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Maybe just a quick walk. He gleamed out and materialized at MIT by the Great Dome overlooking Killian Court. It wasn’t uncommon for him to come here to think, but it was what he was thinking about that was driving his ass crazy. Why the fuck was all this mating shit coming up now? He and his left temporal lobe had been estranged for a long time. He was seriously starting to miss his logical awesomeness. He turned to walk up the path and out of nowhere ran into what he thought was a student.
    “Oh, pardon me.”
    That voice. “Rose?”
    She looked up at him and the expression of shock left her delicate features and slowly turned to recognition. “Xavier. I…hello.”
    “I’m so sorry. Apparently I can’t stop bumping into you.” Did I just say that out loud?
    “I’m afraid I was a bit in my own world.”
    “What brings you here so late?” That was so none of his business. He took in her skirt and heels. Her hair was up in the same twist as usual, making her neck look long and slender. She was captivating.
    “I was just visiting a colleague. You look like you’ve been somewhere far more interesting.”
    He looked down at his tux. “Oh, this? No, not really. It’s just a charity thing.”
    “Taking a break at your alma mater then?”
    Wait. She knew he’d graduated MIT? She’d looked into him. He looked into her beautiful Asian eyes and she looked down at the path. Oh, yeah. Clearly he was not the only one who’d been googling. Huh. “Sometimes I just like to clear my head. Are you parked nearby? Maybe I should see you to your car.”
    She smiled. “Actually, I came on foot. I live right near Harvard.”
    He looked at his watch. It was after ten. “Why don’t I walk with you?”
    She switched her bag to her other shoulder. “It’s less than a mile. It only takes fifteen minutes. Look, Xavier, I know making sure shifters are safe is what the Order does, but I can take care of myself.”
    He was being forward when he reached over and took her bag from her shoulder, but he did it anyway. They started to walk toward Massachusetts Avenue in silence. She probably thought he was stalking her or some shit, but there was a part of him that couldn’t let her walk back on her own. He sighed. Wouldn’t or couldn’t? There was a very fine line. She moved along at a good clip and he stayed in step alongside her, hoping she would say something so he could hear that voice again.
    Suddenly, she stopped. “Look, just so you know, I’m not looking to get into anything with anyone.”
     
    What on earth? Rose felt her cheeks flush and she started to walk again. She couldn’t believe what she’d just said. “I mean, just in case I’ve been giving you mixed signals. You know, letting you walk me home and everything.”
    “No worries. I just want to be sure you’re safe.”
    “Okay, good.”
    So it had been a really, really, really long time since she’d been with a male, but she was pretty sure she had just made a total ass of herself. Xavier had just bumped into her and happened to be wearing a tux. It wasn’t like he’d brought flowers, chocolates, and a ring with him. She smiled a little. He looked amazing. Well, at least she was being straightforward. He seemed like a very nice male. The last thing she wanted to do was lead him on. There was no place for romance in her world and that was never going to change.
     
    Troy was finishin’ a drink with James and watchin’ the females while they chatted with the Goddess. The male seemed ready to take on his new responsibilities. But just from reading the brother’s most superficial emotional layers, Troy could tell he was far from happy. Of course, thinkin’ back he remembered how miserable he was at his own ceremony. He hadn’t exactly been hit with the Oprah stick. Sure, he’d been proud to be a New Breed, but at the same time, it meant there would be no Evy. Ever. Even the most innocent thoughts he’d ever had of her would never happen. At least,