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matter?”
    “Her species does not value damage on a female. I am going to have my work cut out for me now that we are on the same footing.”
    “You outrank her now, you are aware of that.”
    “I am, but I am hoping she is not. She was always one for duty and propriety above all else. If it wasn’t for my damned brother, I would have had time to ease her into the idea of renewing our acquaintance.” Arkenor flicked his hair over his shoulder.
    “How did you know she was an imperial peacekeeper looking for a posting?”
    “I didn’t. I wanted her here by whatever means I was able. Even that treatise with my family.”
    Quell ran his hand over his scaled scalp. “I still can’t believe you made that deal.”
    “And I can’t believe that Guardian control went for it.”
    It had been an act of desperation the moment that he had been assigned to the Guardian program. He had sworn his life to Decolian 12, and his service to the Guardians for two decades if they could bring Commander Rikkat to him with no one the wiser. It had taken them a while, but when they had finally begun to move, it happened a day too late for Rikkat. One investigation into a drug ring and she had disappeared from the roster, but the Guardians had insisted that their end of the deal was still in action.
    He had asked the royal family to intervene, and once it was understood that his interest went far beyond the casual, they had placed a request for Commander Rikkat the moment she was cleared for duty. That the peacekeepers had agreed had given him hope. Whatever happened to her had not destroyed her. He could never have lived with himself if she had died and he had not been there to save her.
    His own transformation had come as the result of a transfusion not properly checked. While Genarans were a close match to Decolians, they were not exact and the result had taken some time to master. He had worked hard day and night with special training sessions on Yacaro but eventually came to grips with the liquid silver nanites under his control.
    “She is here now; she isn’t going anywhere. You have time to win her over again.” Quell patted him on the shoulder.
    “If I can earn her as a partner, I will be content with whatever she will offer.” He could feel the sincerity in his own tone, and his body vibrated with it.
    Anastasia Rikkat had been the best thing that had ever happened to him, a woman who met the worlds on her own terms and changed them for the better. He had changed, she had changed, but he hoped that the people they had been could still meet across the gulf of experience. Learning her again was his fondest wish, and if she were willing, he would give her the time she needed.
    If she weren’t willing, he was going to make sure that her life was as pleasant as he could arrange. Seeing her happy was close enough to being part of that happiness.
    If he kept repeating that sentiment to himself, he might one day believe it.

Chapter Six
     
     
    Tazzy got up when she heard the alarm. She stepped into her uniform and was out of her quarters in under two minutes.
    The Guardians were on their way to the transport. They nodded as they passed, but their attention was obviously on whatever was being given to them via their coms.
    The transport took off and left her alone without anyone explaining what the hell was going on. It was time to investigate her new home, and there was nothing like all the men gone for a lady to find out about her territory.
    Smiling, she returned to her rooms and tugged on her gloves. She only used them when she was attempting to hide her presence. Her chemical signature was distinctive and worse when she made contact with something.
    Whistling absently, she took an inventory of the kitchen, checked the gardens and observed the temperature and filtering system of the pool. She would be able to swim as long as the others waited a solid twenty minutes after she took a dip.
    The main com system was alive with chatter.