Her smile grew. "I do belong." She placed a hand on her belly. "I belong to Keilor, and he belongs to me. If I never had anyone else, he would be enough."

Leo looked away and shook her head. "I don't understand that." Noticing her admirers, she scowled. "How can you know it's you he loves and that he's not caught in the spell of the charmer?"

Shrugging, Jasmine answered, "We're past all of that. He's said he loves me and I believe him. It's there in his eyes, in the way he treats me. It's in his kiss, like nothing I've ever experienced, and it has nothing to do with skill. I believe even if I'd never been a charmer, we still would have come together. The pheromone isn't irresistible. It doesn't command the heart." Jasmine grinned as she caught sight of Mathin, who was headed straight for them, and pitched her voice a tad higher. "It might have brought him to heel quicker, though."

Dark eyes caressed Leo with unnerving intensity. "I'd be pleased to be at your heels anytime, sweet charmer." He leaned in closer, bridging her personal space, and murmured against her ear, "or your knees, or even-"

Leo shouldered him out of her way and stalked on, blond ponytail switching, hips swaying angrily. A low hum of appreciation vibrated from Mathin.

Jasmine caught his arm. "She doesn't like you, Mathin."

"Hm. The way you didn't *like' Keilor?"

Flushing, she crossed her arms. "That was different."

Mathin smirked, "Did your husband ever tell you that we can smell a woman's arousal?" Her eyes widened, and he flashed her a wicked smile of assurance. "Leo likes me very much, I promise you." Pulling away from her slack grip, he followed after Leo.

Jasmine blinked. So that was how it was. Still, she liked Leo, and she didn't want to see her get hurt. Not that her watchful Ronin escort would ever allow Mathin to get Leo alone...but still. Jasmine knew how such dogged pursuit could weaken a girl's heart.

With a fatalistic sigh, she shook off her concerns, promising herself she wouldn't interfere. Love was a messy thing, but those two were both adults, and they'd just have to fight it out like everyone else.

CHAPTER 31.

The one walk through the marketplace was Leo's last. Her presence had been scented and witnessed, and now all they had to do was wait.

"Seventeen days there, seventeen days back," Jasmine said, shaking her head. "Unless Yesande has taken up residence in the neighborhood, or unless she's got someone closer to home keeping an eye on things, you're going to have to purge the charmer thing, Leo."

Jasmine picked up one of the long sticks that speared the marinated meats and vegetables on the tray nearest her. She moved from the table to the bonfire Keilor had built in the fire pit. The fire was the only light in the darkened and deceptively unprotected garden. Fireflies danced and whizzed through the rare black night, but did nothing to illuminate the six people around the fire.

Mathin shook his head, taking the stick from her and laying it on the grill. The faint, flower scented breeze ruffled a lock of hair that had escaped his queue. It caught in the faint stubble at his jaw and he brushed it away with impatience. "It won't matter. Now the word's out, and she'll come for her. If she finds Leo is no longer a charmer, she'll be that much more piqued, and even more determined to get her hands on her. A power that comes and goes? It will smack of control, and Yesande could never resist that."

Keilor shot a quick look at Jackson, saw his jaw was clenched, and looked away. "The sooner, the better. We're ready for her. Though you-" he pulled Jasmine back into his arms, settling her between his bent knees as he stroked her gently rounded belly, "-will stay well out of it."

"Bossy, aren't you?" she teased, turning her face into him and rubbing her head against his chest. It was covered in a dark green silk shirt and not his uniform vest for once. "I wouldn't worry about it." She affected a lofty tone. "Yesande wouldn't dare tangle with me again. After all, I thrashed her so badly the last time we met, she wouldn't risk the humiliation of a rematch."

Keilor snorted in amusement, and Mathin raised a brow and looked at her askance. "And which time was this?" She stuck her tongue out at him, and he shook his head, chuckling. He rotated the shish kebabs, and the fire snapped and sizzled as their fats and juices dripped into its flames.

"Do you ever miss your world?"

Jasmine looked at Leo, surprised by the sudden question. "Why?"

Leo shrugged. "You gave up a great deal to stay here. I was wondering if you have regrets."

"Hmm...I haven't really thought about it, so I guess not."

Leo frowned and poked a stick at the fire, raising sparks. "There must be something you regret leaving."

Smiling, Jasmine snuggled deeper into Keilor's arms. "Nothing worth giving up this. Believe me, I've got the better end of the bargain."

Leo grunted, unconvinced. "I don't care much for the swamps, but I wouldn't leave my family just to be with a man. Besides, we need every Ronin we can get to take back our homelands from the beasts."

"You still have that choice. After all, you're not in love. I would have thought the same thing if I'd been asked before being yanked into the Dark Lands." Jasmine watched the fire. "Love isn't something that's easy to resist. Sometimes it's a pull stronger than the fear of the unknown."

Mathin slanted a glance at Leo, and she quickly looked away, scowling. "I'd just as soon avoid it."

