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Eer, or perhaps pain

Ariana turned away She couldn’t undo the past, however badly she ht want to

"One of your maidens died on the battlefield soon after you left that day," he said, his voice quiet "She was, as you said, crazed She told us all the Ilinas were dying It wasn’tbond I was afraid it was true, but I had to knoent to the temple"

Ariana jerked around to face him "You climbed the Himalayas in the eleventh century?"

"I had to know The Wind and Horse acco did it take you?"

"Nearly a year We eak as newborn kittens froot back to Feral House But in that temple, which I’d visited with you only once, I found the fires out, the one"

Reh his eyes, and, for a rief she’d put hi to his cheek

"I’m sorry"

The pain in his eyes disappeared, shuttered behind strong male pride But he lifted her onto his lap and held her, setting up a deep ache in her heart as she wished things between theain

Wulfe led Xavier into the kitchen, the youngindividuals would have long ago learned toman’s upper arm, Wulfe led hilanced around froredients into a bowl

"Xavier offered to give you a hand, Pink"

The bird-wo, it was clear he’d offended her

Wulfe cleared his throat "Let me put it another way Xavier is human, and blind, and we can’t steal his

"Our options are liht maybe you could use an assistant"

He didn’t have to spell out the alternative if she refused Pink ht look as odd as they caood heart

"Then I’d be happy for the help, Xavier"

"Cool!" The human felt the space in front of him carefully, then extended his hand in her direction as if wanting to shake "It’s nice to meet you, Pink"

Pink didn’tto his side, her gaze flew helplessly to Wulfe

Hell, just because the kid couldn’t see didn’t mean he didn’t need to know He laid his hand on Xavier’s shoulder and explained "Pink should have been a shape-shifter, Xavier, but an accident before her birth killed the animal within her and left her an anoo Her hands are like ours, but covered with pink feathers instead of skin"

Xavier’s smile covered his face "Cool If you don’t want to shake my hand, Pink, just say so I can’t read your expression or body language, so subtle doesn’t ith me Just tell me what you want me to do, or don’t wantpin or soot a hard head Just ask s Believe me, I’ve heard it all That I’o every which way, that I s, and my expressions aren’t normal It’s hard to mimic ’normal’ when you’ve never seen it" He seness, I pro to have to find a way to keep this kid alive

"Xavier?" Pink said quietly "I’d be happy to shake your hand"

The kid’s grin widened as he reached out slowly, as if not wanting to startle her As Pink slid her feathered hand in his, the huht and a for it, he saw not an ounce of revulsion

"Your feathers feelsoft Really nice"

"Thank you, Xavier"

Xavier released her hand with a laugh "So, tell me what you want me to do I’m slow at first, until I learn etables I’? But" Her voice trailed off

"Hey, blind people can chop When you get going with the knife, you can’t tellevery cut"

"No I suppose I’etable duty I’ve only recently added therabbed a beer out of the refrigerator and strode through the swinging doors back into the dining roo frah to listen He wanted to see what happened when he wasn’t in the roo it would take the quiet Pink to tire of itand him But as he listened, he was surprised to hear Pink’s soft words

"Do you mind if I ask you a question, Xavier? I’ve never met a blind person before"

"Ask away"

"How do you cookwhen you can’t see?"

Lyon and Jag strode into the dining roo "What’s he doing up here?"

"Xavier can cook" Wulfe took a swig of his beer "I thought Pink could use a little help around here"

"No"

"We can’t clear his memories, Roar" Wulfe rose to face his chief, eye to eye "He can stay here"

"No It’s too dangerous"