Page 30 of Scales of Time

“The flash shower.”

“Ah. What did you use at home?”

“Water. We used water for most things.”

“I see. Well, that explains why you are so soft.”

She wrinkled her nose.

Essan stroked her shoulder and caressed down to her hip. “I think you may get scales.”

She blinked. “Don’t get me wrong, they look great on you, but I think I would pick at them.”

He hissed softly. “You won’t even notice they are there. I will count them for you.”

Kris stared at him, and her stomach growled. “I am going to find some shoes.”

“Are you planning to eat them?”

“No. They let me move faster. The soles of my feet are only as tough as the palms of my hands.” She bent carefully and picked up the slippers that matched the fabric, straightening slowly when she had them on.

“Kris, are you sore?”

“Little bit.”

He touched her waist. “I will take more care next time.”

“You were careful this time. It is just more of that activity than I have engaged in in a while.”

Essan stroked her cheek. “You did well at letting go.”

“And you did well at self-control. We both deserve something nice and fruity for breakfast.”

“There is a private dining room nearby. You can have your treat there.”

She sighed. “Right. Staying awake is going to be an issue.”

“If you sleep, no one will mention your snoring.”

She laughed and nudged him with her elbow. “That joke is going to get old.”

“You have no idea. You are going to be hearing about it for centuries.”

“You think I am going to last that long?”

“I am thinking that since the designers intervened, they are not going to let you die.”

She frowned. “What do you mean by that?”

“You can sleep, you can become a hermit, you can travel the stars, but dying is out of your grasp.”

Kris turned and stared at him. “You aren’t joking.”

“I am not. Your body is losing its human cells, and they are being overlaid with Hmrain cells. That is what stopped your allergies.”

“Oh, geez. A sniffling Hmrain-human. Why would they do that?”

“You have power. They stabilized it.”

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