Jasmine laughed and chanted, "Run, run, as fast as you can. You can't catch me, I'm the gingerbread man." When the others looked to her for an explanation, she dismissed it with an airy wave, "It's nothing. Just an old nursery tale. Are those done yet, Mathin?"

They were, and he distributed the skewers, adding more to the grill as he munched with one hand.

"What I want to know is, now that you've gotten what you really came for- help ending the kidnappings- are you guys still going to keep to your trade agreements?" Jasmine asked after she'd finished her first shish kabob. "It's still worthwhile, isn't it?"

There was a moment of uncomfortable silence, with neither side wishing to speak first. Finally Keilor said with caution, "I would not be adverse to trade, provided the Ronin are still willing."

Jackson studied his denuded skewer. "We might be willing, on a trial basis, and on a much smaller scale than originally agreed upon." He slid a wary gaze to Mathin. "We would require that all transactions occur at this citadel, however. The swamps are difficult at best to penetrate without a symbiont, dangerous at worst. We would not like to be responsible for any casualties."

Jasmine grunted. "No offense, but you can have your swamps. I, for one, will die happy if I never have to see them again."

Her words lightened what had essentially been a warning against trespassing, and Keilor relaxed behind her. "I think we can handle that, provided you leave an agent here to deal with any business that may come up. Preferably someone capable of acting as an ambassador, as well."

For the first time that evening, Ma-at spoke up. "I am willing."

"I need you at home, Ma-at. You're too valuable to me to leave behind," Jackson objected. "It would have to be someone else."

"I'll stay."

Jackson glowered at his sister. "You're too young."

"I'm twenty-four," Leo gritted out. "Hardly a child."

"Hail the elder," Jackson retorted with a sitting half-bow. "Sorry, white-hair, but you'll be going with us. I can't spare the men to watch over you."

"Jasmine is my age, and look what she's done. Perhaps certain offices call for youth and flexibility," she contended, setting her jaw.

"She has a point," Ma-at said, interrupting what looked to be the beginnings of a royal argument with the ease of long practice. "I can stay with her, as well as two or three of the others. Besides, if she were back home, you'd only waste your energies finding things to fight about. Apart, you may actually get something useful done for the rest of us."

"We wouldn't like to see her get hurt," Keilor assured him. "If you chose to let her stay, we'll watch over her as well. You have my word."

There was nothing Jackson could say without giving offense. Instead he said in a tone that brooked no argument, "We'll talk about it later."

It must have been a doozy of a talk, because when Jasmine next saw Leo, she was not happy. In fact, she was quietly simmering. She tried to discuss it with Keilor, but he had concerns of his own.

"Whether she goes or stays matters little at this point," he said, leveling a stare at his wife across the dining table in their new suite of rooms. "What I want to know is when are you going to start visiting Rihlia again? It's been weeks, and still you two don't speak unless thrown together."

All appetite abruptly fled. Jasmine twiddled her spoon as if fascinated with the play of light. "She hasn't been feeling well."

"All the more reason to visit. You can cheer her up."

She squirmed. "Keilor..."

He set down his cup of cinnamon tea with a sharp click. "Do you think allowing Rhapsody to kill you would have made Rihlia happier? I swear I am sick to death of this foolish dance you two are having. Do something! Scream, yell, fight about it if you must, but get it over with. Jayems and I have had enough!"

Jasmine tossed down her spoon. "What do you recommend I say to her? *Gee, fine weather we're having today. You're looking well in spite of the dark circles under your eyes and that nasty pallor. Oh, and by the way, I'm so sorry I killed your mother!'" Her voice rose at the end, and she shoved her chair away from the table, hurrying down the three steps from the dining level to the sunken living area. She plopped onto an overstuffed chair.

Keilor pried her hands away from her forehead and held them as he knelt before her. "We all do what we have to, my love. I'm glad you are still whole, still safely carrying our baby.

"You were willing to cross worlds for Rihlia. Could she not cross this barrier for you?"

In spite of Keilor's assurances, Jasmine did not go easily into the lion's den. He had to all but drag her to Jayems' suite and deposit her inside Rihlia's room.

He and Jayems stared at the closed door. When no one bolted out, they exchanged a wary glance. "How is it on your end today?" Keilor inquired.

A muffled shout came from behind the door, and Jayems answered, somewhat distracted, "She grows more depressed and miserable each day. If I see one more tear I may have to run and hide."

Swearing, foul and loud, issued from the door. "I hope that's your wife," Keilor murmured. "I'd hate to think my own woman could out-swear the entire garrison."

"It's mine," Jayems said with a scowl as a particularly forceful word drifted out, followed by a rapid spate of invectives and denials. "That's one of her favorite words when she's either angry at me or for me." A faint smile tugged at his mouth. "But hanged if I know half the phrases your wife is answering her with."

Keilor just glowered. He would have a talk with his wife later about her foul tongue.

