Chosen by the Governor (27 page)

From that point on, not only had she the support of the Eagle Network, but also the willpower of the EDC. The Free Freya campaign had joined together the nations of Earth into one voice. The Vendu couldn’t ignore them. However, progress toward her release would be slow, Marco had warned her back then. She’d watched the video a few times until he’d told her not to, because it made her too homesick.

He’d distracted her with projects. He allowed her to help with the production of a play—a comedy that suited the tastes of many of the prisoners, as it included slapstick and wit. The script had been written on the paper produced in the old factory. She’d taken the opportunity to catch up with Jean and Abby, pleased to find them in good health and spirits. They’d joined a dance troupe. Generally, the atmosphere in the canyon was good-natured and less violent. Although the factions still managed to make trouble from time to time, it seemed to Freya that the prisoners had some hope in their lives.

Hope had been something Freya had nearly lost, and then regained when Marco opened his heart to her. If it weren’t for his connections back on Halos, she’d never be free.

Marco’s mother had worked a miracle. Freya wished she could meet her and thank her in person, but the opportunity had never transpired. Marco’s dream of visiting Halos remained unfulfilled. Too risky, he’d tell her. Who knew what might happen to Freya if he took her there.

When the judgment arrived on Tagra, informing Freya her sentence for spying had been quashed, and that her time in the penal colony was sufficient penance for illicit filming, she’d nearly collapsed into a faint. The relief and joy merged into an overwhelming sense of exhaustion.

Marco had supported her in his arms and she’d heard the unfamiliar pounding of his concerned heartbeats. Although pleased for her, she’d known that he feared the day of her departure. His tenure on Tagra was not complete.

It had been an easy decision to make. “I’m not going home,” she’d announced.

The man was honest enough not to lie about his feelings. He hadn’t told her to reconsider, nor had he pleaded for her to go back on the basis of a false claim of self-sacrifice. He needed her still. Instead, he threw a party to celebrate her new status as his unfettered companion. Lalita had joined the celebrations, along with a few jenjins, Gellis and Jophran—who now had a job in the city, allowing them to reside together—and her good friend and loyal maid, Tally.

After Marco had removed Freya from the Volta, she’d dreaded that Lalita might despise her. But contrary to her fears, the overseer accepted the situation with little argument. According to Marco, she might envy Freya’s special status, but her natural dignity prevented her from showing any signs of jealousy or bitterness. The emperor had let Lalita go because she’d passed out of favor. The same would never be true for Freya.

“I love you,” Marco would end each day whispering it into Freya’s ear before she fell asleep in his arms.

That love would be the role model for future negotiations between Earthlings and the Vendu, he’d declared. Barriers would come down, borders would open, and diplomacy would replace aggression. More important for Freya, terraforming had been offered freely to Earth. The opening gambit had paid off. Negotiations for a new treaty had started.

“Do you really think it will happen? Our two species co-existing, interbreeding?” she’d asked Marco one evening.

He’d shrugged. “It helps that a new planet has been discovered that looks promising. Uninhabited by humanoids and barely needing terraforming, it could serve as somewhere for both humans and Vendu to populate and raise their children uninhibited by prejudice. Lucilla’s people too, if they wish. However, it will take time to establish. A long time.”

“Rome wasn’t built in a day.” Freya remembered his bemused expression at her remark.

“I don’t think many things are built in a day,” he’d responded with furrowed eyebrows.

“Never mind, sir. You’ll have to learn all these idioms once you arrive on Earth.”

She turned away from the vast window in his office and rested her hands on his shoulders.

“There,” he said, swiping the screen into darkness. “My last act as governor of Tagra.” He looped his arm around her waist and she slid onto his lap.

“It’s a good day,” she remarked.

“Tomorrow we’ll begin the journey to Earth. I’m looking forward to meeting your parents. Seeing Geneva.”

“We’ll be quite the couple. I’m not sure I’m going to like all the media attention. There’s bound to be those who’ll think I’m a traitor and deserve—”

Marco pressed his finger to her lips. “Yes, and on my side too. It won’t alter the course of things. I can prove to them that the Vendu can change.” He stroked her cheek, releasing her mouth for him to kiss. He slid his other hand underneath her bottom and squeezed her ass cheek.

She winced, as the previous day she’d earned a punishment for losing her temper over a trivial matter. She blamed nerves at the impending departure, but he’d decided the cure was a good hard spanking.

“I think we should keep quiet about the exact nature of our relationship,” she suggested.

He smirked. “They don’t take to spanking on Earth?”

“Not quite as you see it, sir, no. I would say we’d have more chance at promoting relationships between aliens than spanking.”

“Pity.” The grin spread across his face. “I’ve no plans to stop.”

“Nor would I expect you to, sir.”

“Or fucking you. I have great plans for fucking you after all that time in stasis.”

She huffed. “I hate it. Being shut in that tube on my own.”

“Ah, I have a surprise for you. I was going to wait until tomorrow.” He nuzzled his nose in her hair and sniffed. “You’ll not lie in one of those narrow tubes. I’ve had made something special. A double tube. We can lie side by side, then wake up together on Earth.”

The second sun rose above the horizon. An extra layer of light bathed the room. Freya’s spirits rose in tandem with the brightness. “Thank you,” she whispered. “Thank you for everything.”

Marco cocked his head to one side. “It’s my pleasure. You are, after all, my everything.”

The End

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