Alien Soulmate(37)

Carver shook his head. It had occurred to him that their father had named the two of them as leaders, but Angen was dead, and his word was gone with him. Carver was in command now, and he had a much better idea. "No, the further away Ithril is from power, the better, I think. I had a different idea." He smiled. "You, E'lira. You are much more suited to lead than either Ithril or I."

E'lira looked stunned, mouth open and eyes big in her pretty face. "But... But... Me?" she asked. "Are you sure? I mean, I never... I haven't been trained for this kind of thing!"

He laughed at that. "E'lira, don't be absurd. You were right there most of the time when Father was teaching Ithril and me, and what you didn't see, we told you about. You know just as much as we do, and what's better is that you're more suited for it. I'm too set in my ways, and Ithril's too hot headed, but you're the perfect mid point between us. You'd do wonderfully."

"Do you really think that, or do you just want to go back to Earth?" E'lira asked, giving him a sharp look.

Carver laughed harder and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "It is definitely a mix of both, believe me. But I do honestly believe you can do this. You have all of Father's notes and you're terribly smart on your own. Do you want it?"

Because he wouldn't force it on her. No matter how much he longed to be back with Vivian in their cabin and in her arms, he had a responsibility to his people, and he wasn't going to turn his back on them if she didn't want to be in charge.

But from the set of her mouth and the way her eyes were alight with possibilities, Carver was pretty sure that she did want it.

"I want it," she said after a moment. "Everyone's always going on about how Sitheri women can have whatever they want, and I want this. I want to make a difference."

"I knew you would. Father would be proud of you, you know. Mother would, too."

E'lira just stared at him for a moment and then she was throwing her arms around his neck and hugging him tightly, nearly crying on his shoulder.

It was going to be hard to be so far away from her, especially since visiting wasn't going to be an easy thing, but it was about time they all found their places in life.