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  “We are in a hurry, right?” She wanted to make sure before she used her last card.

  “We are. As fast as we can go. They are digging down to the miners, but it is a narrow path, and it can only be cleared so quickly.”

  “Okay. Here we go.”

  After they were set on course, she overclocked the skimmer.

  They got a shove of power, and their speed exceeded the normal possibilities of the skimmer.

  “What the hell is going on?”

  “I am getting us there as fast as we can go.” She handed over the controls and went to put on the suit.

  She checked the interior, and it had contact points to her skin. She could discharge energy through any part of the suit. Her hair had to be knotted up against her head to get the helmet on, but after it was in place, the cloak with the Hredu Imperial insignia attached at the shoulders.

  She returned to the controls and kept her faceplate up. “So, how long do we have?”

  “This says ten minutes. How are we travelling so fast?”

  She wrinkled her nose. “My mother calls it overclocking. I can make equipment run faster than it is supposed to. It is hell on the parts, but for single use, it is handy.”

  He made a small sound of surprise. “What do you use it for?”

  She shrugged. “Nothing really. Just moments like this. It is not very useful.”

  He looked at her and laughed. “You are endless surprises.”

  She shook her head. “Nope, I am pretty sure that you have figured out everything that I can or am willing to do.”

  “And a few other things. But I meant that you have aspects to your character that are as yet unseen. You take things seriously.”

  She nodded. “My mother and father might have given us an interesting example to follow, but they also made sure that we honoured those who work for us and were within our territories. Without them, we have to cook our own food and make our own beds.”

  “You do that anyway.” He laughed.

  “Yes, but my mother made sure that I knew every detail of my daily upkeep from how to make shoes to embroidering the corsets. I can cook my own meals and even assemble a tablet from components. I had to appreciate every moment of labour that I didn’t need to expend.”

  He chuckled. “My mother only taught us penmanship. The rest of our education was left up to my father.”

  She glanced at him. “Speaking of your parents, why don’t you have a brother?”

  “It is not common knowledge, but my mother nearly died with my youngest sister. My father refused to risk her again, so he had himself sterilized. I believe I was ten at the time.”

  She blinked. “That is pretty absolute.”

  “Yes, and the nobles were furious, but I was growing up to be such a strapping young fellow that they relaxed a bit when I became an adult. I mean, I still had to put genetic material in storage, but they relaxed a little.”

  “So, no one has shown up to claim that they have gotten the sperm and had your baby?”

  He smiled. “My mother put a seal on it. If anyone bears a child genetically mine without a signed charter, they will be put to death. The child would be adopted out to distant relations.”

  She opened her mouth and then closed it again. She slowed them down as they approached the site. There were lights everywhere, and he pointed her to a landing site.

  She settled the skimmer, dropped her helmet, and then, she left to see where Halu thought she could help.

  There was time for the other conversation later.

  Chapter Nine

  The mine had collapsed, and the atmosphere generators below were unable to get power from the surface. Wires had snapped.

  Halu came up to her and said, “If I can get you a conductive metal down to the generators, can you get them going?”

  “Guardians are horrible gossips.”

  Halu grinned. “We really are. Can you?”

  Padana nodded. “I can. Get a line to them and have them wire it into the generator. I can get them power.”

  “Excellent. They are wiring it right now. I am just waiting for them to confirm that they are clear.” Halu grinned.

  “You are really cruising for a solid punch to the jaw, Halu.”

  “Thanks, Your Imperial Highness. Nice outfit, by the way.”

  Padana frowned, but no one could see it. “I would so flip you off if I wasn’t building a charge.”

  “Save your energy. Literally, the guys are busy at the doorway. You need to be sitting right over here. This is the wire. It isn’t very well shielded, but it should do the job.”

  There was the crackle of a com, and Halu grinned. “You are on. You need to keep the generator running until we can get through the blockage.”

  “Right. Make sure they are clear. I will wait until you or the other guardians come to remove me. I would recommend that you pull me over using the cloak. It doesn’t hold a charge.”

  “Got it. I will let them know.” Halu used her com again, and the confirmation came through. They had cleared the wire and were away from the atmosphere generator.

  Padana knelt and put her hands on either side of the wire, slowly putting a trickle charge through the wire until she met resistance, and then, she gradually increased the power until it flowed.

  Halu nodded. “You have got it. We are going to power through the blockage. You keep on it.”

  Padana didn’t acknowledge it; she kept the power flowing. She remained kneeling for hours, the wire clasped between her hands in a praying motion, and her knees made secondary contact.

  There were a few light contacts on her arms and shoulders, but she kept the power going until light was all around her and someone was pulling her away from the wire by using her cloak.

  She fell back and to the side. There was a crowd around her, and she looked for a familiar face and found nothing. Padana staggered to her feet, and she let out a fierce crackle of power. The crowd jumped back.

  Halu came charging and said, “Why did you cut the generator?”

  Padana was still dazed. “They pulled me away. Can I return to it?”

