Tamani was suddenly struck by just how young David looked. He forgot, sometimes, that David, Laurel, and their friends were younger, in some ways much younger, than Tamani. He was posing as a school-age human, but in truth he was an officer in the Guard. He knew his place, he knew his role, with a certainty some humans never achieved. The amount of freedom human children had must be paralyzing. No wonder they took so long to become adults.

I've loved you for a long time, ' she said. 'But there was always something holding me back. Maybe it was that I was afraid of an emotion that was so consuming. It still frightens me,' she admitted in a whisper. Tamani chuckled. 'If it makes you feel any better, it scares the daylights out of me on a regular basis.

You could be David's friend too'. She glanced at Tamani when he said nothing. He was frowning. 'The two of you really have a lot in common, and we're all in this together'.He shook his head. 'It wouldn't work'.'Why not? He's a nice guy. And it would do you good to have some human friends', she said hinting at what she suspected was the root of the problem. 'It's not that', Tamani said, gesturing vaguely with one hand.'Then why?' Laurel asked, exasperated.'I just don't want to cosy up to the guy whose girl I have every intention of stealing.