Page 63 of Throwing Fire

Myhre clears her throat and continues. “Payton is Kimpler’s clone. She isexactlylike him.”

“She’s been his slave, Ree. Her whole life. She did whatever he told her to. Fucked who he told her to. Sent creds wherever he said to send them. She wasn’t making her own decisions?—”

“And you’re telling me that she is now?” Myhre bares her teeth. “His choicesareher choices. That’s what it means to be a clone.”

I caress the nape of her neck. Pull her head down to my shoulder. She won’t ever believe that Payton has free will. She won’t ever forgive Payton. And I haven’t been treating Myhre the way I should. Like a widow.

“Sokun know how you felt?”

She freezes and I propel her through the next few steps. Finally, she whispers, “Yes.”

“Did the Old Man?”

She hisses through her teeth at the disrespectful name. Shakes her head. “Kison would not have approved. Sokun’s contract was arranged while he was a child. Kison believed such arrangements could lead to great affection ... as his had. He demanded his children live up to his example.”

“Sokun love his fiancée?”

“No.”

“He love you?”

She trembles, controls it so hard she’s like ceramsteel in my arms. “Please, don’t ask me that.”

He did. What man wouldn’t love this smart, beautiful woman when she broke every rule to give him her heart? “I’m sorry, Ree.” I turn my hold into a hug.

“H-how did you guess?”

“Dunnow.” And I don’t. Sometimes shit just clicks into place. “Doesn’t matter. What matters is that I understand better now. Youcan stop doing shit behind my back, and I can stop being pissed at you. Deal?”

She nods against my shoulder. Wraps her arms around my neck. We dance that way for three slow songs. While her tears soak cold through my shirt into my skin. While I hold her and let her cry the tears she hasn’t let herself cry for the man she lost.

CHAPTER 24

We’re early back to the Warren.

After that sad waltz with Ree, I don’t want to dance anymore. After the confrontation with Jaxon, Kez doesn’t feel like partying. We’re quiet as we return home. Smile silently at each other when we find Gig and Sylvie cuddled up together on the couch, surrounded by a flotilla of fuzzballs. We leave them asleep after turning off the v-game they were playing – he really did break level forty-three, the fucker – and retreat to Kez’s room.

Ke puts on a nightgown after taking off her genSkin, which surprises me. She usually sleeps in a nightgown so she doesn’t stick to me, but she doesn’t put it on until after we’ve had sex.

“Tired, kitten?”

She nods and sits down on her bed. Pulls her knees to her chest. Watches me as I finish stowing all my knives. She seems to come to some internal decision. She scoots down the bed and kneels at the bottom near the baby-bunny ramp. Tugs my belt free, unfastens my pants. I don’t object to her undressing me. Ain’t the first time. But something about this is off. She’s not looking up at me. Not grinningher sexy, mischievous grin. If anything, she looks pensive. The way she looked during our night at the Cloud Palace.

I stop her with my hand on her wrist as she reaches into my skivvies. “Thought you were tired,” I say.

“I’m not too tired,” she says, but there’s no enthusiasm in her voice.

“What if I am?”

She snorts. “You’re never too tired.”

She’s right, and I’m not at the moment. But I’m also not in the mood for obligatory sex, and that’s what it feels like she’s doing. I want sweet, cuddly sex to make up for the last day and night. Which we can do after she’s slept for a couple of hours if she really is tired. Although I’m not convinced she is. Somethin’s very off.

I strip off my pants and boots but leave my skivvies on as I cross to the door and push down the crossbar I’ve installed over the rabbit-door. Tigger usually manages to get through it anyway, and the bar’s got an automatic release set for midnight so the rabbits can sleep on Kez’s bed. But that’s still an hour off, which gives me some true alone-time with Kez. I don’t mind the rabbits sleeping with us. I just don’t like them watching us fuck. I feel like they’re scoring my damn performance.

After I’ve barred the bunny-door, I return to the bed. Pat the mattress next to me. Kez scoots over to me and reaches again for my crotch.

“No.” I guide her hand away. “Lie down. On your front.”