“Okay,” Sloane shrugged.

“But it isn’t okay? Is it?” Tegan’s head tilted as she looked at him. “What is it?”

“I don’t know why you would let him in when you weren’t dressed. He says…” Sloane stopped.

“He says what?”

“That he has seen you in more revealing clothing?” Sloane rubbed the back of his neck. “He mentioned your underwear.”

Tegan laughed, her laughter causing Sloane to glare at her. “He has!” She laughed at her cousin some more. “So have you! On my first day here, I wore my training clothes remember?”

Understanding dawned on Sloane. “Your sports bra,” he groaned. “I forgot about you in that bra and yoga pants.”

“He said the towel hid more than they did, I realised he was right,” Tegan turned back to the dress. “Actually, I should apologise to Michael, I never thought they were revealing, they were just practical.” Tegan looked at Sloane sheepishly. “Sorry, cousin.”

“No, you’re fine. I’m going to punch Kai though, for making it seem more than that.” Sloane sighed in relief. “If Cord doesn’t dismember him first,” he muttered.

“Hmm?” Tegan was rummaging in her closet. She looked out from behind the door. “What was that?”

“Nothing,” Sloane forced a smile. “Nothing,” he repeated. “So, nothing else?”

“This is getting tedious now,” Tegan came out of her closet properly. “He said he wanted to hold me, I didn’t understand, and he said, ‘just let me hold you,” she noticed Sloane’s frown reappearing, “so I realised he just wanted a hug. Like you do,allthe time.” Tegan started unbraiding her hair. “I think he was scared of the upcoming battle.”

“You think he was scared?” Sloane watched her as she nodded emphatically.

“I do, of course, how were we to know – nothing would happen?” Tegan paused and looked at Sloane. “I bet he feels silly, do you think that’s why I haven’t seen him?”

Sloane shrugged instead of telling his cousin the reason she hadn’t seen Kai is because Kai was terrified Cord was going to turn him into a frog or worse, and if he wasn’t hiding from the Castor, he knew for definite that Michael was looking for him also. Tegan was so innocent, he realised. He debated about telling her, then thought she may be better off not knowing. As he watched her loosen her braids, her hair falling down her back, he realised if it wasn’t Kai, then Cord would surely kill her next admirer. Her beauty and complete innocence was a deadly combination.

“Tegan, I need to talk to you,” he blurted.

“What is it?”

“Come sit with me?”

“What is it?” Tegan sat beside him easily.

“How much do you know about… courting?” Sloane began.

“The Court,” Tegan frowned. “Not much. Father just said it was nonsense and I wouldn’t have to deal with it.” She gave a light laugh, “Wait until I seehimagain.” She nudged Sloane’s shoulder, her smile fading when he didn’t retaliate.

“No, not Court.”Why is this so awkward?Sloane thought as he shuffled in place. “Courting.” As Tegan remained silent. “Like a male and female Akrhyn getting together?”

“Oh,” Tegan gave a surprised laugh. “Martha explained the process to me when I was younger, and then Tove gave me the unedited version when I was sixteen.”

“Okay, good.” Sloane nodded.

“That may be the most random thing you ever asked me,” Tegan looked at him speculatively.

“Yeah, probably.” He looked away, before turning back. “Look, Kai likes you, he has made no secret about it.”

“Okay,” Tegan stood and went back to the closet. “You don’t want him to like me?”

“What? No. Wait, no, yes. I don’t know.” Sloane looked at her, flustered.

“You don’t like Kai?”

“What? Of course I like Kai,” Sloane stood in frustration. “This isn’t about whether I like him, we’re talking about you.”