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one would ever look at her the way Egilka looked at Jessica. “Try not to have too much fun,” she managed.
    Jessica stopped gazing at her Imdiko long enough to make a face. The door closed behind them when they stepped out of the room.
    Tasha smiled down at the precious little girl in her arms. “Okay, my fine young lady. What shall we do tonight?”
     
     
    Chapter 3
     
    Tasha and Noelle laughed uproariously as they flew small remote-controlled shuttles around the nursery. The toys were pricey for a three-year-old in Tasha’s opinion, but they were sturdy. They easily withstood the princess’ still-developing motor skills as she crashed her vehicle into walls, the lounger, toy bins, her sleeping mat, and the floor. Sometimes she smashed into Tasha’s shuttle. Knocking the rival shuttle out of the air seemed to be Noelle’s one true passion. She loved to make mayhem on a small scale.
    The pair were having a blast when one of Jessica’s Imdiko stylists came into the room with a pitcher of topaz liquid and glass in hand. He was a pleasant-faced man, though not remarkable. Certainly not Nobek rough and delicious. Tasha paused, landing her toy craft as he bowed to them.
    “Excuse me for disturbing you, my princess and Matara Tasha. We are finished with cleaning up the empress’ dressing room and are ready to leave.”
    Tasha nodded. “Okay. Have a good night.”
    He dipped his head in acknowledgment. “Thank you. Empress Jessica didn’t touch her shel. Dramok Cral thought perhaps you would like it?”
    Tasha considered for a moment. She didn’t like the idea of drinking while babysitting Noelle. However, shel was not high in alcohol and she had developed a rather high tolerance for liquor.
    She thought one drink would be all right. “Sure, I’ll take it off your hands.”
    The Imdiko was polite enough to pour the glass for her. He handed it to her, chuckling indulgently when Noelle’s still-flying shuttle nearly collided with his skull. Tasha winced an apology.
    “There’s thanks for your service, getting a shuttle in your ear.”
    “It looks like my princess is having a good time.” He didn’t look offended, thank goodness. Imdikos were always more interested in the welfare of others than their own.
    Tasha remonstrated her small charge anyway. “Noelle, watch where you’re flying that thing.” She raised her glass to the smiling Imdiko. “Thank you. I think this one glass is all I’ll have, if you don’t mind taking care of the rest of it?”
    “Not at all. Good evening, Matara, my princess.” The young man bowed again and left the room. Tasha heard his footsteps recede down the hall through the open nursery door.
    Tasha didn’t realize she’d performed her usual habit of watching Kalquorian ass leave the room until Noelle’s voice roused her from a daydream. “Are you flying with me, cousin?”
    “Absolutely.” Tasha took a sip of the shel first. It was as smooth drink, no doubt pricey if it came from the Imperial Clan’s stores. That particular vintage had a sharper aroma than the usual, she thought.
    Tasha swallowed with no small amount of gratification. “Only the finest in the home of the Imperial Clan,” she saluted no one in particular.
    She got back to playing with Noelle. Soon they were laughing loudly again, swooping and diving and banging into every possible surface they could. Tasha sipped her shel from time to time, enjoying herself.
    Sex and flirting are wonderful, but this is what really counts. Family. A child’s laugh. Relaxing and not playing a part for anyone.
    Tasha couldn’t lie that she felt as if a weight had been taken off her shoulders now that she had resolved to remove herself from the lottery. Her one true regret was that she’d have to move from the Matara Complex. She’d made a lot of friends there and the amenities were topnotch.
    At least she’d still have the occasional companionship of Commander Bifen. She’d met the blunt craggy-faced Nobek a few