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am just recovering from more than the ride.”
    He slowed his pace. “Yes, Artruo mentioned something to that effect. I thought you had been healed.”
    “The SRT works on nerve reactions. My body is trying to forget what was done, but things still get set off in weird ways.” She smiled tensely.
    She walked with him to the beast, winced as she settled back into position and he mounted behind her. His body was an excellent frame for her, and when he set the beast into motion, she tried to keep straight-backed and businesslike.
    After a few minutes, he whispered in her ear. “My brother likes to exaggerate, but how long were you in the machine?”
    “Just over three days.” She raised one hand to her ear, and under the guise of brushing back her hair, she covered it. The memory that rang in her mind was the jeers and cheering wishing her to her death.
    “That is...” His arms closed around her in a nearly invisible hug.
    “Yes. It was.”
    “Yet, you are willing to take a consort?”
    She looked straight ahead as his warm breath stroked her cheek. “You don’t plug into a wall.”
    “No.”
    “You will stop when I say stop.”
    “I will.”
    She chuckled. “You will whether you want to or not. I will show you my talent when it is appropriate, but it is a lot of fun at parties.”
    She thought about it. “Strike that. It tends to end the party.”
    He let out a small sound. “I look forward to seeing a demonstration, at the appropriate time.”
    Gyrion used small movements to coax her into leaning against him. “No one can see you; we are at the head of the pack.”
    “Why are you being kind to me?”
    “You think I should challenge you to be all that you are while you are recovering and exhausted? You don’t think much of me.”
    She sighed and twisted to look at him. “I don’t know you or you me.”
    He smiled. “I will, and you will. Lean back. It is an hour until we are in your domain.”
    She settled against him and felt the small shudder through the wall of his chest. “Why did you give it over so easily?”
    “I didn’t. You will rule the land. I will control it. You have the land, and I have the people.”
    She chuckled. “You may have that backward.”
    She paused. “How many ladies did you have to dismiss because of my arrival?”
    “How did you know?” His words were an embarrassed mutter.
    “Scratch marks on your neck, at the back of your arms. Lover’s marks. Your skin resists bruising, but the clawing is part of the fun.” She chuckled. “How many?”
    “Two.”
    “Do either have mates or children?”
    “No.”
    “Do they have talents?”
    He cleared his throat. “They do. One has a talent for fire, the other for air.”
    She grinned. “Will they attack me?”
    “The Lady Himya was particularly upset. Joriana was more accepting.”
    Amylia sighed. “Excellent. I will be on my guard. Oh, do you have any healers?”
    “We do.”
    “Good. Anyone coming near me with ill intent is going to need them.” She closed her eyes as they rode along, letting the warmth of him relax her.
    She felt the wealth of the minds as they got closer to her new domain. She sat up straight, and Gyrion chuckled.
    “You have excellent timing.”
    Amylia turned her head slightly. “I can feel them.”
    He was quiet at that. He didn’t ask how, merely shifted until the beast beneath them picked up speed until it was running.
    They thundered into the keep, and there was a cheer from nearly all the throats. In the wide courtyard, Gyrion stopped and dismounted, turning to put his hands on Amylia’s waist to help her down.
    She had to stiffen her knees and keep up with him as he guided her up the steps to a low wall.
    The wind tugged at her gown and dried it.
    “People of Forat, I give you your queen!” He gestured to her and ninety percent of the locals cheered.
    Ten percent to turn to her side. It wouldn’t be too difficult. She was plain spoken and direct with little malice to any alien