Now that she understood what was going on, Vicky found herself on firmer footing. Of course, she felt sad about having to break things off with the big Kindred—really sad actually, which was surprising considering the short time they had known each other. The idea of losing Chain felt as though she was losing a piece of her heart.
But realistically, she had always known their little adventure was just a fling and it would have to end eventually. It was just what they called a “hook-up” these days—what her generation had called a one-night stand. And you don’t spend the rest of your life with the guy you happened to have a one-night stand with. Right?
Right, Vicky told herself firmly. So end it. Don’t embarrass yourself or Chain for wanting more than you already got. You made some amazing memories and had mind-blowing orgasms—don’t be greedy and ask for more.
“Okay,” she said briskly, lifting her chin. “Clearly we can’t do that—I mean, bond permanently. So what’s Plan B?”
For a moment it seemed as though Chain’s face fell.
“So…you don’t feel that we should bond?” he asked, his deep voice hoarse.
“Well, no—of course not.” Vicky’s heart was aching for some reason as she said the words, but she made herself say them anyway.
“It’s because I’m an M-Switch, isn’t it?” He looked away and there was a bitterness in his tone that was impossible to ignore.
“Because of the kind of Kindred you are? Of course not!” Vicky put a hand on his knee. “It’s like I said before—you should be with a girl your own age. I’m too old for you.”
“You’re beautiful,” he said abruptly, looking back at her. “The most beautiful female I’ve ever met, Victoria and to me that beauty is ageless.”
“Well…that’s sweet of you,” she said, uncertain what else she could say.
“I am not being ‘sweet,’ I mean it,” Chain insisted.
God, he was really trying to let her down easy! Vicky appreciated it, but it hurt her heart to think of leaving him and suddenly she just wanted this little play between them to be over.
“Chain,” she said, “How are we going to do this? To, uh, get the other half of the T’lix-Kruthe without, you know, bonding together for life?”
His face went suddenly blank, the bitterness and disappointment she thought she’d seen wiped away in the blink of an eye. In its place was his usual good humor.
“Don’t worry, beautiful Victoria,” he said a bit too heartily. “Of course I have a ‘Plan B’ as you put it. I wouldn’t be much of a thief if I didn’t.”
“Okay, so what is it?” Vicky asked. “I mean, are we going to fake it or what?”
“I think we’ve done enough faking already, don’t you?” For a moment his mask of good humor seemed to slip and she thought his deep voice was harsh.
“Chain?” she asked. “Do you…is there something else you want to say?”
He shook his head. “We’ve said everything we need to, don’t you think? Do me a favor and watch my body for me—I’ll only be a moment.”
Then he slumped down on the silver beanbag mattress and appeared to go unconscious all at once.
Vicky put a hand to her mouth to stop a little scream from coming out. If she hadn’t seen him do this exact thing back at the Last Call Bar when they had first met, she would have assumed he was having some kind of a seizure or a stroke. But now she knew this was just his way. His…superpower or whatever you wanted to call it. He had left his own body and gone somewhere else—but where?
Her answer appeared soon enough in the form of Professor Torella’s student—the large, muscular brunette—coming towards her. He was still completely nude, as he had been the night before, and he appeared to have something clutched in his big hand.
“Oh, uh…” She scooted back a little as the big student came right up to the bed. She really didn’t need another naked man complicating her life right now!
But when the student spoke, his voice sounded strangely familiar.
“Here,” he said, holding out his hand to her. “Take this quickly—I managed to get into this body while the owner was still in deep sleep but if he wakes up, we’ll be in trouble.”
Vicky held out her hand automatically and the big student dropped something small and heavy into her palm.
“Be right back,” he told her. “Get dressed and be ready to go.”
Then he walked back the way he had come, presumably to wherever Professor Torella was sleeping in this strange, alien house.
Vicky stared after him for a moment, then registered what he’d said. Get dressed—she had to get dressed.
She scrabbled among the silvery covers until she found the somewhat crumpled green goddess gown Kat had made for her the day before. God, was it really only a day ago? She felt like she’d lived a lifetime in one night! Anyway, it was time to get ready to go.
She put down the mug of now-cold caffeine brew on a side table and had just finished pulling the dress over her head when Chain took a deep breath and sat up in bed again.
“Oh good,” he said, looking at her. “You’re ready. Let’s go before the rest of the household starts waking up.”
“What, just like that? We’re, uh, stealing this?” Vicky looked down at the heavy golden object in her hand. It appeared to be fluted at one end and was much longer and thinner than the golf-ball-sized bottom of the T’lix-Kruthe. But it had the same flowing script inscribed on it and the same tiny jewels imbedded in its sides. It was clear the two haves
