Kiera's Home

Anshan chose the nishani for its king. Why, then, had the planet selected her out of everyone in the universe and given her such a gift to heal it, if she was never meant to live long enough to help? The more she thought about it, the more she believed that the planet itself had to be having its own issues. The doctor hadn't been able to explain what was happening. Was it desperation that made her want there to be a problem with the planet and not her or was it really how her bond to Anshan might work?

The idea of letting down someone like A'Ran after all he'd been through made her feel ill. She'd left everything behind to be with him. Was she really about to lose it all?

"What is it, Kiera?" When A'Ran used her name instead of nishani, it was a sign he was worried.

She forced her attention out of her thoughts and sought something to say. "Are you really considering sending Gage away?" she replied at last.

A'Ran was quiet too long.

Fear trickled into her. "Please tell me you'd never do that to someone you love, even if the circumstances were … less than perfect." She held her breath, praying for him to clarify what Gage overheard.

"There are some parts to my society that you do not yet understand," he began softly. "Some duties and trusts cannot be broken."

Kiera's heart tumbled to her feet. "But she's your family."

"Even for family."

Oh, god. She'd been with him for a few weeks and already wasn't able to imagine a life without him. How much would it hurt when he found out she wasn't going to live long enough to carry out any of the duties that were hers?

How long would it take him to send her back to Earth, once he discovered there would be no more rulers in his line?

"It is for an honorable reason, one that is a sacred duty to me," A'Ran said.

"I love you," she whispered. "No matter what."

"You are my nishani," he squeezed her more tightly against him. "I would not do this if it weren't necessary. Trust me, Kiera. I do this for us."

Famous last words, she thought. Listening to his heartbeat, she didn't want to imagine what life would be like without her new family.

What if that didn't matter? What if her cell regeneration, as the doctor called it, was slowing enough that she wouldn't last too much longer anyway? She'd ask him the next time she went to the medics. She already knew that, no matter what timeframe he gave her, she wanted to spend what she had left with the man holding her.