"Would you join me for dinner?" he asked, pulling back. "I know you have ma.s.sage sessions scheduled for later this evening, and you're on duty tomorrow as well at your clinic-I hope you don't mind that I made inquiries about such things-but would you be willing to share a meal with me two nights from now?"

She ducked her head a little. "I don't know . . ."

"Please," he murmured, hunkering down a little in the hope that it would make him look more harmless. The full-throated roar of an enraged Haguaro was very intimidating to most, even if it had been aimed on her behalf rather than at her. "I would like you to get to know me better, and I would love to know you better, too. Please, have dinner with me."

She nibbled her lower lip and snuck a glance up at him. "You, um, don't eat your meat raw, do you?"

Viktor wrinkled his nose in disgust. "Hardly. I prefer my red meats cooked at least to medium-rare, and my fish and poultry fully cooked. And I do do eat vegetables." eat vegetables."

"Ah." She hesitated, considering his offer.

"Plus, I'm an absolute slave to cheese," he said, half teasing, half coaxing. She looked up at that, arching one reddish gold brow. "Oh, yes," he agreed, nodding to emphasize it. "Feed me cheese from your dainty fingertips, and I'll purr and sprawl and do almost anything you ask of me. I might even play 'fetch' if you asked nicely . . . say with a hunk of smoked gouda in your other hand?"

She wrinkled her nose at that, but thankfully only in laughter, not disgust. Pleased he had tickled her sense of humor, Viktor lifted her hand to his lips, giving her fingertips a kiss and a featherlight lick.

"Come, I'll walk you back to the visitor's center-you will go out with me in two nights, yes?" he asked, needing to know. "Please?"

Again, she hesitated. Finally, Raisa nodded, her body posture shy, her scent both curious and trepidatious. "All right. Here, or . . . ?"

Viktor considered the strength of his reaction to her, versus the likely reaction of others. Bringing her to my home for a private meal could tempt me into things she's clearly not ready for yet . . . but taking her out into public might make others voice a few "ewws" of their own . . . Bringing her to my home for a private meal could tempt me into things she's clearly not ready for yet . . . but taking her out into public might make others voice a few "ewws" of their own . . . There was really only one choice in the matter. He could take whatever insults might be flung his way, but he didn't know about her. "I will leave that choice up to you. We can dine in my home, in your home, or in a restaurant of your choosing." There was really only one choice in the matter. He could take whatever insults might be flung his way, but he didn't know about her. "I will leave that choice up to you. We can dine in my home, in your home, or in a restaurant of your choosing."

She tilted her head again, looking up at him. "Since I don't know if you can cook . . . and the way those boys reacted . . . it should probably be my house. If you're willing. You may be brave in the face of combat," Raisa added, her dimple making its lopsided appearance, "but I'll bet you haven't faced a disapproving, highly protective father over the dinner table."

He laughed. "I look forward to the challenge."

SIX dates. Six long, wonderful, impatient, agonizing dates. Long, because they inevitably ended up talking all the way to midnight. Wonderful, because it didn't seem possible they could run out of things to say to each other; even their moments of silence together were companionable rather than awkward. Impatient, because her work schedule only allowed them to meet two nights a week; having served in a combat zone recently, Viktor had arranged to take a few weeks to teach the latest tricks and tactics of the enemy to the next generation of Haguaro warriors, which allowed him to stay near the capital. His work took place in the mornings, and that left him at the mercy of her much more varied schedule. Agonizing, because he was doing his best to proceed at her her pace regarding intimacy. pace regarding intimacy.

Even with only a few kisses here and there for his meager satisfaction, Viktor had never enjoyed anyone's company so much before. They might have two disparate backgrounds and careers, but they also had many things in common: a good sense of wrong versus right; a love of archaic literature; and strong ties to their family history-or at least, in Viktor's case, as much history as he had been able to find out. Raisa could trace hers all the way back to ancient Earth. And with every wide-ranging conversation, they kept finding more things in common, more subjects to discuss, debate, and enjoy.

