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deeper and rougher tones that contrasted so well with the House’s actor voice.
    Time and again she had to yank her focus from the virile man to the stark House.
    Garrett was too aware of the woman he didn’t want to replace his lost love and tried to concentrate on his conversation with the slyly knowing Turquoise House. That entity hinted at more than one secret regarding itself, the woman, and Garrett.
    The Turquoise House had figured out that riddles itched Garrett like a bad rash. The House dropped innuendos, ensuring Garrett was intrigued. Why, Garrett didn’t know, but the House had an agenda.
    So the obligatory tour wasn’t over when a data stream came from Primary HealingHall, officially approving the project. Garrett’s last trickle of hope that he’d be spared the whole terrible thing was squashed.
    He and the SecondLevel Healer stood in a small bedroom that connected through a dressing and waterfall room to the bedroom of the MasterSuite. The view out the undraped windows was the only thing that made the place tolerable. The Healer had decided the chambers were right for the experiment. This would be her room.
    Garrett glanced at his wrist timer. “I need to make arrangements for my business.”
    â€œYou are a
private investigator
.” The Turquoise House rolled the sentence. “A fascinating business.”
    Garrett grunted. “I like it well enough.”
    The Healer’s delicately curving brows arched. “You wouldn’t pursue a vocation if you didn’t enjoy it.”
    She already sensed too much about him. Every instant he was with her, the innate bond between them grew from the wispy tendril they’d always had to a thin thread. It would only get worse.
    â€œYou will tell us of some of your cases?” the House asked. “Though that business with the Hawthorn jewels earlier this year was well publicized—a triumph for you!”
    The woman blinked as if she didn’t recall his greatest case, the juicy events of kidnapping, attempted murder, accidental death, jewel theft, and a goddess’s curse. Garrett shouldn’t have been irritated in the slightest, but he was. People were contrary.
    â€œMaybe I’ll tell some general stories. Nothing confidential.” He wanted the woman to ask. But she stared around the place, frowning. She wasn’t comfortable in the House and he wondered why.
    No. He would
not
wonder about her. She presented no intriguing puzzle. “I’ll go to Primary HealingHall and let them take my blood for the boy. Then pack my stuff,” he said.
    She sighed. “I must, too.”
    â€œDo you teleport?” he asked. She should be able to at her level of Flair.
    â€œYes,” she said, not sounding offended as he would’ve been if she’d asked him. She didn’t appear to be easily offended. Easygoing. Soft.
    Not like Dinni, who’d been adamant in her refusal of him.
    The Healer wet her lips and his reluctant gaze went to her wide, tender mouth. She said, “I must plan procedures with the FirstLevel Healers. We probably won’t start the project until tomorrow morning. You’ll be scried with the information.”
    â€œFine.” He gave her his briefest nod. Again no reaction from her at the slight. Garrett teleported away from the disturbing female and to Intake at Primary HealingHall.

Four

    T
he irritating Garrett Primross was gone. Artemisia relaxed her
shoulders.
    â€œMy HouseHeart is quiet and serene if you wish to rest,” the Turquoise House said.
    The offer to visit its most secret room surprised Artemisia so much that she stretched out a hand to steady herself. Her skin cringed at the tacky feel of the wall.
    â€œAll organisms deposited by human contact have been destroyed,” said a flat voice.
    The House rushed into speech. “My apologies, Healer. The decontamination and sterilization system came with med announcements that I have not yet