Alien Redemption [Clans of Kalquor 06] by Tracy St. John Page A

arrangement as well. If you do court her, you will have to hand her primary therapy over to another doctor.”
    Relief swept over Conyod. Govi was giving him the opportunity, clearing a major hurdle.
    “Thank you, Dr. Govi. You have my profound appreciation.”
    Govi wagged a finger at him. “Let me warn you, I’m going to be objective about this. If I think for one second it will be detrimental to Rachel in any way, I will rule against it.”
    “Of course. I trust your judgment.” He couldn’t help the elation burning in his chest however. It was the first truly bright hope he’d felt in awhile.
    Kivokan asked, “What about your Nobek, Conyod? He’s had a little trouble adjusting since returning from the war, hasn’t he?”
    That took a little of the thrill away. Kivokan’s Nobek Akrij was Erybet and Sletran’s commanding officer. He’d know intimately what had happened to his clanmates. The evaluating look on Kivokan’s face made Conyod wonder if Akrij had gone against the security orders, if he’d shared the top secret information with the Dramok.
    Jealousy flared at the thought Kivokan might have the knowledge Conyod was desperate to discover, knowledge that would allow him to help his clanmates recover. It made him downplay how bad things had become.
    “Being put on administrative leave has set Sletran adrift. You know how Nobeks need something to keep them busy or they get stir crazy. Getting to know Rachel and figuring out how to best take care of her needs will give him an important goal.”
    Great, now he sounded like Erybet, spouting nonsense. But he refused to give Kivokan the satisfaction of admitting anything was wrong with his clan. Not only that, he needed Rachel.
    With his clan in shambles, she was the only thing worth getting up in the morning for. Worth sticking around for.
    Govi gave another of his long pauses before saying, “Whether she’ll be a positive for your clan and Nobek is a question ultimately for your Dramok to decide. Meanwhile, I’ll give you an answer about Rachel tomorrow.”
    Conyod rose and bowed respectfully to Govi. “Thank you again, Doctor.”
    He left the office to start his regular rounds, feeling positive. Rachel was determined, and he had no doubt she would convince his superiors she was definite about being with him. With Erybet determined to clan a Matara, the only opposition he could foresee from his Dramok was that Rachel’s trauma might be too much to add to their already distressed clan.
    At the end of his shift, Conyod bid Rachel a sweet goodbye for the day, kissing her until they were gasping and on the verge of another romp. The summons at her door announcing the evening meal kept that from happening. Eager to broach the subject of clanning his beloved, Conyod went home after promising Rachel he would come to the hospital early in the morning.
    He rehearsed what he would say to his clanmates the entire way home. It was with nervous hopefulness that he entered their quarters and went in search of the other two. He found them sitting on the balcony on weatherproof seating, silently watching the sun set over the ocean.
    Both wore gloomier looks than usual. Conyod hoped his news would lift their spirits a little.
    The men looked at him as he came out on the balcony, murmuring greetings. Conyod went to the low wall of the balcony, but was too excited to appreciate the way the setting sun tinged the green-hued sea with amber highlights. He faced his clanmates.
    He searched their eyes, as he always did these days, for a glimmer of warmth as they gazed at him. It was that bare touch of affection that kept him from completely giving up on the altered pair and running away. He found it. They still cared for him; they were simply too lost in their misery to display much of it these days.
    Erybet even managed a ghost of a smile. “My Imdiko is home from work before dark for a change. This is a special occasion.”
    Conyod clasped his hands behind his back to