Page 111 of Captured By the Alien

“They’re waiting in the chamber by the Grand State Room,” said Ela. “Are you ready to go there now?”

“Do we have a few minutes? My mother said she’d be here.”

“Of course. I will wait outside the door and let her in when she arrives. Daa’sten?”

“Coming, coming.” He gave Kara one last check, adjusting a tendril of hair and removing a non-existent speck of dust from the dress. “Perfect.”

They both left and for the first time in days, Kara was alone. Vahn was waiting for her in the State Room, where they’d become husband and wife.

She looked at herself in the mirror and wished once again that her father was still alive.

There was a knock at the door and her mother came in. She stopped short at the sight of Kara.

It was a pivotal moment for both of them. The President hadn’t opposed her marriage to Vahn but she hadn’t exactly been effusive about it either. Now, seeing her daughter about to take this momentous step, she softened just the tiniest bit.

“That’s quite a dress.”

“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?”

“The necklace is hideous.”

“I know, you’re right. But I have to wear it. It’s some kind of royal heirloom.”

“Ah. That’s a shame. I was hoping you might want to wear this.”

Her mother drew a slim velvet box from her bag. Inside was a simple silver choker set with dark blue sapphires. She lifted it out to show Kara.

“Your father gave this to me the day you were born. Sapphires were his favorite. Mine too. And it matches the ring Talvahnax gave you.”

“It’s… wow, it’s gorgeous.”

“But you already have a necklace so…”

“Screw that. Hang on a minute.”

She fumbled with the chain, releasing its weight from her throat with a sigh of relief. Looking round, she saw the box it had come in was gone. Daa’sten had probably taken it.

She opened a drawer on the dresser and dropped it in.

“It’ll be safe there. I’ll make sure they get it back after the wedding.”

“Won’t Talvahnax mind if you’re not wearing it?”

“He’ll understand. Can you fasten the choker for me?”

She turned so her mother could fix the choker. It lay against her skin with a blue glow and she touched it happily.

“It looks so much better than that other thing. Thanks.”

“My pleasure. So, are you ready to make history?”

“I think you’re already doing that with the accords.”

Her mother looked down.

“You were right about the E.S.V. Chennai. I learned about it early on in my first term. I didn’t condone it then and I don’t now. But it was done. We were already at war. I had to deal with the problem in front of me. I hope you can understand.”

Kara chose her words carefully.

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