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pleased.
    “Midnight,” he replied in a neutral tone that bordered on cold.
    “You should introduce your guest around. Let us all get to know her.”
    “There’ll be plenty of time for that. She just arrived.”
    Rosie turned in her chair and looked up into a face that was beautiful and ferocious at the same time. The young female was grinning, displaying pearly white fangs. “I’d like to meet her now .”
    Charming stood up. “I said no.”
    “Let your friend speak for herself, Charming.”
    The female he’d called Midnight continued to stare at Rosie, her grin looking more like a grimace.
    Rosie stood from her chair slowly. At full height she was a good four inches shorter than the hybrid. “Say what you have to say, Midnight, is it?” When it became clear that Rosie would not be displaying any fear response, Midnight’s grin began to falter. “Well, you’ve met me. I’ve met you. Unless you want to dance, we’re done.”
    Midnight blinked a few times, looking confused and uncertain about how to back down. Rosie reached down and picked up her mug. “Here. You want my ale?”
    The female glanced down at the mug. “Drink after a human?” She made a disgusted face and turned to leave.
    Charming leaned over the table looking impressed. “That was prodigious.”
    “Yeah, well. It also looked a lot like jealousy to me.”
    Charming sat back, looking uncomfortable. “It’s nothing. She wanted me to be her Promise.”
    “Her Promise?”
    “You know. Promise to be her mate.”
    “Oh.”
    “Yeah. Oh.”
    “And you’re just not feeling the love?”
    He smiled. “You have a funny way of putting things.” Rosie laughed. “And a great laugh.”
    “Be careful. If you start complimenting me, you’re going to make me Midnight’s target.”
    “Nothing’s going to happen to you here, Rosie. You’re safe. Some of the Exiled like to put on a show. That’s all. I hope it doesn’t make you too uncomfortable. Most are going to like you. I do. Just give it a chance.”
    “Okay.” She wiggled her head, which Charming thought was very cute. “I like you, too. And you have a killer name. Lot of pressure living up to it, I’ll bet.”
    “Not at all.” He grinned. “Being charming comes naturally.”
    Rosie chuckled as she finished her ale, which warmed her so much that she no longer needed the shawl. “It’s been a long day, Charming. And since I’m working tomorrow? I guess I should turn in.”
    “Yeah. Okay.” He turned the mug up as he gulped the rest down. “Let me walk you over.”
    As they headed for the door, some younger males called out to Charming. “You leaving? Night’s young.”
    “I’ll be right back,” he told them.
    At the foot of the stairs, Rosie turned to Charming. “Thanks for making me feel welcome.”
    “You are welcome. Sleep tight. See you tomorrow.”
    Rosie found that someone had lit the lamp by the bed in Carnal’s room so she could find her way. It was a nice gesture. So she went to bed telling herself that no place is perfect. She took off her ankle boots and slid under the covers. Even though the ale still warmed her bloodstream, she laid the shawl on top of the covers. After some experimentation, she was able to figure out how to turn off the lamp without having to ask someone.
    She lay awake mulling over how the hybrids were different from humans, aside from the fact that they were all beautiful. They had gruff voices that rasped, but not unpleasantly. They were tall and muscular with longer canine teeth and retractable claws, like cats. Judging from what she’d seen of Free and Serene, they were also capable of deep, abiding love. She fell asleep wondering what other differences were still to be discovered.

CHAPTER THREE
     
    When Rosie opened her door the next morning intending to shuffle toward the shared bathroom, she found clothes and boots neatly folded just outside her door. She picked them up and saw that they were similar to what she’d seen other