“I continue to dislike this city. This planet. Your clan-mates. Your pack.”

Tafari smiled at the complaint as he held the door to Valentin’s hotel room. He’d followed xer this far because it was on his way home, because xie still hadn’t told him where and when they were to begin in the morning, and because it wasn’t as though anyone or anything waited to require his attention in his own home.

“Tell me it would be different if our situations were reversed. If I were walking around the City of Lights or the City of Falling Flowers, asking questions in my,” he shifted his voice to match the tone in which Valentin had lobbed these words at him earlier today, “stumbling, blunt, mannerless, style.”

“No, of course it wouldn’t be different. But then it would be utterly justified. Are you coming in?” Xie added impatiently as Tafari continued to stand in the door.

Tafari came in.

“If our situations were reversed,” Valentin muttered as xie unbuttoned the top of xer jacket and went straight to the bar built into the wall across from the bed. Xie spun, pointing an accusing finger. “What can you possibly imagine would have you chasing someone to Terris?”

“I don’t know. I’m having a hard enough time imagining what has you chasing someone here.”

Valentin poured xerself a drink. Xie did not offer anything to Tafari.

“What I have started to think is that Nita Philippe is relatively skilled at covering his own tracks. He’s hunting for information, but he’s cast a wide net. He’s asking such a wide variety of questions, it’s hard to isolate what it is he’s actually looking for.”

Tafari watched Valentin closely as he spoke, looking for the slightest twitch of response that would confirm xie agreed.

Valentin, too, was skilled at burying information in noise. If xie had any reaction, it was lost in other movements as xie closed xer eyes to savor the drink xie sipped, then set about removing xer jacket.

“My own theory—I think his questions about demons and anything to do with them are red herrings. I think he’s here on Cradle for a reason. He’s looking for something. It’s just a question of what.”

Valentin set xer drink down, then turned to face him. Xie hadn’t bothered with the overhead lights, so the only illumination in the room came from the soft, low lights over the bed. It gave xer skin a deep, bronze cast and rippled over hair that was still perfectly smooth, perfectly arranged, despite a long day outside in the wind. “You’re just going to keep talking, aren’t you?”

“Until you actually answer a question. Any question.”

“I see.” Xie tugged at xer shirt, pulling it free of xer pants, then up over xer head. Xie wore nothing underneath.

That was…unexpected. “What are you doing?”

“Giving you something to do besides talk.” Xie took a step forward, leaning in. “Or have I misunderstood your interest? Is there some other meaning to the constant staring?”

Tafari sucked air in through lips that were suddenly dry. “No misunderstanding, no.”

“Good. I do so loathe having to apologize.” Xie took another step, closing the distance between them, and rested xer hands on his chest.

Tafari did as he’d been wanting to do since the first moment he saw xer and buried his hands in the long fall of Valentin’s hair. Xie leaned xer head back, closing xer eyes as he stroked his fingers through long, silky strands.

His blood was pounding, his body reminding him just how long it had been since he’d been with someone like this. This close, he could smell the soft floral scent that surrounded xer, could feel the warmth of xer breath as xie sighed under his hands.

He couldn’t resist saying, “You are the most beautiful person I’ve ever seen.”

“Yes. I would imagine.” Xer hands slid down, burrowed under the layers of his own clothes to find the bare skin of his stomach. His skin twitched, sensitive to xer touch. “As for myself,” xer eyes popped open, full of mischief. “I have never bedded a Wolf. Is there anything I should be braced for? Will you be chewing on your own toes? Howling at the moon, perhaps?”

Tafari’s response was to take xer by the hips, and throw xer onto the bed.

Xie sprawled beneath him, xer hair a black pool around xer head, limbs spread in lazy elegance. Xer eyes were bright. Challenging. “Now that has potential,” xie murmured.

“Now who’s talking too much?” Tafari knelt between Valentin’s spread legs, leaned over, and gave a theatrical growl as he caught xer mouth in a kiss.

There was nothing of restraint or elegance in the way he devoured xer mouth. He took possession of xer, demanding, and was rewarded as xie arched up into him, xer hand clutching at her shoulders to pull him even closer.

Tafari would show xer a Wolf.

He nipped at xer lower lip then caught it between his teeth with a rough bite. Xie groaned and pulled harder at his shoulders, encouraging. That was good. That put all kinds of ideas in Tafari’s head. But mostly what he wanted was to peel Valentin open, to break through that perfect Swan demeanor until xie was every bit as desperate, as desirous as Tafari.

Tafari sat up, taking in Valentin beneath him. He stroked his hands up xer arms, caught xer wrists, and pressed them up, pinning them over xer head, stretching xer out long. Valentin’s changeling body was all hard lines and angles tonight. Had xie been that way before they had started?

Was there a message to be read? Tafari was deeply engaged in study of the language of Valentin’s body, but he hadn’t learned enough, not yet.

What he could see was the way xie arched up as he ran his free hand back down her chest, tracing lines of muscle and bone. This was a light touch, barely skimming the skin. It wasn’t enough, not for him, but also not for Valentin, and watching xer try to lift into his touch, to chase the sensation was its own delight.

Valentin locked xer knees on either side of his hips, dragging him forward. “Tease,” xie muttered, tugging xer wrists against his grip.

“If you insist.”

Tafari teased. With lips and fingers and teeth, he stripped away layer after layer of clothing, of control, of Valentin’s cool perfection until xie was twisting and gasping beneath him. He searched out and explored every centimeter, every sensitive spot, every nook and cranny. Until xer cultured Swan voice was a wreck as xie begged, “Please, please.”

To which he responded by leaning in, tugging at xer earlobe with his teeth before murmuring into the arching shell of xer ear, “I’m sorry, that wasn’t clear. What exactly would you like me to do? Shall I howl at the moon?”

“If you do not fuck me—”

Tafari didn’t let xer finish the threat. He gripped xer hips tight and slid into xer.

Neither of them lasted long. Valentin shuddered and hissed a sharp intake of breath. Tafari only dimly noticed as his own pleasure overtook him. He fell forward onto his elbows as the waves of sensations ran through him, until he opened his blinking eyes again to see Valentin looking up at him.

“Upon consideration,” xie said, “I can say that I find you thirty percent less objectionable.”

“Only thirty percent?”

“It’s possible you’ll have the opportunity to improve your score.” Xie tapped his shoulder, and he rolled off.

Valentin sat up, smoothing xer hair. “For now, however, I’m done with you. You may be on your way.”

For reasons Tafari couldn’t understand, the dismissal made him smile. “Just let me collect my things.”

“Tomorrow morning, then. I’ll be done with breakfast by eight and ready to leave. Don’t be late.” With that, xie swept into the bathroom and closed the door behind xer.