A few weeks later, Dammen glanced up from his terminal of star charts to see Casina standing uneasily in the open doorway.

“I was told you wanted to see me,” she explained as he observed her violet-blue gaze sweeping the room in an inquisitive manner.

“Yes,” he stated, then indicated a chair. “Have a seat.”

Without answering, she moved to sit warily on the edge of a padded swivel chair. He sensed her discomfort as his eyes followed her every move. As he did, he was hard-pressed to keep his gaping mouth closed at sight of her becoming choice of clothing, a short, laser-green garment trimmed with glittering gold threads....