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“And here I thought I was the blind one in the family,” Raven sounds off, her hands on her hips as she stands up to her father. In the past, I’ve heard her object to his security measures, but never stand up to him so staunchly.

“If you look beneath his exterior, Dad, you’ll see he’s a wonderful man.”

“I admire Warrior Qeelin very much. And I trust him completely, or I never would have allowed him near you, but?—”

“But he’s an alien,” Raven repeats her father’s earlier comment. “We must find the commonalities in who we are and build an alliance based on those, not tear one another down because of our differences. Isn’t that what you say when you negotiate with the Galactic Alliance?”

His mouth snaps shut.

“Well, Dad?”

Krike, my female is fierce. I’ve seen Mr. Miller stare down both his own military and zyanthan warriors alike, but he’s losing this battle to one very small female.Mine.

Mr. Miller straightens his back, lifts his chin with an air of confidence, and says, “But he’sblue.”

“You did not just say that, Charles!”

“I’m losing ground here, Meredith. You should be helping me.”

Mrs. Miller crosses her arms over her chest. “Then find a rational argument and stop sounding like you’re a racist. His color is moot. You’re black and I’m white, and that didn’t stop us.”

For the first time, I see much of Raven in her mother. More than the beautiful dark eyes, and tight curls. Their temper is very similar. Easy going until pressed, and then the kuvak inside comes out with claws extended, willing to shred anyone who threatens their morals. I’m starting to worry for Mr. Miller even though he opposes me on this issue.

“We’re bothhuman, darling,” he counters.

Raven leans in to me and whispers, “He only calls her darling when he knows he’s losing. Watch. Now he’s going to try to get on her good side.”

“And how does one do that with a human female?” I whisper in turn. “This is something I may need to know.”

“With me? I’m easy. The right touch and I’ll melt in your hands, Warrior.”

I think it’s the other way around. I melt in her hands, but I don’t say this, not with how her mother is glaring at her father. “Your mother can be rather intimidating when she’s angry.”

“You’ve been on my mom’s bad side before?” Raven asks.

“Never. I’m too scared to cross her.”

“But you’re a warrior!”

“Yes, a warrior. Not a fool.”

“He’s older than her,” Mr. Miller rebuts whatever Mrs. Miller just said that we missed.

“You are?” Raven asks me. “How much older?”

“I’m thirty-seven.”

She puffs out her lips. “Jeez, Dad, you make it sound like he’s ancient, like you.”

“I amnotancient, young lady.”

“Charles, stop with the excuses. Just say it. He’s not human.”

“Fine. He’s not human.”

Mrs. Miller tugs on her husband’s sweater as she draws him close. The male’s expression softens to her. “My dear Charles, you know how he’s protected her all these months. Look at her. She’s in love. You do remember what that feels like, don’t you?”

“Every day,” Mr. Miller says as he kisses his wife’s hand.