  “Please. We are almost there, but the sound will make them secure. Keep it going.”

  Padana nodded and stepped back to the wire she had been working with. They had snapped it at the ground level, so she had to spend a few precious minutes digging so she could get a grip on the wire with her left hand. This was going to be worse than the dispersed charge.

  She gripped the wire and sent the charge down with the same slow process, revving it up until the resistance left the charge and she could get the motor on the other side moving. Halu was throwing the attackers around and keeping them away from Padana while she focused on keeping the generator running.

  Distantly, she heard a shout and then a cheer as one miner after another apparently made it to the surface. Guardians helped the injured, either carrying them or helping them out of the mine.

  Halu spoke to her. “You can let go now. They are out.”

  When Padana didn’t move, Halu pulled her cloak, and the smouldering contact points in her left hand were pulled away from the wire she had nearly baked onto.

  Padana got to her feet with her left hand curled against her chest. They walked to where the miners were being treated for dehydration, and a medic took a look at her and came toward her. One of the family members of the miners grabbed him. “Don’t go to her. She just knelt there praying.”

  Halu sighed. “She wasn’t praying.”

  The medic shook the man off and took a look at Padana’s hand. “Geez. What were you holding?”

  “A live wire.”

  He looked at her helmet, the crests, and nodded. He spoke softly. “Come this way, Mistress.”

  She walked with him, and he put a numbing salve on her hand before he set the regenerator against the damage. Her skin hummed with numb pain as the machine did its work.

  “You can at
tend the others. I thank you for your assistance.”

  “Were you really holding a live wire?”

  She chuckled. “Yes.”

  “Why?”

  “Because I needed to.”

  One of the miners was nearby, getting a broken leg seen to. “Were you the one providing us with atmosphere, Mistress?”

  “No. That was the generator.”

  He laughed and sipped at his water. “But you put the power down the line that Lady Halu provided.”

  “Ah, yes. That was my job, yes.” She was having trouble focusing. She usually used her talent in short bursts.

  A filthy Fall walked toward the medics, and when he saw her sitting in the station, he ran to her. “Are you all right?”

  “It is just a scorched hand.”

  The medic bowed to Fall. “Third-degree burns, Your Highness.”

  Yomin gave her a long look. “What happened?”

  “The wire snapped, and I had to put all the power through one point of contact instead of six. I will be fine, just a little red for a few days.” She patted his arm to soothe him. “Did the miners all get out?”

  He crouched next to her and put his head close to her faceplate. “Yes, and don’t change the subject. You injured yourself.”

  “I kept the power going. I didn’t even know that I could do it that long.”

  He chuckled. “I have faith in your stamina. It has been fun watching it grow.”

  She was content to let him taunt her. “Yes, watching it.”

  He grinned. “I am glad to see you are otherwise unhurt.”

  She chuckled. “Just tired. You will have to get us home.”

  He sighed. “We are due back at the palace. Are you good to travel?”

  The medic cleared his throat. “Your Highness, she needs to spend an hour with the regenerator against her skin.”

  Yomin scowled. “She can’t. We are expected at the court.”

  She smacked his shoulder with her right hand. “Be polite. He is doing his job.”

  “You had to be a medic as well?”

  “Of course.” She chuckled and flexed her hand. “It already feels better.”

  The medic was surprised. “It does seem to be healing quickly. The time scale I set was for a Hredu, and your skin is softer but easier to repair. What species are you, Mistress?”

  She was going to answer, but Yomin said it before she could. “She is a princess of the Haldis Imperium, off Torgny. If I am lucky, she will be my bride.”

  She turned toward the medic and chuckled. “You heard it first.”

  He nodded and straightened. “It was an honour. It will go no further.” He removed the regenerator unit from around her hand, and he bowed. “Thank you for your assistant, Guardian Fall, and... um...”

  Fall smiled and said, “Overclock.”

  She turned her head toward him. “Funny guy. Really?”

  “It suits you.”

  She groaned and flexed her tender hand. “My skin is more trouble than it is worth. Maybe I should get a Hredu injection or something.”

  He chuckled and pulled her toward him, holding her in his arms. “I thought that is what we had been doing for the last few days.”

  She groaned and sighed. “I am very glad I can’t see you right now.”

  “It’s all right. I know what your sexy blushing face looks like. I will just imagine it on your expression right now.”

  She punched him lightly in the ribs. “Not funny, Your Highness.”

  He tutted. “You are not supposed to punch me in public.”

  She laughed. “We are not in formal garb or setting. I promise not to hit you in that setting.”

  He nodded and bent, slinging her over his shoulder and holding her thighs down with his forearm. She squawked. “What the hell?”

  He chuckled. “As you said, no reason to stand on ceremony, and I did feel like doing it. I promise not to put you over my shoulder when you are in formal wear.”

  She groaned, and her cloak flipped over her head. He carried her to the skimmer and got it started. When it was running, he flipped her and sat her in the navigator seat.

  “You did very well today. We will have to put more outlet points in the gloves.” He mentioned it absently as they lifted off.

