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not going to tiptoe around the problem. Your Thresl is dangerous. I’ve never seen one transform that quickly before. The faster they transform, the more powerful the Thresl.” His cool eyes looked Vohne over from head to toe. “I’ve also never seen one so big. There are a lot of people who are going to want your Thresl.”
    “B-but I thought now that we were bonded we had to stay together?” He didn’t want to sound like a whiny child, but he was just now getting used to the idea of having this large creature follow him around.
    “That’s why they will try to grab you, too. Your Thresl will do anything if they have you under their control.”
    Kres took a deep breath. “Won’t Vohne just kill them?”
    Tiller gave him a disapproving look. “You really don’t know much about the Thresl, do you?”
    “What he doesn’t know I can teach him,” Vohne growled behind him.
    The commander looked them both over. Sighing, he reached into his desk and pulled out a thick book. He slammed it onto his desk. “Take this and look it over. It should tell you everything you need to know about bonding with a Thresl, but don’t think just because you’re bonded no one can use him.”
    Kres frowned. “What would they use him for?”
    Tiller looked Vohne up and down. “Yours they would use as an assassin. Thresls are excellent killers, especially if they’re trying to get their mate back. Even if they don’t have you, the promise of reuniting the two of you will keep him under their control for a while.
    “It is your job to protect him as much as he protects you. I’m putting the pair of you on a special training task force. You will have limited contact with other people until your bond is secure. The stronger the bond, the better you’ll be able to sense each other if you get separated. Understand?”
    “I thought we were already bonded,” Kres said.
    Tiller smiled. “Read the book. It’ll explain everything. Dismissed.”
    Kres picked up the heavy volume, more than certain the complicated question of his feelings for the man-cat wouldn’t be answered inside.
    Kres took the Thresl to the cafeteria. He couldn’t help looking at everyone he passed with suspicion. It disturbed him to learn that someone could still try to steal his Thresl or kidnap him to control Vohne. Possessiveness sat oddly in his chest when he looked at the man-cat. He still wasn’t quite sure what to do with the creature, but he certainly didn’t want anyone else taking him either.
    “It will be all right.” Vohne rubbed a reassuring hand down Kres’ back.
    He almost dropped the book.
    “Um, thanks. I…I just thought once you were bonded, you were safe from poachers. I mean, I’m sorry you didn’t get to your destination, but I don’t want you stolen either.”
    Vohne gave him a wide smile, exposing all of his extra sharp teeth. “I’m hoping someone tries. Then they can learn the Thresl truth.”
    “What’s that?” Kres was positive there was more going on in this conversation than appeared on the surface, and he was almost as certain he didn’t want to learn what it was.
    “Kres!” Zander ran up to him like he was his new best friend. Vohne gave an unfriendly growl.
    “Hi, Zander.” He saw Zander’s Thresl plodding behind him. The animal was caramel-coloured and several shades lighter than Vohne had been in that form. He gave a friendly smile to the creature, but its eyes were focused on Vohne. The creature tilted its head submissively. With a satisfied nod, Vohne turned his attention to Zander.
    “Wow, I heard your Thresl converted early, but shit, he’s big.”
    The awe in Zander’s voice made Kres laugh. He liked Zander and hoped they could become friends.
    “Hey, did you hear what happened with Brice?”
    Kres leant forward as the other man lowered his voice. “He was arrested and thrown in the brig. He tried to steal back that Thresl he’d bought even after the commander said they weren’t a match.”
    A chill