Page 24 of Kiss of Steel

“Deposed?”

“He was the king of Tracoria. Rebels stormed the palace, and we had to flee for our lives. We moved from planet to planet until Refuge was founded and we were able to come here.”

Honoria dropped her jaw. Phibious had said everyone had a story. She’d only overheard someone planning a murder. Scary at the time but mundane. She didn’t know why Jason had sought sanctuary, but, coming from Earth, his situation had to be equally commonplace. But deposed royalty? Fascinating. “You’re a princess?”

Maven chuckled. “Not anymore.”

“Your father and mother are on Refuge, then?”

“My father is. My mother is dead.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Thank you. Her death isn’t recent. She died thirty-five years ago.”

“You were just a little girl. That’s rough.”

“Hardly. I was fifty-seven and married when she died of natural causes at the ripe old age of eighty-eight.”

Honoria tilted her head. “Whoa, wait a second. You were fifty-seven when she died thirty-five years ago. That makes you…”

“Ninety-two years old.”

Her jaw dropped. “You don’t look a day over forty!”

“How old are you, Honoria?”

“I’m thirty.”

“Tracorians live much longer than humans. Two hundred and fifty years is an average lifespan. My mother was human, so I’m a hybrid. I will live longer than she did, but my father will outlive me. I lost my husband five years ago. He was human.” Her expression saddened. “I miss him every day.”

Maven moved some tools aside to squeeze in jars of a mystery substance. “My father fell in love with my mother, knowing he would be widowed early in his lifespan. I followed in his footsteps, falling in love with Brent, a human. I knew I would be widowed young, but the heart wants what it wants. However, it puts me in a difficult situation now. I’m still young enough to desire a mate, but any human my age is elderly. To a man in his prime, I’m an old woman.”

“But you don’t look it. And who says he has to be human?”

“A Tracorian would be my best bet—but I’m here. We’d be executed if we went home. There aren’t many compatible species who live as long as Tracorians. With the difference in lifespan—” She shook her head. “I’m resigned to spending the rest of my life alone. That’s why I like the ranch. Haven is a family. Other than my father and me, there aren’t any Tracorians—but there are a few humans.” She smiled at Honoria. “And now there’s one more. What about you? Are you single or married?”

“Newlywed. I got married yesterday.”

“Congratulations!”

“Thank you. We met through Cosmic Mates. They matched us.” She wondered how Jason was spending his time. Had he gone back to the cabin? Or had he started work early like she had?

“Two other couples here got married through Cosmic Mates. You met Phibious?”

“He met his wife through Cosmic Mates?”

“Yes.”

“Have you considered it? Maybe Cosmic Mates could find you an age-appropriate, species-compatible man.”

“The thought has crossed my mind, but I’m not ready to take the leap yet.”

“I can understand that.” An arranged marriage to somebody she’d never met hadn’t been her first choice. “I wouldn’t have either, if I hadn’t needed to leave Earth pronto.”

“What brought you to Refuge?”

Maven had opened up and shared, so Honoria felt comfortable telling her story.

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