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“But yours is an honorable mission.”

“So’s yours. Love is always honorable.”

“Please don’t tell anyone, Kara.” Vysh was suddenly agitated. “If anyone finds out I intend to lose on purpose they’ll disqualify me and…”

“Relax, Pink. I’m on your side. And this is great news for me. One less Vraxian ass to kick.”

“Don’t be so sure,” Vysh said, affronted. “I’m going to give it everything I’ve got in the first couple of challenges.”

“Wouldn’t have it any other way.” A thought struck Kara. “Hey, how are you dealing withteshekalehshsymptoms? From not being with yourkalehshunI mean?”

“You know about that?”

“Oh, I heard someone mention it,” she said evasively. “Don’t you get super edgy when you’re apart from him?”

Vysh looked round furtively to make sure no-one was watching, then pulled up one leg of her jumpsuit. She showed Kara her calf.

At first Kara didn’t get what she was looking at. Vysh’s calf looked normal, if a blue scale-covered calf could be said to be normal. The she realized one of the scales was a much darker color than the rest.

“What is it?” she asked.

“He pulled a scale off his leg and I did the same. Then we swapped them so we would always have something from the other against our skin.” She stroked an affectionate fingertip over the darker scale. “It wasdrek’aapainful but worth it. If I didn’t have this I’d be unable to sleep or function and or be good for anything.”

“Yeah, it’s a bitch all right.” Kara spoke without thinking and Vysh’s gaze sharpened.

“You seem to know a lot about it.”

“I only meant it sounds awful. Shall we run some more?”

“Zandarr’s Fountain. You have akalehshun!” Vysh squealed and Kara tried to shush her.

“Keep your voice down.” She looked over nervously as other runners approached. “I don’t want to talk about it.”

“Who is it?”

“No-one.”

“You can tell me. I’ll keep your secret. We’ll keep each other’s secret.”

“There’s nothing to tell,” Kara said desperately. “Honestly, just let it go.”

Vysh’s eyes widened.

“In the name of Ayanlesh. It’s the Zhaal, isn’t it? Did you findkalehshwith him on the planet you were marooned on? You did, didn’t you? By all the gods and temples,that’swhy you offered yourself forshaa’baara.”

“Vysh, please. Just forget it.”

The other Potentials ran by, glancing at them curiously as they passed. Vysh didn’t say anything until they were out of earshot.

“I won’t say anything to anyone,” she said quietly. “But think about this. What happens if you don’t win the contest? Is the Zhaal willing to give you up? Areyouwilling to givehimup? Because I tell you now, every other Potential is as determined to wed him as you are.”

Kara swallowed.

“But they don’t have fate on their side.”

It sounded stupid when she said it out loud but Vysh grinned.

“You’re right. And they don’t have me either. Come on. We’d better get you fighting fit if you’re going to win this competition for both of us.”