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Kara’s smile blooh the now-e room as beautifully decorated as the rest of the house As she entered the roo with Vhyper

Hawke saw her and sed her with a nod that was neither friendly nor unfriendly

"Faith’s thirsty," Kara announced cheerily as she led Faith through the room, toward a door at the far end

Out of the corner of her eye, Faith watched Hawke rise and start after theered had her feeling a et a thrill fro friendly And she was just a little starstruck That was all

Kara pushed through the swinging door Faith followed, feeling Hawke’s presence at her back, watching as one muscular arm reached over her head to hold the door open for her Warrin nearly overwhel her Voices carried froh-pitched but pleasant female’s

Kara stopped so suddenly that Faith nearly ran into her, and turned a worried gaze to Hawke "I should have warned her"

"She’ll do fine," he said quietly As Faith looked up at hiaze with a warmth that curled her toes He spoke quickly, his voice barely above a whisper "Pink is half-flao and very self-conscious I’ll explain more later"

Faith nodded, her attention split between his intriguing words and the delight that danced inside her at his attention At his nearness She feltquivery Unsettled Like a kid with her first crush

Good grief That was exactly what she felt like Which was ridiculous, of course She’d justanother

Whoone decades without a single ain, never before had she met a Feral Warrior Perhaps it wasn’t such a surprise that two had caught her eye She should probably be grateful that she wasn’t having heart palpitations for more of them

"Pink, Xavier," Kara called "I have someone I’d like you to meet"

The voices went silent A moment later, from around the corner walked the oddest pair The woman, just as Hawke had warned her, looked kind of like a fla face and ar bird eyes that watched her warily At the bird-wounnaturally, clearly unseeing His ar casually across Pink’s shoulders, his expression open, curious, and radiating a friendliness Faith couldn’t help but respond to

"This is Faith," Kara said "Soon to be the mate of the new fox shifter"

"I’m very pleased to rinned "I’d like to shake your hand, but I don’t want to knock anything over"

Faith slipped out of Kara’s hold and stepped forward, within his reach "I’lanced at Pink "Both of yours, if that’s okay"

The bird-wo Xavier reached for Faith, and she intercepted his hand When he released her, Faith s her know she wasn’t at all offended if Pink chose not to reach out to her But to her surprise, Pink lifted her own hand,stab of empathy for this woman who must feel so out of place in any cohtly,at the soft feel of feathers "It’s a pleasure to meet you both I’m so honored to be here"

"Xavier and I made oatmeal cookies," Pink said quietly "Would you care for some?"

"Yes, very much Thank you"

As Pink turned toward the back counter, Faith felt a large, warhtly "Well, done," Hawke said quietly

She glanced up at hi his jaw before he’d pulled fully back Their gazesbetween them at the small collision

Hawke stepped away "Leerator

"Pink makes the best lemonade," Xavier enthused "She only uses real lemons, and she rolls theive up all their juice"

Faith glanced at Kara to find the other wo her curiously But a moment later, Kara stepped over to her and slipped her arether, they turned to watch Hawke pour several glasses as Xavier revealed all of Pink’s lemonade secrets

"X? Pink?" Hawke asked "Lemonade?"

"Sure!" Xavier replied

"No thank you, Hawke" Pink ae tin and set it on the black granite countertop As Pink lifted the lid, the smell of freshly baked oatmeal cookies filled the kitchen

Kara reached for one and lasses toward them, then took one to Xavier

"Thanks, Dude!"

Aher shoulder as he reached for a cookie

Kara looked at him with alanced at Faith "When I first got here, all they ate was ainst the island only a few inches fro her, just a little, in a way she suspected was common to shape-shifters since she knew them to be particularly physical creatures In a way that shot her awareness of hih She could almost feel the heat from his body

"It’s hard not to crave a little sweetness when there’s so much in the roohed

Though the words were blatant flattery, Faith sensed sincerity in the her with a look in his eyes thatrapid And shallow

She supposed it was a good thing all the Ferals didn’t affect her like this, or she’d never take a full breath again

She forced herself to nibble the soft, delicious cookie as she struggled to ignore her body’s inappropriate reaction to the aled them, in detail, about the food they’d prepared for the reception, they each had several cookies Finally, Kara glanced at the clock "I’d better getAre you ready to head back upstairs, Faith?"