Their first three dates had been in the privacy of her home; she was a good cook, as was her father, though her father still wasn't too sure about Viktor's intentions. The next two dates had taken place in public restaurants. Those had been awkward, but necessary. Word had already gotten out that an Haguaro was seeing a Normal Normal. As in dating dating her. her.

Viktor wanted to show everyone that he was was a man, a civilized, normal man, for all he wasn't a Normal. Thus, this was their third time venturing into public together. a man, a civilized, normal man, for all he wasn't a Normal. Thus, this was their third time venturing into public together.

What he longed to do was bring her back to his home, where there was no lurking, wary father-though at least G.o.do Chavell seemed to be coming to terms with Viktor's presence-and no other distractions but the two of them. Nothing for them to do but interact, in whatever way she might desire. Instead, tonight they had attended a play.

As much as Viktor normally enjoyed the archaic comedy Much Ado About Nothing Much Ado About Nothing, the padded theater seats had been designed with Normal backsides in mind. His tail hurt from his being forced to sit on it through every act of the play. An awareness of his broad shoulders and height even when seated had forced him out of politeness to request seats in the back of the house, distancing them from the action. But in compensation for all the discomfort, she had held his hand. All the way through the performance and all the way outside.

The popularity of the acting company performing the play had forced Viktor to park his hoverbike a couple blocks away, but that was all right; it really wasn't a bad night for a stroll. The air was warm, the stars were out, and the gold and green glow of Thesten's Nebula could be seen rising off to the east, through the buildings of the Sullipin capital. Dressed in a buff gold vest and matching kilt, with sandals on his feet so that she wouldn't have to suppress the urge to giggle whenever she looked down at them, with her in a golden summer dress that almost matched his clothes, Viktor strolled contentedly at her side.

His contentment vanished when five men, ages ranging from early twenties to perhaps a little older than his own twenty-seven, stepped out of the shadows and crowded the sidewalk in front of them. Blocking their progress. The antagonism in their eyes, the mixture of alcohol, belligerence, and fear in their scent told him it wasn't an accident. No, seven men, for two more moved up behind them.

The liquor oozing from their pores told him that what they were planning wasn't based on wisdom or common sense. The fact that two of them had lengths of pipe held at their sides added to the impression. The scent of the woman at his side, startled and a little fearful, reinforced his bone-deep belief that Raisa had to be kept safe at all costs in this witless confrontation. That meant using calm, rational logic and civilized courtesy.

"Gentlemen, I will remind you that I am a government agent," Viktor stated calmly. "Attacking me is a crime. Committing any crime in my presence, such as attacking myself or or someone else, gives me the legal right to stop you. As it is a lovely night and there are a someone else, gives me the legal right to stop you. As it is a lovely night and there are a lot lot of witnesses around, witnesses who can see the weapons in your hands, I suggest you reconsider whatever it is you have in mind, and step aside." of witnesses around, witnesses who can see the weapons in your hands, I suggest you reconsider whatever it is you have in mind, and step aside."

The ones in front glanced around. There were, indeed, several witnesses to this confrontation. Not only several of the other theater patrons on their way to their own vehicles, but the drivers of the hovercars gliding just half a meter off the pavement next to them. Wisely, the group parted to either side. Viktor shifted from holding Raisa's hand to cupping her shoulders, visibly protecting her at his side as well as guiding her between the inebriated men.

A sting of sweaty adrenaline and a whisper of sound were his only warning. Sidestepping quickly, Viktor grunted under the blow, absorbing the burning impact.

"Freak!" his attacker shouted from behind, yanking the knife free. "You don't take our women! Stick to your own kind, you freaking beast!"

Viktor grunted again as the knife stabbed deep a second time. Through the pain reddening the edges of his vision, he heard the youth panting, felt him release the hilt, and turned slowly to face the drunken Normal. The younger man paled, eyes widening as Viktor faced him. He bared his teeth a little, displaying his slightly longer than human canines. That made the idiot blink, then flush.

