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“I hunt criminals.”

“You do?” My eyes light up with interest. “Tell me more. My bounty hunter skills could use some improvement.”

Ikar chuckles deliciously. “Some?”

I toss a narrow-eyed glare at him.

“You almost got me killed. Several times.”

He’s making some excellent points this afternoon, and I don’t like it.

“No need to bring up the past,” I say tartly, “but I should mention that my aunt and her friends won’t like you, so be prepared for that.” I shoot a warning glance at him. The faehave some of the strictest border crossing laws, and they don’t like visitors who hang around too long. On top of that, Mama Tina is very protective of me, her only niece.

“I’m not concerned about whether your family likes me or not.”

“That’s rude to say.” I try not to be disappointed by his practical response.

“It’s not rude. It’s a matter of fact and circumstance.”

“Well, it’ll probably be best for both of us if you just stick to your room and be quiet until we leave.” It’s true that it doesn’t matter. We aren’t together like that, but it’s easy to pretend he’s mine with this mate bond glowing on my wrist and catching the sunlight. I twist my wrist so the small dot catches a bit of sunlight that appears through the trees.

“You ever figure out what flavor of bond you bought?”

He glances at my shining wrist. “It’s how I found you.”

I twist my wrist back and forth a few more times, enjoying the sunburst-like sparkles before the shade blocks out the light again. “It’s a good thing we had one then, even though apparently you never needed one.” I remember the everwisp commenting on that, I’d forgotten I’d never really gotten an explanation for that.

His eyes quickly dart to mine, and I find them guarded. The corners of his eyes are even creased a little in worry. He’s not usually so reactive, which is interesting. I meet his eyes thoughtfully, deciding whether I should press it or not.

“Want to tell me why that is?”

“Not particularly.” He stares straight ahead now, and I feel a bit of tension settle between us.

I shrug, willing to let it go. Doesn’t apply to him being my bounty, so I figure if he doesn’t want to share, I shouldn’tpush it.

The tension fades as I begin to tell him about Renna and my frustration with her boyfriend, which somehow leads into some of my more interesting bounty contracts. He listens, and we laugh off and on as I share some of the odd and humorous things I’ve experienced. I get too comfortable and don’t see that the conversation naturally leads to his next question.

“How did you get started with bounty hunting anyway?”

That’s a loaded question if there ever was one, but I decide it won’t hurt to share the short version.

“Soon after I turned nineteen, I broke up with a boyfriend and needed space.” I shrug. “It wasn’t just that, though. My mother’s sister, who everyone calls Mama Tina, took me in after my parents died, and I truly loved living with her, but I felt like I needed to make my own way. Ya know?”

“And you caught on to it, just like that?” he asks, surprised.

I give a derisive laugh. “Unfortunately, no. I was overconfident and needed money. The first contract I took was for a Class A criminal, and it didn’t go well.”

Memories of that day still rise up in my nightmares sometimes, and now that we’re talking about it, the images begin filtering through my mind. I keep talking without thinking.

“The criminal killed the hunter, then almost got me, too. I ran but ended up lost for a month before I found my way back. I told myself I’d never take a Class A criminal contract again.” It wasn’t until I said it that I realized I shouldn’t have.

“I’m considered a Class A criminal.”

I sense the question behind the statement, and he looks at me closely.

My mouth is very dry. How do I explain the urgency of Renna’s need for money without giving away who we are? “Renna ran into some serious financial problems and needed help. I didthis for her.”

He nods with understanding. “I would do almost anything for my closest friends, as well.” I sense the sorrow in his words. He’s not spoken of Darvy and Rhosse, and I feel guilty that I haven’t thought to care until now.