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She ran across the Aksalla border as a tween and was shot while being arrested.

That would have been the same year you went under.

She had to prove she was in danger, and then she had to beg for asylum.

She got it. She got her reprieve, but then she had to make a living with a talent that isn t marketable.

I made a good living with it.

They knew you were a harmonic from the start. Only the people in this house know what she is and what she could one day learn to do.

So, what is her romantic history?

There isn t one. Raek, she can t touch people. She has never been able to touch people. It has never been in her grasp. Literally. But she gives off those harmonics, and that draws males in who invariably get aggressive. Like the guys at the gym.

So, I offered to keep her, and she said no because...

Yes isn t something she can imagine. Everyone close to her has rejected her, and being too close to the wrong person gets her punished. That suit was painful.

Wait. Kritz? Blue guy, big horns?

Yes.

I am going to have to have a chat with him. I am shocked that he didn t take advantage of another harmonic in his lab. He was always bemoaning the lack of them back in the day.

Im-bar smiled. Good, now go and make friends with Cadence. She needs a friend far more than she needs a lover. I think the friendship has been sadly lacking.

He nodded and sighed. I just want to catch her up and kiss her. Her harmony melds so well with mine.

Well, she has enjoyed letting it free today. She has been smiling and twirling and stopping to breathe deep.

Raek s expression changed to worry. Shit. I left her on my path.

Wait, your private path? Im-bar yelled and followed him. I think he s been fed.

She ran after him, but he got outside, his harmonics pulsed, and he disappeared. Damn. He was in the sub-dimension.

* * * *

C adence? Cadence. Where are you?

She looked up from her comfy pose on the huge dog that lived in the space. She stroked the thick fur and sighed. I am over here.

She sat up and got to her feet.

The huge puppy stood up next to her.

Raek surged around the hedge and froze. Cadence, how long have you been here?

Three days. Can you show me how to get out of here?

He took a few steps toward her, and the dog growled. Maximus. It s me, Raek.

The puppy paused and whined, putting himself between Cadence and Raek.

She patted his backside. I need to go. You can t keep killing bunnies for me. Three is my limit.

Raek looked around the dog, and the dog moved so that no eye contact could be made. Cadence laughed. Fluffy, move. I need a bath, a shower, and a change of clothing. Thank you for the food and water, Fluffs, but I need to be in the world where my pack is.

Raek said, You made friends?

Yes. He was very helpful once I got to the centre of the maze. He got me to fresh water and found food for me.

How did you prepare it?

His teeth, my fingers. I might have picked up a parasite. I need to see Dr. Im-bar. Fluffy, let me pass.

The puppy hung his head.

She looked at Raek. Can he come out with us?

He s extinct. He will live out his life and die out there. In here, he can live forever, with the other packs.

She stroked the huge expanse of the canine jaw. If you come out, you age and die. If you stay in here, you have to wait for us to come back. What do you want?

He whined and put his head on her shoulder.

Raek blinked. You want to bring him out?

Yes. If things go bad, we can put him in here or make a play date or something.

And if he gets loose?

She turned to Maximus. Are you going to get loose and make me hunt you down?

He rubbed his head against her.

She turned to Raek and smiled. He doesn t mind my harmony.

Raek looked at her, and his smile got wistful. Bring him. Im-bar will be excited. She hasn t seen him in years. Our food bill is about to go up.

He held his hand out to her, and she slowly took it. The thrumming between them picked up, and he opened a gate for them. She kept her hand in Maximus s fur, and they walked out and back to the manor.

Her legs wobbled, and Raek lifted her, carrying her to his sister and saying, Three days and three raw rabbits.

Im-bar nodded and smiled at Maximus. Did you bring her food? You are such a good boy.

Maximus wagged his tail.

Im-bar chuckled. Come this way. Kritz, Salmet, and Zera are on their way. We need to discuss things.

Raek sighed. How long was I gone?

Two hours. Kritz just happened to call while you and Cadence were gone.

Arcady is a light precog. She sighed. Is she with them?

Im-bar said, No. She isn t.

Cadence relaxed. Good.

Raek frowned. You don t like her?

It isn t that. It is that everybody likes her. She s a light precog. She knows what you need before you do, and she delivers it with a perky grin. I don t dislike her, but I would feel ill if you were added to her collection.

Raek chuckled. She can t add me, but thank you.

For what?

A start.

She was whisked off, checked for parasites, and the baby was confirmed to be growing at a predictable pace, if three days in an hour was predictable.