Page 78 of Star Prince

Lara gave her a funny look. “How do you know?”

“I looked it up a short while ago. I wanted to make sure it wouldn’t cause any political fallout when I ask for asylum and my family demands my return.”

“You’re really serious about this.”

Tee’ah gazed out the viewscreen at a panorama of deep, cold, space. “It’s not only for me. I can aid Ian in his efforts. Iwantto. I believe in his cause.”

And if she had to see Ian from time to time in so doing, so be it, she thought desolately. They were both adults. In time, the hurt feelings and awkwardness between them would pass.

She turned to Lara. “I’ll become involved in politics on Earth. The more people learn about theVash,those of us who are progressive and who care about the frontier, the less uneasy they’ll be about staying part of the Federation. I’ll study the languages, so I can become a bridge of sorts between their politicians and ours.” She tapped her chin. “I’ll stay with Ian’s twin sister, Ilana, if she’ll have me. Ian told me quite clearly that she doesn’t care for rules.” Tee’ah hoped that meant propriety wasn’t important to her, either, and that she wouldn’t mind harboring a soiled, odd-looking, runaway princess. “It will be a start, at least, until I’m settled enough to move on.” Her skin tingled. “Earth is my destiny, Lara. I truly believe that.”

Frozen in place, Lara looked like she had swallowed an oster egg.

Tee’ah wondered if shehad done the right thing by trusting this woman with her plans. “What is it?”

“Holy craggin’ dome. Those uppityVashcogs.”The pilot glanced up sharply. “No offense to you, princess, but I thought I was helping retrieve a spoiled, impetuous royal—not forcing a woman back to a life she doesn’t want.” A look of profound pain constricted Lara’s features, as if she were fighting a tremendous inner battle. “No,” she said. “I won’t do it. I won’t steal your choices…the way mine were stolen, long ago.”

Tee’ah placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. “You understand?”

Lara’s lips thinned. “Too well.” She thought for a moment. “If I offered you a way to get to Earth, would you take it?”

Tee’ah’s heart sped up. “Yes. Yes, I would.”

Lara stood, spilling the kettacat out of her lap. “Let’s go, princess.” She took her by the arm and dragged her into the corridor. “I’m flying you to Earth. But if you want half a chance at succeeding, we’ll have to do it before the men get back.”

Ian strodethrough theSun Devilin one last inspection of the repaired spacecraft. Gann followed, his hands clasped behind his back. Muffin brought up the rear, while Quin wrapped up last-minute details in the cockpit and Gredda and Push secured the air-depleted maintenance pod in the cargo bay.

Ian forcibly dragged his mind away from what hadhappened in it. He had chosen galactic peace over his own personal desires. It was the responsible thing to do, so why did he feel like such a jerk?You slept with her. And then you let her go.Part of him wished she had been willing to fight harder to keep what they had. But she hadn’t, and she was right.

The good of the many outweighs the needs of the few.

The passage that had always guided his actions now left a bitter taste in his mouth. But it would get him through the next few days.

It had to.

“Captain!” Quin caught up to them. “There’s a call for you. It’s the king.”

“Ah, good.” He had been trying to contact his stepfather all day, but Rom hadn’t replied. Unusual for him not to do so, but then the man had his other responsibilities.

Ian took the call in the cockpit. Rom’s face was already framed in the main communications viewscreen. “Ah, Ian.” A small scar on his stepfather’s upper lip stretched thin. “Greetings.”

Something was off, but Ian couldn’t tell what it was. He nodded uneasily. “Greetings, Your Majesty. I need to bring you up to date on what’s happened.”

“I imagine you do.” Rom pressed his splayed fingertips together. “You changed the encryption codes on your comm. I couldn’t reach you.”

Something wasdefinitelyoff. “I intended to brief you fully, as I will now. But at the time, I didn’t want to risk broadcasting the details of my missionbefore I had the chance to determine Senator Randall’s intentions.”

Rom’s voice rose. “Your mission is over.”

“Sir?”

“I can’t have you complicating the matter more so than it is already. My senior trade minister tells me the situation on Earth is near collapse.”

“Help’s on the way. I’m meeting with Randall and the president of the United States two days after I arrive. I forwarded you the information on the fringe worlds. Randall’s ready to work with me on all counts. I believe I’m in a unique position to bring both sides together.”

“No,” Rom said bluntly. “The problem needs to be addressed in the Great Council first. We will debate the issues, agree on a course of action and proceed.”

Ian didn’t know how to respond. Rom was telling him one thing, but his gut was telling him another. Calling off the mission now smacked of recklessness and arrogance, not the prudence the Federation was renowned for. “Rom. By the time the Great Council makes a decision, it’ll be too late—”

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