When the idiot drew in a deep breath and balled up his fists, leaning in to attack, Viktor sighed and planted his right palm on the younger man's face, holding him at arm's length. The movement pulled at the wounds in Viktor's back, and it hurt, but being a lot taller meant the drunkard couldn't quite reach him. He endured the first two whiffing, would-be blows patiently, then shoved the idiot back. The dark-haired youth stumbled and sprawled onto the pavement with nothing hurt worse than his badly bruised dignity.

Pleased he had controlled his battle rage in spite of his pain, Viktor turned back toward the others . . . just as one of the older fools grabbed Raisa by the arm, pulling her away from him. Touching her.

Her.

Possessive fury exploded through him in a thundering roar of blood-rage red, destroying his careful self-control.

"Viktor!" Raisa's shout called him back to his senses, her voice hoa.r.s.e with both fear and anger. A glance showed her released and unharmed, untouched by anyone else. Of course, he had just attacked the only one foolish enough to try. Trembling, hands clenched in fists, Raisa lifted her chin. "Put him down. Now!" Raisa's shout called him back to his senses, her voice hoa.r.s.e with both fear and anger. A glance showed her released and unharmed, untouched by anyone else. Of course, he had just attacked the only one foolish enough to try. Trembling, hands clenched in fists, Raisa lifted her chin. "Put him down. Now!"

Blinking to clear the fury half-blinding him, Viktor lowered the man half-throttled in his grip, returning his feet to the ground. He did not immediately let go of the second idiot's throat, however. Leaning in close enough to smell the urine as well as the sweat soiling the other man's clothes, he growled, "You do not touch my woman."

Unpeeling his fingers, he released his prey. Unsure if she would let him touch her, now that she'd had a glimpse of how violent he could be, Viktor bowed and politely gestured with both hands for her to precede him. For a moment, she didn't move, just stared at him and his hand. Then, giving the others a defiant glare, Raisa placed her fingers in his. Deliberately touching him.

Relief washed through him in a shiver of anticlimax. Aware of the extent of his injuries, one deep wound bleeding freely and the other still stoppered with the knife causing it, he held himself stiff yet proud as they walked away together.

She chose chose me me, he thought as they crossed the intervening street and entered the hovercraft garage. She chose to take my hand in the face of their asinine prejudice . . . My woman She chose to take my hand in the face of their asinine prejudice . . . My woman chose chose me . . . me . . . It wasn't much, but it was a balm soothing some of his pain. It wasn't much, but it was a balm soothing some of his pain.

Reaching his hoverbike, Raisa climbed onto the seat first, shifting forward as she straddled it so that he could climb on behind. She glanced over her arm . . . and froze, staring at the ground. Her eyes widened, taking in the red smears. "Viktor, you're bleeding!"

"I know," he grunted. He quickly stopped her with a hand on her arm when she tried to dismount. "We have to go back to Headquarters to file an incident report."

"Incident, h.e.l.l! We have to get you to a hospital!" she swore.

He managed a smile as he pressed her back into place. Swinging his leg over the rear end of the bike certainly hurt, but it wouldn't kill him. "That's the other reason we have to go back. A regular hospital won't do me much good. They don't know enough about Haguaro physiology to help quite as well.

"Besides, I heal a lot faster than a Normal. By the time we get back, most of the bleeding will have stopped." That was an exaggeration, but he didn't want her to worry. "I am concerned about the knife still stuck in my lower ribs, but so long as I don't move too much, I'll survive. I've had a lot worse, too, fighting on the border. And they'll need the evidence on the blade to track down the man responsible."

"Is there anything I can do?" she asked, concern keeping her eyes wide and her face pale. "Do you want me to fly the bike?"

"It has an auto-return program. Just stay with me," he murmured, activating the controls and setting the autopilot. "That'll be enough."

