am afraid so. They kidnapped three females and two infants.”
Abby gasped, her eyes going wide. “Oh, those poor women.”
“Captain Armad also received a message from Kwaret and is on his way to intercept the ship. He should be able to reach them before they attempt to sell the females. In accordance with standard protocol, they intend to wipe their memories and return all of them to Earth, but there may be a problem.”
“Don’t tell me one of them fell in love with a Vedeckian,” Abby gasped.
“No, that is not it.” Hrebec looked over at Inzen, his eyes compassionate. “One of the females claims that her daughter was already stolen. A year ago. Her mate was killed at the time and she has been searching ever since.”
Lily. His mind went blank as despair washed over him. He couldn’t lose another daughter.
“No! Not my Lily.” He rose to his feet and began pacing the length of the porch. “Perhaps she is looking for another child. Or perhaps she means Ginger.”
Another unaccompanied infant, Ginger had been adopted by one of the other human females and her Cire mate. He was immediately ashamed of his selfish hope that this unknown female was searching for her instead and tried frantically to think of another possibility.
“What if this female is not telling the truth? How do you know she is not lying?”
“Inzen, why would she lie?” Sorrow shadowed Abby’s face. “No one would get on board a spaceship unless they were desperate.”
“Did she choose to come?” he demanded.
Hrebec shook his head. “Based on what I was told, she was kidnapped with the others.”
“You see?” he said triumphantly.
“But why would she lie?” Abby repeated.
“Perhaps she does not want to go back to a primitive planet. I mean no offense, Abby, but Earth is quite backward compared to our civilization. Or perhaps she cannot go back. Perhaps she is some type of criminal.” The possibilities raced through his mind, each one more horrible than the last.
“I do not believe you are being entirely rational,” Hrebec said.
“Would you be rational if it was your daughter?”
“I suppose not,” his captain admitted. “But we do not yet know that she is searching for Lily. We do not even know how many times the Vedeckians have been to Earth. Once we acquire the Vedeckian ship, we can examine their records, but you know that it will take time to break through their encryption.”
“Where is this female now?”
“On the Vedeckian ship, heading for Driguera. That is why Kwaret contacted me. He was not sure that his message had reached Captain Armad, but even if it had, he knew the Patrol would order the Defiance to return the other females to Earth and it would be at least a month before he could bring the female here to Trevelor.”
A month? A month where he would not know if he was going to lose his daughter. He shuddered at the thought. And if, Granthar forbid, this female did turn out to be Lily’s mother, he could not keep her from her daughter. A sudden, foolish impulse possessed him.
“Driguera is only a few days from here,” he said slowly. “What if I go and retrieve her?”
“You?” Hrebec stared at him and then turned to look at Abby, who was also regarding him with a thoughtful expression. “What do you think, Abigail?”
“Would you take Lily with you?” she asked.
His feelings warred with each other. He hated the idea of being separated from his daughter, even briefly, but there was no way he would expose her to this strange female until he was sure she was worthy. He took a deep breath, already hating the idea.
“I do not think it would be a good idea for her to accompany me. Would you care for her while I was gone?”
“Of course we will. But wouldn’t you rather leave her with Cassie?”
“I do not want to ask her when she already has so many responsibilities with her shop and with Angel.” He looked at her anxiously. “But perhaps it would be too much for you also?”
Abby laughed. “No, it’s fine. My responsibilities these days are strictly confined to children. And my mate.” She put a hand to Hrebec’s cheek. “Do you mind?”
“No, my love. A house full of children is a house full of joy.” He turned back to Inzen. “When will you leave?”
His heart ached, already regretting the separation, but a warrior never avoided a painful duty. “Right now. That is, after I return to the city and pack