Service is over. I know that. We all know it. Let me help March, Novem and Dec rebuild their lives. They and you are the only living relatives and, hence, the heirs of Crown Enterprises. Let me do it.”
“That’s up to SSID,” Dana decided. “Right now, you need to rest. Let me call a nurse and we’ll see you to a private room with monitoring. Stay put for at least twenty-four hours. Then we’ll talk.”
Janz agreed.
As the nurse wheeled the diagnostic bed away, Dana pulled Kieran aside. “I need to change and I need to eat something.”
“Will The Viewery do?”
“My favorite place...”
“I’ll get a table. Meet me there.” Kieran kissed her cheek and started for the door.
The restaurant was empty, giving him the choice of any table. Kieran knew exactly the one he wanted. He had Dana’s backpack, and the small cigar box.
She arrived, dressed in her ambassadorial staff uniform, hair freshly braided, eyes glistening, a gentle smile upon her lips.
He stood to greet her with a kiss, then saw her seated beside himself. “Fourteen years ago, at this very table, I asked you to be my mate. You walked out on me.”
He studied her mismatched eyes with wonder.
“I was afraid,” she admitted.
“Are you still afraid?”
“No.”
He slid his arms around her, accepting a lingering kiss.
Forever, Dana J?
Forever and always, my love.
They kissed again after ordering a very special champagne, one with no sulfites. Then the Commodore brought out the box.
Dana stared at it, almost afraid to look inside. “Did it survive?”
“Look and see…”
“Mackenna gave me this cigar box…to hide the stiletto.” She popped the lid and looked at the necklace and the pendant. Tears poured down her cheeks.
“Is it a family heirloom?”
She bit her lip, sniffling. “My father, Franklin Shepherd, sent this to me. Neville Brandt was delivering it, when he was set upon at Station Four.”
Kieran was amazed, “That was right before the Lancer mission?”
Dana nodded, fingering the jeweled dodecagon. “The chain is ruined.”
He bent his head, seeking to see her eyes. “What is it, Dana?” He asked again, telepathically, What?
“If we mate, you’ll have a life-star?”
He nodded.
She slid the dodecagon off the damaged chain. “I want this to be the center jewel.”
Kieran started to shake his head, “No, this was a gift from your father.”
“And now, it is my gift to you, my life-mate,” Dana said, lips quivering, “just the way Shalee Raja’s jewel was for Janz.”
Forever?
Forever and always…
JOYZ W. RITER
Joyz has been writing Science Fiction and Fantasy since the early 1960s, but spent a good deal of time after film school crewing, writing, and directing educational television.
Other books by Joyz W. Riter are:
STILETTO: The Dana Cartwright Series, Mission One
LANCER: The Dana Cartwright Series, Mission Two
KAL-KING: The Dana Cartwright Series, Mission Three
DYING FOR A DREAM
Visit Joyz W. Riter [Joyz Writer] in many online virtual worlds such as Second Life, Virtual Highway, and 3rdRockGrid.
Dana Cartwright Mission 3: Kal-King Page 24