"All right." Gripping the support struts for the handlebars, she nodded, then shrugged. "I've never . . . never seen anyone move so fast. You just . . . Wow. It was rather . . . scary."

"They threatened you. I couldn't let them hurt you." Punching the b.u.t.ton that engaged the thrusters, Viktor set the bike moving under auto-return. As a government vehicle, his bike didn't have to stick to the meter-high rule, particularly under auto-return; within moments, they glided up out of the multi-story garage, soaring into the night air. Using the comm, he gave a terse report of the incident, the fact that he was injured, and was returning to the Haguaro compound for medical aid.

The safety field snapped up as they angled to the southeast over the city, cutting out the increasing force of the wind stirred by their flight. That trapped her scent in the coc.o.o.n of static energy sheltering them. Lowering his face to her upswept hair, Viktor soothed some of his pain by resting his chin on her shoulder and breathing it in, until nothing mattered but the fact that she was safely unharmed.

"I need to thank you," he admitted a few moments later, distracting himself from the pain in his ribs. "I was so upset at the thought of them hurting you, I don't think I would have stopped without you telling me to. I don't normally get that upset. They didn't deserve to be hurt just because they were a bunch of drunken idiots."

"You really really scared me," she confessed quietly over her shoulder. "I thought you were going to tear those men to pieces right in front of me." scared me," she confessed quietly over her shoulder. "I thought you were going to tear those men to pieces right in front of me."

"I'm sorry," he murmured. "But this is part of what I am, and what I do. All I can promise is that I will never hurt you."

"How do I know that?"

Her doubt hurt as much as his wounds. He could ignore the ache in his back, but not this. Leaning forward just a little more to purr in her ear, Viktor gave her the truth. "You're my mate."

Raisa shivered, but she didn't move away. Not even when he leaned in close enough to rest against her back. Breathing in her scent, soaking in her warmth, Viktor let the bike carry them back.

SHE wasn't there when he woke up from the anesthetics. His spleen was still there, despite the severity of its lacerations, but that was more due to the recuperative abilities of regen paste than due to Haguaro healing abilities. Lying on his side in the recovery bed, Viktor listened to Cameron explain how he had taken Raisa's statements and that Keisia had offered her a ride back home. Hearing that Raisa was gone was a painful disappointment to him.

And then the liaison officer had the gall to lecture him on how disruptive it was to try and date outside the Haguaro. How his abilities as a warrior needed to be preserved and pa.s.sed on to the next generation, and shouldn't be diluted by the Normal genome. How he had a responsibility to ensure that the future citizens of Sullipin would still enjoy the protections of his own kind decades from now.

If Viktor hadn't been muzzy from the surgery drugs, he would have growled at the other man. Allowing himself to fall back asleep instead, he saved pondering the implications hidden in the defense liaison's statements for later. He hurt too much right now, inside and out, to do anything but sleep.

It wasn't until he returned to his own quarters the next day and had the chance to catch up on the news feeds that he saw part of the reason why Cameron had been so upset. Journalists were still talking about the near-fight that had happened outside the theater . . . and soliciting opinions on the thought of an Haguaro trying to date a Normal. Some of the average citizens' reactions were positive, but many more started with something along the lines of "Well, he is is a hero and all, and we're very grateful, of course . . . ," only to end with a variant of "he really should stick to his own kind, for her sake" or "just to be safe." a hero and all, and we're very grateful, of course . . . ," only to end with a variant of "he really should stick to his own kind, for her sake" or "just to be safe."

It didn't take long for him to hear what his fellow Haguaro thought of the matter, either. While he was debating watching a boring football match or yet more gossiping vid journalists trashing his attempt at a love life, Keisia knocked on his door. He knew it was her because she entered a moment later, bearing two bags of food. From the smell of it, one bag contained a roasted chicken, the other stir-fried vegetables.

"I figured you'd be ready for lunch by the time they let you out," she stated, carrying everything over to the lounger where he had settled to watch the news. "Hospital food always tastes wrong to me, like they're trying too hard."

