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“Kahn,” Anna said gently, a sharp contrast to Kahn’s hostility, “we discussed this. It’s not something you have any control over.”

“I do have control over it!” His bellow wasn’t quite what it had been before, but was still way too loud for Doriena’s comfort. “Besides, she was supposed to report back to the Academy two days ago!”

Doriena’s heart skipped a beat. “What?” She wasn’t sure she had actually voiced the question out loud until Kahn continued.

“I had to bully almost every member of the Ruling Council to get you back in, and you didn’t even bother to show!”

“But, Father.” Doriena couldn’t believe he’d done this. “Why would you do something like that? I failed to complete an exercise. It’s automatic expulsion, no matter the circumstances.”

“Don’t you think I know that?” Khan paced the room like a caged animal. All the while, Anna stood with her arms crossed under her breasts. Doriena suspected her mother was letting her father rid himself of some leashed energy. If he had been looking for her all week’s end, he was probably more than a little relieved, and angry, and all kinds of emotions she couldn’t even begin to name.

“Does she still have the opportunity to reenter the Academy?” Alex said quietly. “Can she still go back?”

Doriena looked at him sharply. Did he want rid of her already?

Alex turned to her. “No, Doriena. Don’t ever think I want rid of you ever again. I’ve learned my lesson on that subject.” His eyes were intense. Whatever her answer, it was very important to him. She glanced at Bakac, who was standing much like her mother. Not moving. Not saying a word.

“Yes.” Kahn broke the silent communication with his presence. “She can, and she is.”

“That’s enough, Kahn.” Anna finally crossed to her mate and pushed him back a few steps into a nearby chair. Leaning over him, her hands on his shoulders, she said, “When Doriena first applied, you did everything you could to get them not to accept her. You were so afraid of losing your precious baby girl that you tried to trample her dreams of following in your footsteps. You gave in on that one, but only because you saw how brokenhearted she was when her application met with a solid block. Unanimous denial.”

Doriena bit back the hurt gasp barely in time. In an instant, a hand was on each shoulder offering support. Bakac and Alex would always be there for her. She knew that beyond any doubt.

“Are you telling me now that you’d rather see her in Military Command, an organization that can send her into battle and mortal danger at the whim of the Ruling Council, just to avoid having to see her mated?”

It was Alex who stiffened this time. After all this time, he still wasn’t good enough for his father.

“That’s enough.” Doriena approached Kahn, a fierce need to protect and defend both men in her heart. Especially Alex. He was the one being hurt by their father’s fears. “If there are two men in this Universe who could ever make me happy, it’s these two.” She stepped into her mother’s place in front of her father and took his face in her hands. “Daddy, I love both of them. I can’t be happy without them. Could you be happy without Mother?”

Kahn looked away, clearly not wanting to admit she was right. “You told me once the only thing in this Universe you ever wanted to do was make sure Mother, Alex and me were as happy as we could be. I know that means you have to ensure our protection, but it also means giving us the means to follow our hearts.”

Her father looked at her then. She actually saw tears in his eyes before he blinked them away. “You’re supposed to be my baby girl.”

Doriena smiled. “I’ll always be your baby girl, Father. Besides, if I mated with someone not in the family, you’d intimidate them too easily. I don’t want a wimp for a mate.”

Finally, Kahn smiled. Not only that, he actually chuckled. “Well, at least you’ve got good taste.”

“Of course she does, dear,” Anna sniffed. “She takes after her mother.”

Kahn really did laugh then. “No denying that.” He looked at the two men standing there, trying to be as unobtrusive as possible. “My mate tells me, quite regularly, I’ve been an ass to the two of you. I’m truly sorry.”

Alex grinned. “It could have been worse. Believe me, I wanted to kick my own ass when I realized what was going on.”

“What are you going to do about the Academy, Doriena?” Bakac asked softly. “Are you going to return?”

She looked at her mates, and her mother and father. “No.” All four let out a collective breath, and Doriena giggled. “I won’t lie, it is very tempting, but I think I’d rather spend my time planetside. Perhaps I could teach at the Academy one day.”

“You were top in your class at everything, especially hand to hand combat.” Kahn scratched his chin. “It is very possible that could be arranged.”

“It would certainly be a step in the right direction,” Anna voiced. “Gothe’mar needs strong women in influential positions, and I can’t think of a better place.”

“I have time.” Doriena embraced her mother, all the while looking at the three most important men in her life. “After all, even new beginnings with the best of intentions take time.”

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