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"Concept's good," Cai said with forced casualness "We just have to accomplish it another way The bear carries her scent, and they'd wonder e have it"

Cai moved to the doorway and stood before Rand The ether, but as beneath the surface was untamed, raw Their eyes met and held Even with all the stuff unresolved between theh all his senses And feeling guilty for how much he meant the next words "Glad you came back"

When the , Cai plucked the bear out of his hold and lifted it "Fortunately, you can convert to a fuzzy cuddle toy if she needs it"

Rand's gaze sparked Yeah, noasn't really the time for Cai to be a wiseass, but that always seemed to be the time he found it impossible not to do it

Rand had talked about being able to shift his brain to mostly human while in wolf form Apparently, he could also do the reverse Cai realized the shifter was keeping histhe ani

"You still co with me?"

"I wouldn't have returned if the answer to that was no"

"Not true Because you're not like s rude,like a dick in the wind"

Brian cleared his throat, drawing the twothe tracer on a vah information about shifters to say for certain it ork on him"

"Nobody's putting theirextraction" Cai lifted his lip to display both of his

Brian's gaze sharpened and he caly intent way, as if he ht stick his hands in there "Why do you have an artificial fang? The original should have regenerated"

Cai drew back, bu into Rand, an involuntary white coat reaction to the scientist's unexpected eagerness to touch, probe Reuy on his ass, Cai planted his feet

"Fire and blood It was cauterized withinto the whys None of your damn business" He'd told Lyssa, but that was different He was getting antsy He wanted to be alone with Rand, resolve some of this shit Get on his way Get out of here

Fortunately for the scientist's long, elegant fingers, Brian didn't attempt a dental exam, but his attention remained on Cai's mouth "If you'll let o, I can have a replace, and has retraction ability We had to do soht in a house fire"

Brian's turned back to Rand The gleaaze reation "I recognize your quest is urgent," the scientist said, "but I'd also like to request a blood and hair sample from your servant for study, and about fifteen minutes to ask him some questions"

"You can ask all day long," Rand said "But I' no"

Brian's expression cooled "You're his servant"

"We're blood bound due to circumstances and to up our chances of survival," Cai said "That's all"

"Oh" Brian sent Cai an odd look "You truly aren't very well versed in our ways"

"The first hundred years of my life I ith Trads, and the rest has been as far away from vampires as I can put myself So yeah, that's accurate" Cai's brow furrowed "What, because he'sI say?"

Lyssa had prettyit reinforced under practical circu

"Yes," Brian said simply "In the eyes of our society, he's your property You've third marked him We've only recently been able to unmark servants from vampires who feel the relationship was not what they intended it to be, but perranted on a case-by-case basis Some vampiresare not patient"

"They kill their servant, because that's allowed," Cai guessed

"Yes" The male vampire looked uncomfortable "Not advised, and not officially sanctioned by Council"

"But not punished, either"