Silence descended. Keilor caught himself straining to catch a hint of conversation and shook his head in disgust. "Come on," he said, clapping Jayems on the shoulder. "We would be better off otherwise occupied. Let's look over the Ronin trade proposal. I understand they have prismatic silver..."

Jasmine crossed her arms and waited with grim forbearance, her back to Rihlia. She needed a moment to rein in her temper, and to steel herself against her friend's anger. From experience she knew Rihlia would be a real witch until she'd exhausted her emotion. Only then would the real issues surface.

As they did now.

"I never did love her."

Jasmine turned around and stared at her remorseful friend. That was what was bothering her? Guilt over a lack of affection for her mother?

"I wanted to blame you for taking her away before I could find some feeling for her. It was childish, I know, but what kind of a monster doesn't love her mother? I didn't want it to be my fault."

Jasmine shook her head and approached the bed. "I didn't love my mother," she said quietly. "Sometimes I even hated her. Then I hated myself for caring at all."

"That's different. Your mother-"

"Oh, stop with the guilt trip!" Jasmine snapped, dumping herself into a chair. "You barely knew the woman. Then when you did finally get to know her, she came on too strong, making you want to retreat, not open up. I'd have done the same thing. Besides," she looked away. "Look how she turned out."

A shaky sigh came from the bed. "Jayems thinks there's this drug-"

"Drug, smug. No chemical would put the hate I saw in her eyes," she retorted, chopping her hand through the air, unable to hide the strain she felt. "I gave her every chance I could to stop, Ri, I swear to you! I did not want to hurt your mother, and I really didn't want to hurt you."

"I know," Rihlia whispered.

Jasmine closed her eyes. "It's still so vivid; all that red against all that white. Warm, sticky blood on my hands, drying on my face." She shuddered. "God." It was a prayer and a plea for forgiveness all in one. "I didn't want to do it. I really didn't want to do it."

"It's ok, Jas." Rihlia touched her hand, gripped it. "It's all right."

Jasmine wasn't sure of that. This was a big thing for even their friendship to overcome. Even if Rihlia hadn't been able to care for her mother the way she'd wanted to, she must have felt something.

"I didn't," she answered, reading Jasmine's mind in the way of long-standing friends. "I'm not sorry you defended yourself, and I'm not sorry it's you who lived and not her." Her voice gained strength and she gripped Jasmine's hand harder. "Don't beat yourself up over this, kid. You deserve to be happy. I want you to be happy."

A slight smile tugged at Jasmine's mouth. "Who are you calling kid, old lady? Surely you're not ready for the old folk's home just yet."

Rihlia frowned with mock severity. "I will be if you don't stop scaring the crap out of me."

"Aw, you're just feeling feeble from lying around in bed all the time. Why don't you get up and take a walk with me? It'll do you good."

Rihlia's smile faded to seriousness, and she let go of Jasmine's hand. "I can't. I'm paralyzed from the waist down."

"What!" Jasmine stared at Rihlia's lower half in shock. It was covered with blankets.

"Now don't panic, the doctors said it's only temporary. Just until after I have the baby and my body can start working on repairing me. It'll be a piece of cake."

"But-"

Rihlia threw up her hands in a calming gesture. "Hey, I'm an alien, remember? We can do all kinds of freaky stuff." She smiled in assurance. "Even heal a broken back."

Biting her lip, Jasmine eyed her. "Hey, don't be getting all cocky on me, now. I'm pretty impressive myself these days, thanks to this little guy." She waved one hand, drawing attention to her symbiont.

"You still can't see in the dark," Rihlia said with a smug smile.

"Maybe, but I don't sprout hair when the moon is full, either," Jasmine laughed as her friend scowled. "It's good to have you back, Ri," she said with heartfelt joy. Rihlia raised her hand, and Jasmine clasped it, palm to palm, as tears sparkled in their eyes.

"This is a very good thing," Rihlia whispered, her voice hoarse. "A very good thing."

Keilor and Jayems both shot to their feet as Jasmine closed the door behind her. Her amused smile told them all they needed to know. "What is this? Two big bad wolves anxious over a minor womanly dispute? What will your friends think?"

"Bite them. Are things well between you two again?" Keilor asked, coming towards her.

"Never better," she said with a smile that faded to a warning look. "But why didn't you tell me that she was paralyzed? All this time I've wondered why she stayed holed up in her room, and you never said a word."

"She'll be fine," Keilor assured her, looping one arm around her waist and giving her a little squeeze. "There was, and is, nothing for you to worry about."

"We're talking paralysis here, not a broken leg. How do you know-"

"I've been paralyzed a time or two myself, Dragonfly. It's a little inconvenient, but no big deal. She'll heal."

Jasmine stared hard at him. "When was this?" When he said nothing, merely looked amused, she demanded, "Just when are you going to tell me how old you are, anyway?"

Steering her towards the door, he answered, "Never."

"That's not fair!"