“It’s a baron of some sort, named Korin. You didn’t tell me you worked for the Government, why didn’t you tell me that? That would have helped!” She glared at him.

She was inwardly pleased when he fell for it, “I didn’t know it mattered.”

“Everything matters, now we know it’s a government operation.” She watched him as he nodded.

“Yeah, I think I can see that now,” he said, and her eyes narrowed.

Suddenly, she was in his arms as they wrapped tightly around her waist, “I was so afraid they would take you away, and I wouldn’t see you again.”

Grimacing inside, Emily reached up and kissed Tim lightly on the lips and tried not to react when he responded forcefully, returning her kiss as his arms moved up to hold her head tightly.

She let him lead her into the bedroom, and as he turned and laid her on the bed, her body froze and then she sat up and looked at the cameras.

Tim sat up, frustrated, “What’s wrong?”

“The cameras, they are always watching,” she said, and she slipped out of bed and went back into the other room. Before Tim emerged, she grabbed her book and was reading again, pleased with her progress.

***

Chevalier sighed, “Whatever she’s doing worked, and she’s positive again. I don’t like this. I can hear voices but can’t make out what they are saying. All I’m getting are bursts of emotions.”