Page 34 of I Dated the Lost Song

Raek nodded. “Zera, I will make something clear. To engage in work as an escort would either kill Cadence or the patron she was servicing. She would disrupt the harmony, hers or his. I presume it would be a he.”

Zera shrugged. “Demand has skyrocketed. It is difficult to keep telling more exotic patrons that there is no match because their previous escort has gotten married.”

He snorted. “She will be too dangerous for anyone to deal with but me to deal with. As far as my senses tell me, we are the only pair of harmonics in the world.”

Salmet blinked. “In that case, a number of things are now clear.”

Raek snorted. “I am glad you have figured it out.”

Im-bar returned, smiling. “It’s about fucking time.”

Raek floated into Cadence’s room and smiled. She was draped over Max, and he opened his eyes to watch Raek move around the space. He got a blanket and draped it over her, stroking her cheek. Another harmonic. Against all odds, fate had finally decided that he didn’t have to be alone anymore.

* * * *

In the drone on theway home, Zera said, “I don’t remember much about Raek.”

“He was classified. He could stop a war in under a minute, and that freaked a lot of people out.” Salmet chuckled. “He didn’t get a lot of publicity. One pulse from him and all the equipment failed. Another and all the munitions exploded. If they persisted, the personnel were the next to go.”

Kritz whistled. “That much power.”

Salmet chuckled. “That is why he will not let her away from the manor until she has control over it. Once she has control, she will be impervious to anything modern tech can do, but until then, she is terribly vulnerable.”

Zera pursed her lips. “Perhaps her friend is due a paid leave of absence when Raek returns to do his qualifiers.”

Kritz chuckled. “Not until I ask for a voluntary audit of my department. I want to know what a human is doing working at Z-Corp.”

Zera nodded. “You think she’s a null active as well, huh?”

Kritz chuckled. “Yes.”

“Well, suck it. I am going to test her first for delayed activation. I have been checking my tablet and looking for her genetics, but there aren’t any.” Zera snorted. “Of course. We don’t test the humans.”

Kritz murmured, “Maybe we should.”

“Since I specialize in bio-manipulation, I will be going first unless something more invasive is required.”

“Well, I will be eager to hear your findings.”

Salmet chuckled. “I don’t suppose I can get a copy of those findings. I am always surprised by the evolutions our population is engaging in.”

Kritz asked, “When are you going to tell him that he’s been asleep for twice as long as he thinks?”

Zera murmured, “I will leave that to Im-bar. She’s his sibling. She might not mention that we missed the deadline.”

Salmet asked, “What if she does?”

Zera sighed. “We hope that the delayed fulfillment will be forgiven.”

Kritz didn’t say anything.

* * * *

Leska chuckled as shegot a message from Zera and was asked to head to medical for a workup. She returned the call. “Hello, Madame Zera. Why? Physicals are not required for human personnel beyond the annual insurance compliance.”

Zera sighed. “Please come to my office. I have things to discuss with you.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Leska got to her feet, secured her terminal, and grabbed her ident card.

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