Sought(86)

“I hear a ‘but’ coming,” Sophie murmured.

“But, I’m just not interested.” Kat sighed and put her head in her hands. “I don’t know, maybe when this is all over with I’ll just go back to Earth and try to find a regular human guy. One who doesn’t force me to feel his painful emotions all the time, one without a tortured secret past, one who doesn’t freaking have to have his brother in bed with him to have sex.”

Liv snorted. “Uh, sorry Kat but that came out sounding really wrong.”

Kat waved a hand. “You know what I mean. It’s not sexual—not between them, anyway. But they seriously can’t touch me unless the other one is too, or it hurts them.”

Sophie shook her head. “That’s so weird.”

“Weirder than being bitten every single time you have sex?” Liv said, frowning. “Weirder than any of the other stuff that goes with being a Kindred bride?”

“Well, I guess not,” Sophie said, shrugging. “But you have to admit, it’s not what we’re used to.”

“Different isn’t always bad,” Liv said. “And love comes in all shapes and sizes. Maybe Deep is afraid to let himself love you, Kat. Maybe because of whatever it was that happened he feels unworthy of your love.”

Kat frowned. “He did say something about me being unattainable—like the moon or the stars or something like that.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “But then he went right back to being a jerk.”

“He went back into his protective shell,” Olivia said. “I’m telling you, Kat—I bet he loves you just as much as Lock does—in his own way.”

“Yeah? Well he could have fooled me,” Kat said sarcastically. “He can’t wait to get rid of our bond. He…” she trailed off, shaking her head. She was feeling weaker and weaker as she spoke but she didn’t want to show it.

“He what?” Sophie asked.

Kat sighed wearily. Need to get out of here and go lie down. “He—”

Just then the holo link buzzed, interrupting her.

“Oh, hang on a minute. Hold that thought,” Sophie said. She ran to the link and hit the accept button. Immediately a winking blue dot appeared about a foot above the black cube of the holo link. It slowly expanded to show the stern features of a Blood Kindred warrior.

“Excuse me, mate of my commander,” he said formally, nodding at Sophie—a gesture which looked odd since only his head was being projected. “Communications officer Bastian here. Forgive me for interrupting you at home but I’m afraid there is a planet to ship call coming in for you from Earth in the viewing room.”

“Oh?” Olivia came to stand beside her sister. “Who is it?”

“A human male by the name of Detective Adam Rast. He claims to have spoken to both your mates before, but now he wishes to speak to you as well.” He nodded at Liv and Sophie, including them both.

“Well, you can tell him to just—” Liv began.

“Wait!” Sophie put a hand on her twin’s arm. “He’s the one searching for Lauren. We’ll take it,” she told the communications officer. “We’ll be in the viewing room in five minutes.”

“Very well. I will inform him.” The holo head nodded again and then winked out.

“Why did you do that?” Olivia demanded, frowning. “What can we possibly tell him?”

“The truth.” Sophie’s face was paper-pale but she looked determined. “It’s not fair to do anything else.”

“Sophie, we can’t just—”

“Look, girls, you two are going to have to work this out between you. I’m beat.” Kat rose carefully, trying not to let them see how weak she was. She hoped neither of her friends noticed how white her knuckles were as she gripped the arm of the couch for support.

“You’re going?” Sophie asked. “But you haven’t even told us the dirty details of your time on Twin Moons yet.”

“And you’re folding space for the Scourge home world tomorrow morning,” Liv added.

“Sorry girls.” Kat tried to laugh but it came out as more of a croak and she had to turn it into a cough. “Looks like you’ll have to grill me later.”

“Kat, are you sure you’re okay?” Liv looked at her critically. “I mean, you still don’t seem like yourself.”

“Of course she doesn’t,” Sophie jumped to her defense. “Her soul is still tangled up with Deep and Lock’s. She won’t be back to her old self until she gets all that straightened out. Right, Kat?”