“All right, thank you. I’m going to look for her. If she returns, please tell her I’m home, and please ask her to stay put?”
“As you wish.”
He bowed his head and rubbed his eyelids in frustration and worry, a sense of foreboding and urgency demanding he fix his marriage immediately. Soton’s passenger manifest niggled in the back of his mind. He’d dismissed it as another hoax, but what if it wasn’t?
She wouldn’t have gone back to Earth. She has reason to hate me, but she wouldn’t have sought assistance from Soton!
Would she?
Dread knotted his stomach.
She’s probably with Kismet!The twins were inseparable. If the sisters weren’t with their spouses—they were with each other. He bolted out of the suite and ran all the way to Jaryk’s. He burst in and found his brother and Kismet in their library.
“Have you seen Karma?”
“It’s about time you decided to come home!” Jaryk said.
“Do you have any idea how much heartache you caused my sister?” Kismet glowered.
“Do you know where she is?”
“Do you care?” her sister demanded.
“Yes, I care. Tell me where she is!” Her hostility was justified, but he didn’t have time to deal with it right now.
Kismet crossed her arms. “Isn’t she in your suite?”
“No. My servant says she hasn’t been there for a while.”
“Then, I don’t know where she is.”
“We haven’t seen her today,” Jaryk added.
Gods of Kaldor…he’d never forgive himself. Had she left…for good? He started to dash out then halted. “If she shows up here, let her know I’m home. Tell her I know I was wrong about everything.”
“Well, it might be too little too late!” Kismet snapped.
That’s what he was afraid of.
* * * *
Ignoring the people lined up at the departure gate, Falkor barged up to the front. “The ship to Earth—has it left yet?” he demanded of the android gate agent.
The android’s scanner eyes swept over his face. “It departed one hour ago, Your Highness.”
No. No. No. This can’t be happening! She couldn’t have taken up Soton’s offer. I won’t let her. I’ll go to Earth and bring her back!“Is there another ship leaving for Earth?”
“Yes.”
“Get me on the flight.”
“Certainly, Your Highness.”
Chapter Twenty
Well, that was a dumb idea.Karma trudged through the palace more despondent than ever.She’d hoped a trip to the Museum of Alien Horticulture would distract her from the shambles of her marriage, but the opposite had occurred. After seeing Earth in the Flight to the Planets simulator exhibit, she ached for him all the more.
Like everyone said, her husband would have to return to the palace, and, when he did, she would be waiting to knock some sense into his stupid head. She might not succeed, but she wouldn’t give up. The queen could prove Soton and Bynti had colluded against them. She could deal with her own hurt and anger at having to provide proof after she convinced him.
