Chiss had spent the better part of the morning trying to reconnect with Vosi. 

He knew it was in his best interest to try and distance himself from Macon. 

She belonged to the commander in every way that mattered except for one. 

"Oh, I know what would be a devine distraction this eve." Vosi's eyes lit up with excitement and she clapped her hands together and something about her began to grind away at Macon's nerves. 

She honestly had to check herself to make sure she wasn't scowling as she gripped her glass a little too tightly. 

"We should go to the bathing pools.  It's been ages." Vosi's voice neared a whine. 

Ander's shot Chiss a sideways glance and Macon caught the small gesture, but before either of them could object the boys' mother praised the idea.  "Oh that would be a lovely distraction for the eve and when you all return, we will have the dinner party readied."

Surprise evident on Chiss's face.  "Mother, a dinner party is not necessary."

Her expression fell. 

"It isn't every day that my son returns home after so many rotations.  Please let me celebrate you." 

"As you wish." Chiss nodded as he resigned himself to the idea. 

"And I have an extra bathing gown for your guest." Vosi smiled sweetly. 

Macon's eyes darted nervously to Chiss who wore a face of indifference and nodded his head slightly in approval. 

Perhaps one of his mother's bathing gowns would be more appropriate for Macon he thought, but it was too late. 

XOXO

Macon looked down at herself once again as she practically hid behind a large stone in the cavern that was home to the bathing pool. 

The cavern had been no more than a ten minute walk from Chiss's estate. 

The "bathing gown" that Vosi had given her was no more than a muslin chemise that would be entirely see though once she stepped foot in the water. 

"Macon, come join us." She heard Chiss's voice as it echoed from the pool. 

She slowly rounded the large stone that hid her. 

Standing there in dim light of the cavern, ripples from the water danced over her delicate outline. 

She didn't miss the guttural growl that slipped from Chiss's mouth as she came into view. 

The primal sound sent a chill through her body.

She didn't miss the way he'd coughed seconds later in attempt to cover the sound either.

Vosi's eyes seemed to grow dark with realization, and Macon did her best to appear unaffected by the whole ordeal.

"So tell me," Anders said as he raised partially  out of the water and fixed his gaze on Macon. "How did you find yourself as my brother's companion?"

Macon laughed nervously and lowered herself down into the hot water. "It's really a long story. Maybe I'll let Chiss do the honors."

Anders looked to Chiss waiting for some sort of explanation.

With a deep breath and in a clipped tone Chiss offered. "Macon is promised to the Commander. We came upon her during our last rotation, and she returned with the Commander as his expected."

"Xane? Really?" Vosi didn't try to hide the surprise in her voice.

Chiss couldn't believe her audacity. Why should she be surprised?

Noting Chiss's disapproval, Vosi tried her best clarify. "It's just that with all of the human couplings that we've heard of. There's been no one that I knew personally, until now.

"The Commander should be so lucky to have someone like you to watch over his intended as I'm sure you do."

Vosi seemed to note the implications that were laced in Ander's words.

Her mouth quirked to the side like she'd eaten something sour.