Page 33 of Accounting for Taste

Harwin blinked.“She’s getting a mark?”

“Her other nature is being pulled forward to strengthen her.A mark is likely.”He smiled and helped her to a low table, setting her second plate in front of her.

“Why do you keep trying to feed me?”

He shrugged.“She’s not the only one with a new mark.”

She stared at him and then slowly looked down at her bare abdomen.She was wearing her belt high, so she pried it back and looked down at her belly, seeing the small mark that was definitely new.

Harwin looked at him, and then she burst into tears.Ra came around and soothed her.“I thought you would be happy.”

“I am.I just want Kris to share this with me.She hasn’t been answering her coms this week.”

He rubbed her back.“I am sure they are just on a trade mission.”

Kris’s voice sounded, “Or maybe Essan was grabby, and we had to wait until he took the edge off.”

Harwin shrieked and ran over to her friend.Kris was taller than she had been and sporting serpentine scales across her cheekbones.

Harwin grabbed her and spun her around.They were both laughing, and Harwin said, “Well, at least you are being conservative with fabric.”

“And you are being weighed down with gold.What’s your point?”Kris was beaming.

“That is a lot of trouble in those two bodies.”Yorness grinned.“Looking good, Harwin.Archaeology suits you.”

Harwin grinned.“I feel I should say something about polishing old relics, but I can feel him right behind me.”

Kris covered her mouth and hissed softly.

A scaly Hmrain walked in behind her and slid his hand around her waist under the fabric panel.Kris sighed.“Harwin, this is Essan.”

“The living statue with his hand on my ass is Ra.Ra, Kris.”

Kris grinned.“Essan, this is Harwin.I am guessing you know Ra.”

Essan chuckled.“I do indeed.Greetings, Ancient Ra.”

They clasped forearms, and Harwin laughed at the very masculine display.

Yorness chuckled.“Your station is very congested right now, Lord Ra.”

“Is it?”

“Well, in addition to Zell’s warship and Essan’s ship, there is a third armoured cruiser at the station.”

Ra chuckled, and Harwin felt it.“Oh, good.He’s here.”

Harwin asked, “Who?”

“Wenvari.He has finally left his greenhouse, and it is because of his companion, Reem.”

Essan smiled.“Is he coming down?”

“No.He has to run his world now that his comptroller is being repaired.He will be busy for a few weeks.”

“What happened to his comptroller?”

“She’s in a repair unit.She has genes touched by the designers and wing scars on her back.”

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