She should not be worried about being harmed by an intimate partner.
“Sometimes, a woman does things to protect children.”
“Did you feel he would hurt the children if he did not have you?”
“I know that he would,” Bianca said. “You see, their mother was my best friend. I was her Lady in Waiting, and we confided a lot in one another. We were determined together to protect the girls from Bron’s temper. He was known to explode and become violent in a flash.
“We took care of the girls. When she died, I promised myself I would do everything I could to keep his temper away from those girls. I made myself indispensable to him and the girls. I became their governess—their mother, basically. And as their mother, I would occasionally sleep with the Emperor to satisfy his desires and keep him happy.”
Harbin put his arm around her. “You are a strong female to give up so much of yourself to protect those girls.”
“They are all I have.”
“You are not alone, Bianca. I am here now.”
She smiled. “I appreciate that, Harbin. You really don’t know how much.”
He stroked her cheek. “And I will not strike you. Ever.”
She leaned into him. It felt good to be next to someone who cared so much for her.
He seemed to anyway.
Did he? Now that was the question.
She hoped so.
It was all she had.
Hope.
* * *
How long they sat there,she was not sure, his arm curled around her. It was warm and comfortable, and she was glad to be there.
With him.
She was glad to be there with him.
Though, as much as she enjoyed being with him, she needed to get this moving. They needed to get this moving. “So, how long did you say we were stuck here?”
“Another two days, approximately.”
“And you’re sure we cannot go to the bases?” she asked.
Because there were certain female needs. Like a private bathroom to take care of things.
“It is not safe. There are units of Terrans and Charro at the nearest base, and they seem to be moving through, systematically looking for the crashed ships.”
“Have they found them?”
“I do not think so,” Harbin said. “I have disguised them as best I can.”
“So how will we return to Sol-3? Are there transports here?”
“Not anymore,” he said.
“Why? Did the Rhimodians leave?”
