Page 211 of Phoenix's Fire

She shook her head subtly in confusion. "Which is?"

"How to say no." I lifted a brow. "See, that's the thing about consent. It doesn't count unless no is a completely valid option. If she doesn't feel as if she can refuse and survive it - or at least not be hurt because of it - then she might as well not even have the option. If Ayla has it in her head that she has to make us happy to have a home? No consent. If she feels like it's her duty to please a man? No consent. And I'm going to make sure Zasen and Kanik never forget that one detail, because we're not used to women like her."

Saveah made a little sound and then stepped into me, throwing her arms around my neck to crush me in a desperate hug. "Thank you," she breathed. "I know you are all great guys, but that?" She leaned back to look at me. "Rymar, that's exactly what she needs, but promise me something?"

"Always."

"Don't stop her from trying things out because she might not understand it all?"

"Like Zasen kissing her?" I guessed. "How that idiot crossed a line but may have actually had a point with what he was doing?"

Saveah reached up to tap my nose playfully. "Just like that. See, my little sister is trying to figure out who she is. She's never had that option before, and the only thing she's sure of is that killing Moles makes people happy. More importantly, it makes the people shecares abouthappy." And she pointed at me. "You three."

I gently eased her hand down. "Trust me, I get it. We've talked about her - quite a lot. Zasen thinks he intimidates her too much, but he's trying to use it to make her stronger. She knows he won't hurt her, so she's growing faster than any of us expected. Kanik?" I glanced away, unable to stop my smile. "He's soft with her, and I don't think she's ever met a soft man before."

"All three of you are soft with her," Saveah reminded me. "Even Zasen, in hisown way. He pushes - then shows her he can back off. He admits when he's wrong. He apologizes, Rymar, and I get the impression Mole men don't do that."

I nodded, realizing she had a point. "And the more Ayla learns, the more she'll be able to help Meri. I mean, we have that one surrounded by women right now, but it won't last forever."

"Lessa's introduced her to Drozel. Sounds like that lug has a soft spot for Meri, too."

Okay, and I was confused. "He's with Omden."

"Wrong kind of soft," she assured me. "Drozel hated Moles the way Zasen did. Then Ayla saved his life, and he realized how abused she was. That she still saved him? He's completely changed his mind about those girls, and according to Lessa, he's going out of his way to not intimidate her."

"Nice." Okay, I could get behind this. "Meri should get along with Omden too, once someone explains to her that he has no interest in women sexually."

"I'll pass that along," Saveah promised. "Oh, and tell me something? Since we're both laying it all out there?"

"Sure."

"Who bought the dog?"

I grinned. "Lansin decided to give that dog to her. Seems Holly took a liking to Ayla, and he said it was meant to be."

"Uh-huh," she grumbled, clearly not buying my load of shit. "So who really bought the dog?"

"We all did." I lifted a hand before she could protest. "Zasen was going to. Kanik wished he could. I caught Lansin first and made it happen, because they were dealing with the aftermath of the battle. The money came out of the house fund. I told Ayla we paid taxes to explain the lack, and she has no idea. So if you ruin this, I will tell Tamin that kids can own dogs too."

She huffed. "I just got him to stop asking for one!"

"So don't tell Ayla," I said. "See, the dog is her thing. It's not something we've given her, it's not something she had to earn, or be permitted to do, or anything like that. Ayla is so good with that dog, and Holly has already saved her life once. So if Ayla thinks Holly is all hers, all on her own, she'll learn she's not beholden to anyone because of it."

"Okay," she relented. "And Rymar? You're a good man. I hope Qavan realizes it, because you deserve to have someone treat you the way you treat us."

I glanced away, feeling my cheeks lifting again. "I think he actually likes me, Saveah. Not my job or my money, but me."

"You're a good person to like," she promised. "Now go home. I can walk myself back without help."

I waved and turned back for the house, still smiling. Maybe I should tell Ayla about my date. I'd planned to use my relationships with men to help her figure out that it was okay to do the same. And who knew, maybe she'd be willing to listen to me talk about how broad his chest was, and how I liked the stripes on his tail?

It might even be enough for her to open up a bit, because she could talk to usabout these things. Well, to me, at least. If she was thinking about kissing Zasen, then she wouldn't want to say anything to him. Granted, if she was thinking such thoughts, I had a feeling she'd had a few about Kanik too.

And that meant I needed to prove to her it was okay. The question was how. This was going to be a fine line, because I didn't want her to think I'd hurt someone, and I was pretty sure she was still scared of sex, but I could show her there was more to a relationship than that. Somehow I'd help her, because that woman was my friend.

A good one, and I never wanted her to look at me the wrong way. I was starting to like the way things were a little too much. The four of us just worked.

Sixty-Six