Her left ear twitched back and forth as she set the bags on the table and started extracting the contents. There were even two slices of cheesecake in little plexi boxes, he noted. Finally, something much more interesting than the news. Finally, something much more interesting than the news.

Keisia smiled slightly, seeing his ears p.r.i.c.k up at the sight of his dessert. "I'll go fetch the plates. And a gla.s.s of milk?"

She paused, and her ear twitched again. Viktor sighed. "Spit it out, Keisia. I know you have something to say; your ears never lie."

Sighing roughly, she dropped to a crouch on the other side of his coffee table. Elbows on knees, with the pleats of her red kilt draped between them, she met his gaze steadily. "You shouldn't be pursuing a Normal, Viktor. You are an Haguaro. Nothing you do, nothing you try, will ever change that. We are what we are, and we will always be it."

He returned her steady stare. "What I am am is a human being. First and foremost." is a human being. First and foremost."

"You aren't aren't a human! You're an Haguaro!" she shot back. a human! You're an Haguaro!" she shot back.

"I am a genetically engineered human human!" Viktor argued firmly, ears flattening against his skull. "Genetically engineered, but still still a a human human. We know for a fact fact that Haguaros and Normals can interbreed, because they were still doing it to us when our ancestors escaped!" that Haguaros and Normals can interbreed, because they were still doing it to us when our ancestors escaped!"

"Yes, and most most of the time, the Haguaro side breeds true!" Keisia snapped, tail thumping on the carpet as she lashed it. "Do you think the Normals want to hear that? Do you think of the time, the Haguaro side breeds true!" Keisia snapped, tail thumping on the carpet as she lashed it. "Do you think the Normals want to hear that? Do you think she she will want to hear it? Do you think she would want to bear your children, knowing that? Do you think she'd will want to hear it? Do you think she would want to bear your children, knowing that? Do you think she'd do do it willingly, if she knew three out of four of her kids would end up furry, with teeth?" it willingly, if she knew three out of four of her kids would end up furry, with teeth?"

"I don't know. I haven't asked. Yet Yet," he added daringly.

She narrowed her eyes, blinked slowly, and let out a sigh of disgust. "She's only going to disappoint you. And you're going to p.i.s.s off your superiors. They won't stand for you dallying with a Normal."

"That!" Viktor exclaimed, pouncing verbally on her statement. Keisia jumped, started. "That is what bothered me yesterday!" is what bothered me yesterday!"

"What bothered you?" she asked, frowning. "The truth?" bothered you?" she asked, frowning. "The truth?"

"The att.i.tude that we're supposed to keep to ourselves, breed with ourselves, and continue to propagate a perfect warrior species! Don't you see it?" he demanded, hoping that she did see it. Keisia was his friend. He hoped the intelligence he knew she possessed would connect the dots. "This is exactly exactly what we were bred for." what we were bred for."

"I know! That's what I'm trying to tell you! Haguaro stick to our own kind!" she repeated, flipping up her hands.

Groaning, Viktor sagged back onto the cushions of the lounger. "Stars give me strength . . . Keisia, our ancestors were bred bred to be warriors, and to be warriors, and kept kept as warriors . . . but our ancestors as warriors . . . but our ancestors knew knew that we were still human beings! We have the same rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness as the ancients did back on Earth! It is that we were still human beings! We have the same rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness as the ancients did back on Earth! It is wrong wrong to demand that we stick to our own kind. It is to demand that we stick to our own kind. It is wrong wrong to demand that we take mates only among each other! If to demand that we take mates only among each other! If we we restrict ourselves, we are no better than the Gengin-crafting b.a.s.t.a.r.ds who made us, because they wanted to restrict ourselves, we are no better than the Gengin-crafting b.a.s.t.a.r.ds who made us, because they wanted to enslave enslave us! us!

