Page 49 of Advance and Retreat
Toni’s worry turned hopeful.“Yeah, I’m just recognizing it too.I wasn’t aware I act the way I do depending on the person or situation I’m facing until the test pointed it out.It’s a kind of gift, I suppose.”
“An impressive gift.”Maybe there’d be a spot for Toni on Stacy’s team after all.
“It’s how Clan Imon ended up in my orbit.I was verbally tearing apart the jerk in charge of the cargo carrier bringing in supplies for the education department...nowthatwas a negotiation.”Toni barked a laugh.“Feru says it’s important to be able to throw down the gauntlet when compromise fails.Anyway, the scene we had brought the guys over to ask if they could help.I had it handled—”
“Of course.”
“—but them inserting themselves in my business ended up having its positive effect.”Toni grinned.
“You really like them.I’m sorry they aren’t staying close.”
“Yeah.”Her sister’s gaze dropped.“Yeah, it sucks.It suckshard.”
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Toni did her best notto show it, but Stacy apparently figured out she was growing tired after an hour of reconnecting.“I’ll be back tomorrow morning before I go to work,” the elder Nichols promised.
“Thanks for the warning,” Toni teased.
“Yeah, well since there’s a clan catting around you, I want to make sure I don’t interrupt anything important.”
“I won’t answer the door if you do.”She stuck her tongue out.
“Brat.”Having gotten the literal last word, Stacy hugged her and left to run Earth II, her first official day on the planet as its elected rather than appointed governor, but not before poking her head out to bid goodbye to Clan Imon.
They hurried in after her departure.“How are you feeling?”Feru asked, rearranging her blanket and plumping her pillows.
“I’m okay.Just starting to fade a little,” Toni admitted.She accepted the glass of water he offered.
“How did she take your resignation and change of career?”Imon sat on the edge of the couch next to her bent knees.His arm curled around her legs.
“She was surprised, but she seemed okay.She even said she could use me in the future as an ambassador.”
Maybe Wovir, who leaned propped on the back of the sofa, picked up on the hesitation in her tone.“Negotiators and diplomats are always in demand, wherever you end up focusing your skills.You aren’t tied to Earth where such a career’s concerned.”
“He’s right.Many governments hire personnel who aren’t part of their native species.They appreciate having alien perspectives to help them work in concert with allies,” Imon concurred.
“Good to know.Is it crazy to say I feel being among my own people is too safe?Despite them trying to assassinate my sister,” she snorted.
“Safety is overrated,” Wovir smirked.
“Spoken like a true Nobek.”She drew a breath, feeling the release of the first hurdle cleared.“My next step is researching training.No doubt I can do so remotely.All Earth’s universities and colleges are shut down for in-person classes since Dark Death came to visit.”
“You could investigate tele-classes off-planet too.Kalquor’s universities have been accepting students from various worlds who can’t physically attend studies due to the war against the Darks.”Done fussing over her for at least a couple of minutes, Feru sat on the edge of the table next to the sofa.“You have a ton of real-world experience thanks to your administrative duties when you lived on Haven.”
“True.I can’t tell you how much negotiating and diplomacy it took to wrangle the budgets I needed from the school board, despite Haven being a lot more generous about its education funding than Mercy or New Bethlehem.”
“You could probably finish your studies in a matter of months, thanks to getting your feet wet in such a discipline.”
Toni was mostly intent on their discussion, but being surrounded by three incredibly desirable men whose focus was on her offered instances of distraction.Feru’s statement tugged a wanton smile on her lips.“Careful how you use ‘wet’ and ‘discipline’ in the same sentence.”
Her remark garnered hoots and laughter from the trio.“I thought you were tired,” Imon grinned.
“I might be waking up.Parts of me, anyway.Want to find out?”
“You have to take it easy,” Feru admonished, but she noted his eyes had darkened.
“I take it any way I can get it.”
