Milos knew he had to play this very, very carefully. “No, it was only a guess. But believe me,” he said earnestly, “I know what it’s like to love someone who has betrayed you. And I know how hard it is to move on. But in the end, we must.”

They held each other’s gazes, and what wasn’t spoken at that moment was more important than anything else that was.

Mary was the first to break the gaze. Her eyes drifted to the book sitting on the table beside her. The engineering textbook. She picked it up, and pondered it, rubbing her hand across the surface as if it might sprout forth a genie.

“I will be needing the services of skinjackers, for various missions. Important missions. I’ll need someone I can trust in charge.”

“In that case,” said Milos, “I hope I can be of service.”

* * *

It was long after dark when he left that night, after hours in Mary’s company. There was no question he was dazzled by her. Mary was everything Milos imagined she might be. She had Jill’s shrewdness, without the sociopathic streak. She had Allie’s high moral integrity, without the naivety that kept Allie devoted to that miserable Mikey McGill. Milos knew his weakness was that he fell in love too easily, which blinded him to the character flaws of the girls he fell for— but finally here was a girl worthy of his attention!

He had already softened her defenses, but truly winning her affections would require a different kind of dance than he was used to. One where all his moves were clear, and his motives transparent. She valued honesty and directness. This he could deliver.

Milos knew he had no choice but to win her over— it was a matter of necessity for him now, because he had already fallen for her—and the only way to survive a force of nature such as Mary Hightower was to make sure that the feeling was mutual.

If only Mary were a skinjacker, he thought. Ah well, one can’t have everything. Besides, if Mary were a skinjacker, she wouldn’t have any need for Milos, so perhaps it was better this way.

And she did need him—she said so herself—but there were many levels of need. Milos had had his heart broken one too many times. This time would be different. Somehow he would find a way to be everything Mary needed, as indispensable as air to the living. As permanent as Everlost itself.

PART FOUR
Way of the Chocolate Warrior