"They created us because they wanted an army of genetically modified beasts they could command! created us because they wanted an army of genetically modified beasts they could command! They They forced us to breed forced us to breed more more of our kind, to concentrate our genome and strengthen it by of our kind, to concentrate our genome and strengthen it by breeding breeding with each other. They only used Normals because it still takes an Haguaro woman nine months to carry her child to term, and they wanted to increase their breeding stock exponentially-but they still wanted us to with each other. They only used Normals because it still takes an Haguaro woman nine months to carry her child to term, and they wanted to increase their breeding stock exponentially-but they still wanted us to be be Haguaro. Haguaro.

"They culled culled the non-fuzzy, non-toothy babies, Keisia! How is the non-fuzzy, non-toothy babies, Keisia! How is that that any different from the idea that the Haguaro of here and now are ' any different from the idea that the Haguaro of here and now are 'supposed ' to stick solely to our own kind, and not risk breeding ' to stick solely to our own kind, and not risk breeding Normal Normal children with children with Normal Normal mates? Is that what you want? To be mates? Is that what you want? To be forced forced to stick to our own kind? In to stick to our own kind? In another another d.a.m.ned breeding program?" d.a.m.ned breeding program?"

Expecting a counterargument, he waited, ears flat and eyes squeezed shut. She didn't say anything. Prying open one eye, Viktor peered at her. Keisia still crouched on the other side of the low table, and her ears were flat, but her whiskers were pulled down in unhappiness. Only the tip of her tail twitched, echoing the subdued restlessness of her thoughts.

Sighing, he relaxed a little.

"You know know I'm right. And you can't argue that it's just about me gone over my head for some Normal woman. Cameron and the others may have the best of intentions toward ensuring there are always Haguaro to defend this land, but those att.i.tudes are paving a road right back to the genetic captivity our progenitors fought so hard to escape. They and we I'm right. And you can't argue that it's just about me gone over my head for some Normal woman. Cameron and the others may have the best of intentions toward ensuring there are always Haguaro to defend this land, but those att.i.tudes are paving a road right back to the genetic captivity our progenitors fought so hard to escape. They and we are are still human beneath all this fur. When our great-plus-grandparents crashed here, they signed a charter that still human beneath all this fur. When our great-plus-grandparents crashed here, they signed a charter that guaranteed guaranteed that they and their descendants would be free to choose their path in life. Which that they and their descendants would be free to choose their path in life. Which includes includes who they would mate with, and when, and how often. who they would mate with, and when, and how often.

"That each generation has agreed to use our strengths and skills to protect Sullipin is a testament to our continued honoring of that pact for freedom of choice. Not Not an indictment of our willingness to return to being warrior-slaves." He fell quiet for a few moments, letting her think, then flicked his hand in the direction of his kitchen. "And yes, I an indictment of our willingness to return to being warrior-slaves." He fell quiet for a few moments, letting her think, then flicked his hand in the direction of his kitchen. "And yes, I would would like a gla.s.s of milk." like a gla.s.s of milk."

Her ears flicked back at his peremptory order, but she wrinkled her muzzle more in a grin than in a grimace. "I should make you get it yourself, you lazy tail . . ."

Pursing his lips in an attempt to avoid a grin of his own, Viktor draped his wrist over his forehead. "My injuries have left me so weakened, I don't think I'll be able to walk-have pity on me, Keisia; I'm dying, here! Dying of thirst . . . thirst . . ."

"Dying of overacting, maybe," she muttered, but pushed herself upright. Padding toward the kitchen, she stopped as his comm unit chimed. "You want me to get that?"

"Yes, please." It was probably a call from someone at Headquarters, though it could be one of his parents; his mother and father were stationed on the Kessepin border, now that all their cubs . . . all their children children were fully grown. He'd get up for the latter, but not the former. Viktor was officially on medical leave for the next week, to make sure the newly regenerated tissues weren't strained by the rigors of combat . . . and right now, if it was the defense liaison, he would probably say several things that should wait for a much more formal and politely worded draft. were fully grown. He'd get up for the latter, but not the former. Viktor was officially on medical leave for the next week, to make sure the newly regenerated tissues weren't strained by the rigors of combat . . . and right now, if it was the defense liaison, he would probably say several things that should wait for a much more formal and politely worded draft.

