Page 33 of Rifted Hearts
Shit. Why couldn’t Remi have kept his mouth shut about the cute vet assistant? “No, I told him to get out of my damn face and let me do what I do best. Look, it’s Thursday night, which is close enough to the weekend for me. If Kaveh hasn’t found his match, I’ll convince him to ask Kat and Jeannette to go out with us tonight in town. You can come with us or head out to the West Coast to follow your doggydreams. I’m happy you got out of your contract and even happier you’re not planning to take me out before leaving, but I don’t have the option of walking away. The Colony is the only family I have.”
He hadn’t meant that last bit to sound so whiny and needy, but there it was.
Lyall was silent for a long time. Then he shook his head. “I’ll hang around until you figure out who the match is, as long as you promise to get the hell out of town once you do. This is going to get ugly fast.”
15
Kaveh had no idea how Remi talked him into these things.
His clan had incorporated the base and the monstertown into their riftland without discussion or permission, Kaveh still hadn’t told the matriarch his Azadah powers had manifested, and the Colony mafia had sent ratkind fighters to Tucson to target Kaveh’s future spouse.
It was one hell of a time for him to go to a gay country-western bar with a half-ratkind vid streamer.
He pulled his pickup truck into one of the EV charging spots in the bar’s parking lot and glanced over at the ratkind streamer in question.
“It’s down to two contestants, Jeannette and Kat.” Remi had dressed to casually impress, wearing a crisp linen shirt over tight-fitting pants and yet another new pair of shoes. His wristwatch flashed with iridescence as the cyberbug inside rose up to investigate its new surroundings. “Let’s do this.”
The two of them got out of the truck and walked to theentrance, followed closely by Lyall, who had hopped into Kaveh’s truck without him noticing.
Kaveh had secretly hoped Remi’s double-date plans would fall through. Jeanette had been divorced for a few years now, and with her looks and sunny personality, she had many social options on a Thursday night. Kat, never much of a party person, had an upcoming exam he had been anxious about.
Yet both of them were waiting for Remi and Kaveh at the club entrance, bright smiles on their faces. That made the foursome complete—or fivesome, if you counted the terrier. He had no idea how they would get inside with a dog trailing behind them.
There was a long line to get into the country-western bar, a cover fee the place was charging, and a mysterious list of approved guests. Kaveh liked music, especially country, but the social complexities of this place were too daunting for him to wrap his head around.
None of that mattered. Remi breezed to the front of the line without a word of protest from the crowd, flashed a smile at the club’s bouncer, and within a few moments, all five of them—yes, including the Riftworld Scottish terrier—were in.
Remi ushered them through to the outdoor back patio, which had both a bar and a dance floor. Kaveh opted to buy everyone drinks and hold their seats at the bar as Kat, Remi, and Jeannette went off to join the dancing crowd.
The music was loud, the bar packed with bodies, and Kaveh felt out of his element.
He looked down at Lyall, who had found a spot under a bar stool. “Not much of a dancer myself. How about you?”
The dog gave him an incredulous look then settled down on his haunches to survey the room. Kaveh wonderedif Lyall could understand him if he tried to communicate by sending mental images to him. Earth animals communicated with each other constantly of course, and many were capable of nonverbal interactions with humans. In the Riftworld, where there was a wide array of diverse species with similar intelligence levels, the human/animal dichotomy made little sense. There were even many intelligent Riftworld species who would be considered part of the plant kingdom on Earth.
He sent out the first mental picture of Remi which came into his mind—the blogger laughing, blue eyes full of mischief and fun.
Lyall’s reaction wasn’t what he expected. An emotion with no visual component rushed back toward him, all concern and fierce protectiveness. Then the connection slammed shut.
Interesting. Lyall could block telepathic thought like the drakones could. The only other species Kaveh knew who had that level of mental shields were hellhounds. Perhaps the ability came from Lyall’s unusual fairy hound and mothcat background.
Lyall glanced up at him, bared his teeth, and then resumed his focus on the dance floor, his tail wagging with the music.
His companions returned shortly after the drinks arrived. They were all flushed from the balmy night and the exertion of dancing. Remi and Kat both accepted cactus fruit margaritas with thanks, while Jeannette grabbed her beer.
Remi pressed closer to Kaveh, sniffing his drink. The contact sent a wave of heat through Kaveh that had nothing to do with the warm weather.
“Does that even have alcohol in it?” Remi asked.
“It’s pop.” Kaveh chuckled at Remi’s blank stare. He had forgotten folks back East called it soda. “I need a clear head tonight.”
“I was hoping if you had a few real drinks I could get you to dance with me.” Remi sipped at his margarita and did an impressive eyebrow wag.
“What’s the deal with you two?” Jeannette leaned against the bar stool and eyed them. “Remi, I’m thrilled you succeeded in getting our Dr. K. here to take some time off work. I heard a rumor about a wedding proposal, and I demand to know all the details.”
“I’m so happy for both of you.” Kat burst in with that, which wasn’t helpful.
Kaveh hadn’t wanted to have this discussion this soon in the evening.
