for me.”
“We were just about to explain that,” Dayved said. “Of course you’re welcome to view the video logs. Hollank has been quite helpful in incriminating himself under charges of slave ownership and human trafficking.”
“Serious charges indeed,” Eric said, glaring at the man in question. Ewin knew enough about Desconian law to know that without any proof that he’d already done it, Hollank’s charges would be downgraded to intent and conspiracy. It wasn’t much, but it would make the man’s life uncomfortable at the very least and certainly make it more difficult for anyone he knew to get approval to claim a human mail-order bride.
Dayved had his back to Kimberley, but Ewin saw the concern on her face as she held Juna’s hand.
“Of course,” Ewin said, stepping into the conversation, “we’d be willing to take into account the fact that Hollank and Juna are pregnant with their first child and are under a considerable amount of stress.”
Dayved turned angry eyes on him, but when Ewin tilted his head toward the woman they both loved, Dayved finally saw what he did. Their woman’s heart knew no bounds when she cared for others. She was an incredible person, and he had no doubt that she would shrug off Hollank’s outburst as an idea badly delivered but conceived of desperation. She’d spoken on more than one occasion on the disappointment she felt that human women were too worried to leave the planet for fear of never being able to return. Clearly, their mubella—he was determined that she was theirs whether they’d officially claimed her or not—saw people, really saw them. She understood the anxieties of human women wanting to come to Descon and the longing more and more Desconian couples and triads felt when faced with life without offspring. She had an amazing heart.
But he was damned if he would give her up.
She spoke quietly to Juna as Eric and Loukie shuffled Hollank to the farthest corner of the room to discuss the video logs Dayved had given them. It was obvious the man realized he was in a whole lot of trouble, but Juna’s whispered, “He’s a good man,” reached Ewin’s ears over and over. Dayved settled on the sofa next to Kimberley and held her close as Ewin went to join the other discussion.
* * * *
Kimberley leaned back into Dayved, her mind a jumble of confused emotions. They loved her?
“Are you happy here?” Juna whispered quietly.
Kimberley nodded. She’d been happier here than she’d ever dared hope. Ewin and Dayved were caring and loving men who’d taken their responsibility to protect her very seriously. She’d just never suspect that they might fall in love with her. It was the one thing she’d wanted more than anything but something she’d never considered actually happening.
But then the timing of Dayved’s declaration finally hit her.
Neither man had mentioned love until after she’d offered to be an incubator for childless couples. It was more likely they were trying to offer her the one thing they knew would keep her here. They were sacrificing their own happiness to protect her from her own decisions.
The ache in her chest took her by surprise. She wanted to accept their offer and pretend everything was okay, but she couldn’t hurt them in that way. Neither of them had ever mentioned wanting children. They’d never even considered applying for a mail-order bride. Their life together was perfect before she disrupted it. The kindest thing she could do was let them go.
She lifted away from Dayved, trying to get off the sofa so that she could think more clearly. He reached for her, but Juna shook her head quickly and stood up to lead her into the kitchen.
“Kimberley, what is it, honey?” she asked, looking concerned. It had been so difficult to get to know these people long distance, but it was nice to know she’d been right about Juna. The jury was still out on Hollank, but at least her instincts had steered her correctly
“We were just about to explain that,” Dayved said. “Of course you’re welcome to view the video logs. Hollank has been quite helpful in incriminating himself under charges of slave ownership and human trafficking.”
“Serious charges indeed,” Eric said, glaring at the man in question. Ewin knew enough about Desconian law to know that without any proof that he’d already done it, Hollank’s charges would be downgraded to intent and conspiracy. It wasn’t much, but it would make the man’s life uncomfortable at the very least and certainly make it more difficult for anyone he knew to get approval to claim a human mail-order bride.
Dayved had his back to Kimberley, but Ewin saw the concern on her face as she held Juna’s hand.
“Of course,” Ewin said, stepping into the conversation, “we’d be willing to take into account the fact that Hollank and Juna are pregnant with their first child and are under a considerable amount of stress.”
Dayved turned angry eyes on him, but when Ewin tilted his head toward the woman they both loved, Dayved finally saw what he did. Their woman’s heart knew no bounds when she cared for others. She was an incredible person, and he had no doubt that she would shrug off Hollank’s outburst as an idea badly delivered but conceived of desperation. She’d spoken on more than one occasion on the disappointment she felt that human women were too worried to leave the planet for fear of never being able to return. Clearly, their mubella—he was determined that she was theirs whether they’d officially claimed her or not—saw people, really saw them. She understood the anxieties of human women wanting to come to Descon and the longing more and more Desconian couples and triads felt when faced with life without offspring. She had an amazing heart.
But he was damned if he would give her up.
She spoke quietly to Juna as Eric and Loukie shuffled Hollank to the farthest corner of the room to discuss the video logs Dayved had given them. It was obvious the man realized he was in a whole lot of trouble, but Juna’s whispered, “He’s a good man,” reached Ewin’s ears over and over. Dayved settled on the sofa next to Kimberley and held her close as Ewin went to join the other discussion.
* * * *
Kimberley leaned back into Dayved, her mind a jumble of confused emotions. They loved her?
“Are you happy here?” Juna whispered quietly.
Kimberley nodded. She’d been happier here than she’d ever dared hope. Ewin and Dayved were caring and loving men who’d taken their responsibility to protect her very seriously. She’d just never suspect that they might fall in love with her. It was the one thing she’d wanted more than anything but something she’d never considered actually happening.
But then the timing of Dayved’s declaration finally hit her.
Neither man had mentioned love until after she’d offered to be an incubator for childless couples. It was more likely they were trying to offer her the one thing they knew would keep her here. They were sacrificing their own happiness to protect her from her own decisions.
The ache in her chest took her by surprise. She wanted to accept their offer and pretend everything was okay, but she couldn’t hurt them in that way. Neither of them had ever mentioned wanting children. They’d never even considered applying for a mail-order bride. Their life together was perfect before she disrupted it. The kindest thing she could do was let them go.
She lifted away from Dayved, trying to get off the sofa so that she could think more clearly. He reached for her, but Juna shook her head quickly and stood up to lead her into the kitchen.
“Kimberley, what is it, honey?” she asked, looking concerned. It had been so difficult to get to know these people long distance, but it was nice to know she’d been right about Juna. The jury was still out on Hollank, but at least her instincts had steered her correctly
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