Besides, leaving Keisia to catch the call meant he could investigate the delicious smells wafting out of the carry-out containers she had so generously brought. He might not love her as a mate, but there were several reasons he loved her as a friend.

"h.e.l.lo, you've reached Viktor Ragerip's . . . Oh. It's you."

Viktor looked up. Keisia quickly swiveled the comm unit, which sat on the end of the counter dividing his living room from the kitchen and dining areas, so that it faced into the kitchen. She looked over at him as she did so, but rather than chiding him for getting into the plexi container holding the roasted chicken without waiting for her, she dipped her ears and returned her gaze to the screen.

"Look . . . forget everything I said to you last night when I took you home," she told the caller on the other end of the screen. "Drop everything and get over here . . . because even I'm not going to go against the wishes of a dying man."

"A what what?" he heard Raisa's voice exclaim through the comm unit's speakers.

Viktor, caught in the act of nibbling on one juicy drumstick, froze. A A what what? he echoed silently. he echoed silently. A dying man? Who is she . . . ? Ohhh . . . A dying man? Who is she . . . ? Ohhh . . .

Hope made his heart pound in his chest. He knew this could turn out to be a very dangerous ploy if it backfired, but he also knew he had his best friend firmly on his side. If nothing else, he knew he could let her take all the blame and she'd do it. He'd owe owe her majorly-what else were best friends for but blackmail opportunities and owing giant favors, anyway-but she'd do it. her majorly-what else were best friends for but blackmail opportunities and owing giant favors, anyway-but she'd do it.

I'll have to help her when it comes time to bag her own mate, of course . . .

"Please, drive carefully," he heard Keisia cautioning his caller. "It would be far too tragic if anything happened to you before . . ." She paused, glanced his way, and lowered her whiskers. "Anyway, I'll let Security know you're on your way. Here, let me pa.s.s you a map to his home address, in case you haven't been here yet. If you haven't, I'm sure you'll recognize it anyway, since it's the only house covered in roses . . ."

A few murmured words later, she ended the call. Fetching two gla.s.ses of milk and two sets of tableware, she set them on the coffee table and snagged a cushion from a nearby chair. Settling onto it, she smirked. "You totally totally owe me for that." owe me for that."

"You're right, I do. If she gets upset at the trick you've just played, I'll point out that you you played it. Here I was, minding my own business as I recuperated from a played it. Here I was, minding my own business as I recuperated from a minor minor combat injury, totally innocent of your machinations," he said mockingly. combat injury, totally innocent of your machinations," he said mockingly.

"Minor, like h.e.l.l; I saw the scans they took of your spleen," Keisia snorted. "And don't eat all the chicken. Have some vegetables, too-not the stuff with garlic! If she smells garlic on your breath, it'll give the game away."

"I like like garlic. I'll gargle with mouthwash." He reached for the container of garlic beef again, only to have his hand slapped. garlic. I'll gargle with mouthwash." He reached for the container of garlic beef again, only to have his hand slapped.

"Seriously, stay away from the garlic! You can't kiss someone unless they've eaten it, too, and mouthwash only goes so far in masking it," Keisia argued. "Garlic burps are not not romantic." romantic."

"Fine. But I get to keep both both slices of cheesecake." Viktor ignored her mock growl and her mock flattened ears. Her tail wasn't lashing. "I'll need slices of cheesecake." Viktor ignored her mock growl and her mock flattened ears. Her tail wasn't lashing. "I'll need something something to sweeten her mood after she's discovered your little trick, and I know she likes cheesecake. If I lay off the garlic . . . well, with any luck, we'll be eating our dessert in bed." to sweeten her mood after she's discovered your little trick, and I know she likes cheesecake. If I lay off the garlic . . . well, with any luck, we'll be eating our dessert in bed."