Page 64 of Phoenix's Fire

"And she said it didn't hurt," Rymar grumbled. "Fuck. Okay, that part makes more sense now."

"What?!" Lessa asked, the word a huff.

So Zasen turned his focus to her. "I'm not going to get the girl, Less. She's made it pretty clear. Here's the thing. Rymar and Kanik? They might. They'd be goodfor her, and Ayla? She is myfriend. To her, that word is a powerful one. Makes me feel like I have a responsibility to make sure the scary things are a bit less risky, and I knowIwon't hurt her."

"And what if she has no interest in men?" Lessa shot back.

Zasen's mouth curled higher on one side. "I had my sister check first."

"Asshole," she grumbled at him.

"Yep," he agreed. "But it's working."

"Yeah..." Kanik said as he pushed through the crowd standing just inside the living room. "What I want to know is why you're here, Lessa?"

"I came to let you know we're having a cookout," she said. "Saveah gets an invite too. Naomi's place, this weekend. The Reapers will be there, plus you three, but the rest will be us ladies, because the other girl needs a chance to meet people."

"Okay?" Rymar said, making it an open question.

"I'm bringing dessert. You, Zasen, will bring a selection of meats. I'm going to assume Jeera will bring fruits and vegetables."

"And Naomi thinks we need to all talk about things," I added. "She's worried about Meri, wants to make sure she knows enough, and said we're all supposed to be nice."

"Mostly me," Lessa explained.

Chuckling, Rymar headed for the chairs, tossing himself into one. "Oh, this is going to be good."

"Yep," Lessa said. "So we're all going to be on our best behavior. That girl - what's her name, Ayla?"

"Meri," I offered. "Well, Merienne, but we all call her Meri."

Lessa nodded. "Meri is nothing but skin, bones, and baby. Ayla told her about the Moles hunting us, and I found the girl puking into the bushes."

"You what?" Zasen asked, his head snapping over to me.

"She has to know!" I insisted.

"But I thought you were taking your time," he shot back.

"Well, she kinda brought it up, so I thought I might as well tell her."

"There's that," Rymar said.

Kanik just moved so he could flop onto the couch, sitting on the end closest to Rymar. "Please tell me you'll keep an eye on this when I'm at work?"

"I think I need to," Rymar agreed.

"Oh, and I'm going to be poking my nose in too," Lessa said.

"Actually," Zasen told her, "I'd like you to help with the other one."

"She doesn't speak English!" I hissed.

"She knows a bit," Zasen said, smiling at Lessa.

"I haven't used English since the seventh grade!"

"And for your sewing patterns," he pointed out. "I know you still have those books I gave you."

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