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Hal seemed to fare the best of anyone, and kept Jules awake long enough to eat in the evening. Patiently, he fed him by hand, gently shaking him awake sometimes. When the meal concluded, Jules was given a gla.s.s of wine, then carried to bed.

Sphinx grew and grew while Jules wasn"t watching. Now she was so heavy he could feel her on the bed. Halian told him she"d grown to half her expected size, and not to worry. "She"s not a mutant," he"d said. "Be glad she and Ruto made friends, and quit fretting."

Indeed, Ruto hardly ever left Jules"s side now. Always there, silent and watchful, the dog gave Jules so much eye contact that it almost made him nervous. Such quiet intensity wasn"t natural, Jules would swear that. The dog frequently made facial expressions that matched the mood of what was being said around him.

Creepy.

"How"s Sky doing?" Jules asked no one in particular. With this many people sitting around, knitting, someone had to know. h.e.l.l, Jules knew more about these forty-some people than he"d known about his own parents, by now.

"She"s healthy and happy," Gretta, a regular maid said, smiling. "Ellaine"s new mastiff pup and Sky spend a lot of time together. That dog"s going to grow up protecting her."

"I love my puppy," someone called out. Jules thought it might be Kara. She"d taken to sitting near the back with Lucien.

Tired, good-natured laughter, rippled through the room.

"I want everyone to quit in an hour," Halian announced. "This will have to be enough for now. At this rate we"ll all wreck our carts. So, tomorrow is a day of sleeping and eating. The next day is fishing, and gathering up more supplies to load. That morning after, we"ll deliver."

The collective sighing created a breeze in the room.

"Hal, do we have any people that know basket weaving?" Jules asked.

"I can," a young girl said. Jules didn"t know her name yet. She didn"t talk much, but she worked steadily. "I know five weaves. My mother... She used to make baskets for a living."

"I"d like to learn," Jules told her. "I noticed these people we"re helping don"t have much to carry their stuff in."

"I"ll teach you, sir," she said.

"It"s Jules," Jules corrected, smiling. "What"s your name?"

"Aria," she said shyly.

"That"s pretty," Jules said.

After they broke ranks, Felix approached Jules and Halian. He waited until everyone left, then shut the door. "Jules, you be careful with that girl," Felix said. "Trauma doesn"t even begin to touch her problems. Her mother"s shop was right beside of mine, and the things I heard..." He shook his head. "Let"s just say no one mourned when her father died."

Halian c.o.c.ked his head at Felix. "I wonder how many orphans we have here."

"A few," Felix said.

They kept looking at each other.

Jules suddenly understood. Felix had killed Aria"s father, probably with witchcraft, and Halian was letting him know that he knew. Still, he wasn"t censuring him, or acting at all disapproving.

"I"ll be careful," Jules promised.

Halian and Jules went upstairs. Jules collapsed onto the bed and instantly got Sphinx in his s.p.a.ce. She purred, cuddling up to him, sniffing him often. He buried his face in her fur, letting out a long breath. Ruto jumped up for settling at Jules"s feet.

"My lovely omega, surrounded by his adoring fans," Halian said, laughter in his drawl. "Bestir yourself in a half hour to go through your mail."

"I have mail?"

"Yes, but it can wait a few minutes. It"s only a gift package from my mother." Halian smoothed down Jules"s growing hair. "Felix will cut this mess, if you ask him."
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"Is it bad?" Jules asked.

"No, I"m teasing."

Jules shut his eyes and fell asleep. When he awoke it was because he heard Halian speaking to Felix.

"You"re making a lot of them angry, is what I"m saying," Felix said. "They consider these poor people slave labor. By giving the poor what they need, you"re taking them out of the influence of the landed alphas. Don"t get me wrong. I support you. I just want you to be aware that you"re making enemies."

"I appreciate the warning, Felix, I do," Halian said. "And, I"m glad you"re on my side. Whatever you do, don"t get caught with your... ??????????????? activities."

"Pffft," Felix deflected. "I"m old and wily. But, that"s not the point. The point is, you need a wall of hired muscle in between you and these aggressive, arrogant toffs. Maybe you don"t need representation, but you should have it anyway just for the sake of appearances. Also, that extra measure of safety for Sleeping Beauty over there."

"I"ll take your advice," Halian promised. "I"ll have Mother send me some of her personal guards."

"Oh, that should work," Felix said, chuckling. "Tra, darling. I"m off to sleep."

"Later, Felix," Halian said.

Jules fell back asleep the moment all the interesting, covert conversation stopped. He awoke later to the feel of Halian"s hand skimming down his bare arm, the touch light and reverent.

"Jules..."

"Hey, Hal," Jules sighed, rolling onto his back and dislodging Sphinx. "Time for mail?"

"Yes." Halian handed him a large box wrapped in brown paper and tied with thick twine.