Dark and Light (A Kindred Tales Duet)

She blushed as she said it and Alli knew she meant their sexual relationship. She sighed mentally—what was it with these Kindred couples and the way they couldn’t keep their hands off each other, even years after they were married—or “Joined” as the Kindred called it?

Again, she and Douglas just didn’t have that kind of relationship. They had regular—if somewhat brief sex—when they were together. And if she got horny when they were apart, well, there was always her trusty vibrator.

Not that she was about to say this in front of her boss, of course. Instead she just smiled and shook her head.

“We’ll be fine—honestly. We’re used to it by now. And we don’t have to be together every minute to be happy. Not that there’s a problem with that,” she added quickly, not wanting to offend them. “I think it’s lovely that some couples have that kind of closeness. But Douglas and I both like our personal space. So living apart doesn’t really bother either of us.”

“Well…that’s nice, I guess,” Sophie said doubtfully.

“Just know that if you change your mind and your fiancé wants to move up to the Mother Ship permanently after you are Joined, a larger and more permanent suite will be available to you,” Sylvan told her gravelly.

“Thank you.” Alli nodded gratefully. “That’s very kind. But speaking of my fiancé, it’s Friday which means I get to see him tonight.” She spent her weeks aboard the Mother Ship and her weekends with Douglas, flying back and forth every Friday night and every Monday morning.

“Is the shuttle that was assigned to you working out?” Sylvan asked.

“Yes, thank you.” Alli smiled. “Very well—and it’s a real thrill to fly it.”

“I don’t know how you mastered all those crazy-complicated controls so quickly,” Sophie said, clearly in awe.

“My brother, Baird, says you’re the fastest non-Kindred student he’s ever trained to fly,” Sylvan said. “Truly, your progress is impressive.”

“Thank you.” Alli felt her cheeks heating with their praise. “But it’s not that difficult, really. My dad was a commercial pilot and he made sure I took flying lessons ever since I was fifteen—it was kind of our thing together.” She shrugged. “Some dads teach their daughters chess, some take them fishing—mine taught me how to fly a Cessna.”

“That’s amazing!” Sophie exclaimed. “What a wonderful hobby for the two of you to share.”

“Well, Dad wanted it to be more than a hobby, actually,” Alli told her. “he was really disappointed when I chose to go to law school instead of following in his footsteps as a pilot.”

Sophie laughed.

“That’s the first time I’ve ever heard of a parent being disappointed their kid got into law school!”

“He got over it.” Alli smiled. “And I’m glad he taught me how to fly—piloting a Kindred shuttle isn’t that different from flying an airplane.”

“Well, it’s nice that you don’t always have to look for someone to fly you down when you want to go back to Earth,” Sophie remarked. “And I still think it’s a pretty amazing accomplishment.”

“Thank you.” Alli smiled at her warmly.

One thing she really liked about Sophie—and all the women she’d met aboard the Mother Ship—was how genuine they were. There was no cattiness or petty jealousy among the little circle of friends Sophie had introduced her to. They were women who genuinely cared for and wanted to support each other. Alli appreciated that.

“And thank you again for the klava,” she said, rising and brushing the wrinkles out of her conservative black business skirt. There was no real dress code or corporate culture aboard the Mother Ship, but she liked to look professional.

“Have a safe trip down to Earth,” Sophie told her, smiling.

“Thank you—but I’m not going until I’ve gotten the loose ends on the Kramer case wrapped up tight,” Alli told her.

“Of course. But when you do go, please be careful, Councilor Allisandra.”

There was a worried look in Commander Sylvan’s pale blue eyes that made Alli uneasy. But she wasn’t going to admit it—not to herself, or to him.

“Thank you, Commander Sylvan,” she said formally. And nodding her head at both of them, she left.

She’d spent too much time worrying about the silly dreams, she told herself. Now it was time to get down to work. She could forget about the mirror-eyed man and his hall of shadows if she really tried.

Or so she told herself.

Three

Deep in the heart of his Palace of Shadows, Kane opened his eyes.

So the little one was in another universe, he thought. He had suspected as much. The Earth of his own universe had long been subjugated by the Kru’ell Ones. None of the females from the small, blue-green planet would have dared to speak to him the way Allisandra had.

And none would have dared to meet his eyes, lest they see their own forbidden desires reflected back at them.