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Riley snorted. “I wasn’t disrespectful; I am just having fun with another Terran who has a Hmrain as a pet.”

Rath started laughing. Heboren shook his head. “Your lady is a bad influence.”

“She raises the spirits of all around her. It is an important skill that I will not curtail.”

Nova leaned on Heboren. “He’s not wrong. My heart feels lighter just after a few minutes.”

Heboren looked at her. “Fine. Anything that lightens your heart is fine with me, but Lady Riley, you might want to watch who you are dealing with.”

“I normally deal with the Daughters of Rath or the actual daughter of Rath, and they just knock me over when I get out of line.”

Rath said, “I will give you a list of her scars. It was exceptional, but she has grown, and her skin has healed, so I cannot point to the trauma she has been through. That her soul has recovered enough to want to help others smile again is enough for me.”

Heboren sighed. “I am being too strict?”

Nova stroked his cheek. “You are being protective. You want everything to go properly as your people are watching and listening.”

“True.”

Riley smiled. “I have seen the two ladies I was concerned with get contracted. They are safe. I am good to keep travelling home.”

Rath murmured against her, “Stay as the other ladies are looking to you for comfort.”

“Oh, shit. I didn’t realize. Lemme down.”

Rath set her on her feet, and she went to talk to the ladies in line and talk to their suitors as well. She stopped a contract from being finalized and ran negotiations for the lady. The male backed up a little, but then he grinned and inclined his head. He agreed, and even for a year, they had contingencies in case of pregnancy. Formal union would kick in if both were agreeable, and if they weren’t, a home and income would be provided for the next five years for the female and child or the male and child.

The male blinked and said, “That is not likely.”

“I am aware that not all females are inclined to be parents. So, it is good to have contingencies.”

He nodded. “Right.”

“But she still gets a payout for providing a child. It takes a lot out of the female.”

They finished their contract with the addenda, and then she started talking to the next female, asking her what she most needed in a union. Then the wolfy guy got the same questions. They lined up fairly well, and she took them to the second magistrate and rapped out the requirements for the contract. The couple both signed with a smile, so Riley kept going.

Rath watched with a smile, and Heboren had a dawning understanding. Nova was just happy there were more humans around.

* * * *

Rath watched her flitfrom couple to couple, and the faces got thoughtful and had understanding and deeper interest in their soon-to-be partners.

Riley made people happy because she was interested in what they wanted. She wanted people to be happy because happy people were less dangerous. That was a little sentence that had stuck in his mind. Even now, she was thinking about danger. That had been why she hadn’t thought of the others immediately. She was with him, and she felt safe.