  She opened the helmet and stared at him. “Yeah, that would be helpful.”

  He grinned at her. “There you are. I have missed your glare when you get that tone in your voice.”

  She snorted and removed her helmet. “There, now you can see the entire scowl.”

  He snorted and set the controls on auto before pulling her into his lap, facing him. “You know the best thing about that suit?”

  She blinked. “No.”

  “I know where all the closures are.”

  He reached between her thighs, and there was suddenly a cool breeze where there shouldn’t be one. He reached between them and freed his erection. She didn’t know how his suit opened there, but when he rubbed the head of his cock against her, she groaned and shivered.

  “I honestly did not think that this was something you would do on duty.”

  “We have left the site. The shift is over.”

  “Oh.” Her word was part acknowledgement and part flinch as he pulled her onto him while he thrust upward.

  It was not the most relaxing way to return to the imperial palace, but it was certainly distracting.

  She was scrubbed, brushed, and her face was painted with a mask of makeup that was the same tone as her normal skin, but a pearlized pigment had been added to make the mask visible. Her eyes were outlined with a layer of thick black, and she stood while the dresser put on the five layers of Haldis robes, then the corset, and finally, the imperial outer robe with her family crests sewn into them.

  Her hair was twisted up, small braids were arranged in a fan that looped in a formal halo that framed the back of her head.

  “You are very good at this.”

  The maid chuckled. “I have been training for it. You will need a dedicated maid here. The court has fairly stringent rules.”

  Padana nodded, and when her maid was done, she left her quarters, expecting to see her guards. Yomin was waiting in a formal tunic edged with gold embroidery. His boots and trousers were hidden by the formal sleeveless robe that covered the rest of him.

  He looked at her, and there was admiration in his gaze. “You look even better than the first time I saw you.”

  “Well, you have seen more of me now, so it is possible that you are pining for the hidden parts.”

  “Not pining, anticipating.” He offered her his hand.

  She slipped her fingers into his, and they walked the halls together to the court where a minimal amount of folk were in attendance.

  “What is going on?” She murmured it softly to him.

  “We are signing our wedding agreement.” He spoke quietly, but there was a gasp from the throne.

  The empress was scowling at her son. “You didn’t tell her?”

  “There wasn’t any time. We were called off on a mission, Mother.” He bowed to his parents.

  Padana sank low in a curtsy.

  Usorn was chuckling. “It seems that he has followed my example of getting his bride into his clutches and then doing the proposing.”

  “I didn’t precisely propose either. We just went from clutches to this.” He nodded to his father. “I didn’t want her to overthink it.”

  If there was ever a moment that she wanted to elbow a man, this was it, but she kept her face calm and sent a crackle of static charge through their connected hands.

  The imperial scribe produced the documents, they signed, and the emperor ratified it. They were married in five minutes.

  She smiled when they were hugged by his parents, and to her amusement, her parents appeared in holographic form.

  Her mother smiled and inclined her head. “Good contract, Padana. You have made me pro
ud and shocked your father, so all in all, I have been having a fun few days.”

  Her father sighed. “You should have told me about your talent, pet. I had no idea it was more than a light static crackle. You could have started our own branch of the guardians.”

  She laughed. “You would have been hovering around like a hen with her chick. I am better here as occasional support. The negotiations are keeping me busy, and I got a new suit. So, all is looking up.”

  Her father looked at her seriously. “If you are ever unhappy, come home.”

  She was about to reply when Yomin spoke to her parents. “If she is ever unhappy, I hope that she would tell me first so that I could take steps to correct the issue. My goal is to keep her happy and balance the empire at the same time. I have no idea which one will be more difficult, but I am very eager to try. I have waited for her for quite a while.”

  She cocked her head and asked, “How long have you been waiting?”

  He looked down at her and murmured, “I have been waiting and practicing for you all my life. Now that you are here, the practice ends, and my true life begins.”

  She smiled and kissed him.

  * * * *

  Palden VII looked to his wife, and he grinned, “He’s good. I should have used that on you, Amanda.”

  She laughed. “It is a little hard to believe as I was arranging all of your bedmates during my contract. You are going to have to try harder.”

  He took her hand and kissed it. “Out of all my impulses, you are the one that I have never regretted. You are my wife, my best friend, and the one I am spending the rest of my life with. You bring me joy, stability, and the occasional challenge. I hope I have done the same for you.”

  She sighed. “You gave me a surprising amount of children, so I have seen the joy and the challenge. Stability is not something that you manage, but you do give me laughter and love. I know you in and out, Palden. I wouldn’t trade you for anyone else in the universe, and I have gotten offers.” She winked at him.

  The kiss occurred several systems away from their daughter’s wedding, but everyone reacted as if they were in the same room. Padana grinned, Yomin looked hopefully at his new wife as if planning the same moment in their future, and Ariadne looked at Usorn and grinned. She had made her life in neutrality, and this moment she was allowed to look at her mate and chuckle.