Four months later…
Tarrel landed at the royal docking gate on Prill. Neela unfastened her belt and stood with him as the doors opened to the massive stone corridor. The guard escort took them to the king’s living quarters and left them.
The force field cleared and opened. Tarrel snatched her hand and squeezed. She lifted her brows but made no objection. Thrax stood on the other side.
“It’s about damn time,” he blustered grabbing her into a long, full-body hug. “I missed you, dove. A Queen apparent should be overseeing her imminent realm.”
“I told her that.” Tarrel grinned and accepted the great backslapping bear hug from his co-mate.
“She’s not convinced, is she?” Thrax rejoined.
“She’s standing right in front of you and has ears,” Neela noted calmly.
Thrax lifted the purple bead dangling from her ear cuff. “And such lovely adorned ears they are.”
“We have news,” she interrupted. “Tarrel and I are accepting an outpost position to oversee the ore trade with the Elaran government.”
Tarrel grinned widely. “I told you I’d get her back into Prill airspace.”
Thrax laughed loudly and drew them both into his arms. “Fantastic. Now I merely have to convince her to marry me.”
“And me, unofficially,” Tarrel added.
Neela unhooked her military issue top and let it slide to the floor. She stepped around them and headed toward the bedchamber. “Let the negotiations begin, gentlemen.”