as soon as possible.”
“What?” He scowled at his lieutenant. “Do they understand that it is only because of Abigail that Tiana is even alive?”
“I don’t know.” Jedan looked grim and unhappy. “I believe they think that we have discovered the answer to the infants failing to thrive and they do not trust an alien female.”
Anger roared through Hrebec with such ferocity that he drove his fist into the wall. The resulting pain was nothing to the pain in his heart.
“They would take a child from her mother?”
Jedan sighed and rubbed his face. “Hrebec, I understand. Abigail treats the child as tenderly as my female… as Elaina treats her son. But you know how desperate they are to restore Ciresia.”
Of course he did. He had been part of the madness for many years. “But at what cost?”
The two men stared at each other, then Jedan asked, “What are you going to do?”
“I don’t know. I need to talk to Abigail.”
Abigail paced the cabin impatiently. Lucie was visiting with the ship’s cook, a grizzled old Cire with thick head ridges and dark markings denoting his age. When they had met Pravit earlier to go over food that would be palatable to the humans, Lucie had used big eyes and a pleading face to worm a variety of sweets from him. Concerned about the safety of the food, Abby had protested, but he had shown her a food analyzer that had already been programmed to human dietary requirements.
After their brief visit to the gym, Lucie had decided to go back and “help” Pravit with the mid-shift meal, and when Abby left her, she was happily seated on a high stool, regaling him with the story of her adventures. Now Tiana was napping peacefully in the big bed and Abby was once again going to be alone with Hrebec. She couldn’t help but remember seeing him in the gym, muscles bulging as he threw the other Cire across the space with a few quick moves. For a man of his size, he moved with surprising agility.
Her breasts tingled, and she looked down to see her nipples straining against her tank top. She pulled on her cardigan and resolutely ignored the ache between her legs and her gathering excitement. He was coming to discuss plans for her return to Earth, not to satisfy her newly reawakened sexual urges. However, when he appeared at the door, she couldn’t resist a hungry look at his body, once again covered—but not concealed—by the tight white uniform. When she got to his face, thoughts of sexual need disappeared. He looked stern and worried.
“Hrebec, is something wrong?”
He looked startled, then gestured for her to sit.
“How did you know?” he asked.
Because she could read his face already, despite his strange alien features. Before she could decide how to phrase that though, he continued speaking.
“We informed the Ciresian High Council of your suggestions about the nutritional supplement and how to feed the infants.”
“Yes? Did they disagree?”
“No. In fact, they are excited.” He paused, looked surprisingly hesitant. “We also informed them about Tiana and that a Cire female was on Trevelor. They want us to investigate.”
“I can understand that. I’m sure they’re very excited. But I don’t see—”
“Immediately. They want us to take the ship there now.”
It took a moment for his words to sink in, and to her surprise, she wasn’t quite as upset as she thought she would be. Nonetheless… “You promised to take us back.”
“I know. Which leaves two alternatives. You can come with us to Trevelor while we investigate, and I will return you to Earth once the investigation is complete. If that is not satisfactory, I will arrange for another Confederated ship to make the journey.”
“Would they be Cires also?”
“No.” He looked conflicted, but finally added simply, “I’m sure they would be honorable men.”
He didn’t sound as convincing as Abby would have liked. She stared at him, her mind spinning as she considered the options. If it were up to her, she would rather stay with him, but she had to consider the girls. The girls…
“Does Doctor Mekoi have any training in childbirth?” she asked.
Hrebec slowly shook his head. “I doubt it. It has been many years since we have had a live birth on Ciresia.”
“How far is Trevelor?”
“Approximately four days.”
“And Earth?”
“At least fourteen days, per the information we retrieved from the Vedeckian ship.”
She sighed. “Kwaret said that there was a hospital on Trevelor. I think it’s best that we accompany you. Both Molly and Amber are due