The Interplanetary Guild of Human Affairs sends out dozens of delegations to planets all around the galaxy. Four of the Guild’s employees -- Star, Nate, Fara, and Josh -- grew close on one such delegation, and over the course of five years on assignment, developed a comfortable, happy relationship.<br><br>Then the assignment ends, the group returns to the new human homeworld, Reyhan, where they receive new orders. For the first time in years, they are going to be separated. Between the far-flung locations and length of assignments, there is no way to know when they’ll be together again.<br><br>But Star is not one to simply take what the world throws at them. As a respected bodyguard and security officer, Star’s existence revolves around protecting precious things. Nothing in the galaxy is more precious than their partners’ happiness. With countless variables to consider and dozens of ways it could all fall apart, will it be possible for the group to stay together?

Home

“I’m staying home,” I said, surprised by the breathless relief in my own voice. I lifted my eyes to my partners and saw a mixture of relief and disappointment on Fara and Nate’s faces. My excitement disappeared. “You’re not staying home, are you?”


“No,” Fara said. “Negotiating trade with the Carmenians on their home planet.”


Nate offered Josh’s comm back to him with a rueful smile. “At least you two will be together.”


“What?” Josh yanked his hand free of mine so he could snatch the comm back from the man across the table from him. His dark eyes skipped back and forth across the screen for a second before he looked at Fara with a wide smile. “I’m your advisor!”


The two of them sprang out of their chairs to embrace, laughing, and despite my own disappointment, I smiled. Nate squeezed my thigh under the table and I laid my hand on his.


Chapter 2