you, my love. I got so caught up in my reunion with my family, that I let my guard down. I didn’t put you first. Had I, they’d have never had the opportunity to carry out any of their nefarious plans. We’d still be happily aboard Command Warship 1, not standing here with me pleading with you to see that it was Ko'San, not me who brought you here, and for you to forgive me for my negligence. This should never have happened,” Lo'San said. “I have vowed to love you all my life, and now I vow even more. I will never allow anything or anyone to shift my focus from you. You are my heart, my mate. You are my happiness. You are my reason for everything I do. I vow to you, you will never have an opportunity to believe you are anything other than the center of my life, Sink Lar. I only need your faith in me once more to prove it to you,” Lo'San said.
Synclare threw herself at Lo'San who caught her and held her to him tightly, kissing any place he could reach as he apologized over and over again.
“I was so devastated,” she said, holding onto him.
“We will never be parted again, Sink Lar. Please forgive me,” he said again.
“Yes,” she said. “Please forgive me for bringing them into our lives. I’m so sorry. All this is my fault because I insisted you give them a chance,” she said, leaning back enough to see his face.
Lo'San shook his head. “You gave me back my father. That is something I’ve missed greatly. But it is on my shoulders that this has happened - I know what the females of my family are capable of, you did not. I should never have let my guard down. I never will again,” he promised.
“Where are they?” she asked as he used his thumbs to smooth away her tears.
“Mee'ta, Ph’eel, and Ko'San are in holding cells on Command Warship 1. I plan to pursue charges and have Mee'ta and Ph’eel incarcerated for as long as possible. Ko'San… I’ve not decided his punishment — he could have killed you, but chose not to, then he came to me to tell me of their plan, but he will not walk away without consequence. My father is still onboard Command Warship 1. I believe he had no part in it. I have no idea what he will do next. Once Ko'San confessed, I had the three of them arrested and rushed to come after you. There are details that remain to be seen to,” Lo'San said.
Synclare nodded her understanding.
“Will you have me, Sink Lar? Will you forgive me and return home with me?” Lo'San asked.
“Yes,” Synclare said, smiling through her tears. “I don’t want to live without you, but I don’t want them on the ship,” she said.
“Not one of them will live aboard the ship,” Lo'San assured her. “And you will never be without me,” he promised.
“Then take me home, Lo'San,” she said, wrapping her arms around his neck again as she pulled him down to her and buried her tear-stained face in the hollow of his throat.
“At once,” Lo'San said, sweeping her up into his arms and stalking from Karel's office with half the Elite Forces following him and half staying with Rokai.
“Bart, Karel, and the rest of you dear gentlemen,” Rokai said, bending over to pick up the letter Lo'San had dropped to the floor and folding it with the other he had in his hand, “it has been a pleasure. Thank you for your continued protection over the mate of General Lo'San. I will file reports with all pertinent parties, and make it clear to all those of the governing family of Cruestace that you were not involved in the taking of General Lo’san’s mate, but have each gone above and beyond expectations in your services to us and her. Expect commendations, my friends.”
“Commendations?” Bart said wryly.
“I should like a copy of the report you file,” Ambassador Karel said.
“Of course, Karel. And I’m sure you’ll be filing a report as well detailing how you mistook an impostor for General Lo'San, not asking for any identification at all before taking his word for his identity,” Rokai said. “I will expect a copy of your report as well. But, in the meantime, I shall escort General Lo'San and his very traumatized mate back to our Warship. Do have a wonderful day,” Rokai said, winking at the Ambassador. “Goodbye