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doesn’t have the wherewithal to keep you in the style you deserve. Our time together has still left a mark on me.”
    She smiled tightly and inclined her head. The moment that they docked at the station and he made his final goodbyes, she sprinted to the com station and called Citadel Morganti.
    She held her breath as the call went through, but when Turnari’s face filled the screen, she blurted. “I screwed up, and I am so sorry.”
    His expression was instantly worried. “What is it?”
    “Suak was really persistent, so I told him I was engaged and that you were the other half of the arrangement. I am sorry. No one else sprang to mind.”
    He sighed. “Is that all?”
    “Yes. I just thought I should tell you as he will probably be trying to confirm it, and we just disembarked from the station.” She snorted. “Oh, and he gave me a necklace expensive enough to buy a mining asteroid.”
    Turnari frowned. “He gave you a necklace?”
    “Yes. It’s beautiful, and I told him it wasn’t appropriate, but he insisted.” She was blurting things out, but she couldn’t stop. “I am so sorry for getting you involved.”
    He waved it away. “It will be fine. You will be home in a few hours, and we can discuss it then.”
    She nodded. “Right.”
    He lifted his head and smiled. “Please, excuse me; my other line is demanding my attention.”
    Her cheeks flared scarlet. “Apologies again, Turnari. Goodbye.”
    The call was over, and she was counting down to being face to face with his amused countenance.
    When the pilot called out that they were landing, Bits settled in her seat with the armour pressing comfortingly around her.
    The jewel box sat next to her, and it was a harsh reminder that she had just done something stupid. She hadn’t even felt like this much of an idiot when she had put the blood into Hesko’s cup.
    They settled at the base, and she grabbed her bag and the box. She was about to head for the small platform that could carry her to the Citadel, but small shrieks came out of the hangar, and the girls were running toward her with their little brother moving as quickly as he could.
    Bits sighed and walked toward the tiny clan and knelt to hug them all. They wanted to know where she had been, what she had seen and did the people she was with think the armour was pretty.
    Radin looked at her and sang out, “Bith, Bith, Bith!”
    Mabi whispered, “He is saying Bits.”
    “Why, Radin, that is wonderful. Hello to you, too.” She stroked his hair away from his face.
    Isala giggled. “It made dad mad that he said your name before his.”
    Bits rolled her eyes. “Oh dear. Well, I had better get home. I am really tired after all that travelling.”
    Mabi piped up. “You should have a shower with dad. Mom says it always makes her feel less tired.”
    Bits didn’t know how to respond to that. “I think that I just need to get some sleep. I have to report in at the Citadel.”
    The girls sighed, and Radin looked like he wanted to wail, but she stroked his head again, and he smiled. “Come on, head back to Nanny. I am sure that he is looking for you.”
    Mabi frowned, looking a lot like her father. “Will you come over tomorrow?”
    “If I can. I will call your mom and let her know if I can make it, but I will ask the administrator if I can come over and play.”
    It was a good enough answer, and the girls returned to the hangar with their brother between them.
    Bits exhaled and went to the step platforms, setting it to hover and cruise over to the Citadel. She was in no mood to run.
    With the jewel box tucked under one arm and her bag over her shoulder, she cruised across the undeveloped land and moved up the hill toward the Citadel.
    She parked the platform and headed toward the main tower. Loitering in the doorway of the entrance was Turnari. The smile playing around his lips was unmistakably smug, and it looked like he had polished the horns curling down on either side of his head.
    “Lady