turned upside down. This is where you do the starin’ down, before the throwin’ down, honey.

Dogs can smell fear, and people—or things from the Real World—are pretty much the same way.

Predators have finely tuned antennae for terror. But ninety-nine times out of a hundred, a dog can

also smell when you’re the alpha. It takes the same kind of flat look and decision to be fearless as

facing down a bunch of jocks bent on harassing someone.

I just hoped I was giving Kir the staredown, and not an exhausted, oh my God look.

Anna eyed Kir for a long, taffy-stretching second. She made a soft, sliding motion with one hand,

the lacquer on her nails glinting. “Oh, Kir. Relax. Mr. Graves has a sarcastic sense of humor. It’s

something to appreciate in a man. Boy humor is so juvenile.”

The redheaded djamphir’s face scrunched up like he smelled something really bad. I caught Anna’s

flash of a smirk before she looked directly past me at Graves. I’ve seen cheerleaders look at boys

that way before.

It meant they were marking their next cut of prime rib. My heart gave a sick thump. If Graves

wasn’t interested in me—or was only kind of interested—maybe he’d be interested in a girl who

looked like a fashion model. No matter that she’d chew him up and spit him out. That kind always

does.

Gee, Dru, you think you’re judging her by what she wears much? I couldn’t stop thinking that

maybe I was just judging her because I did not like her way down in my bones. It wasn’t fair.

“It wasn’t sarcasm.” Graves blew out a cloud of acrid smoke. “It was pointing out a fallacy in your

logic, babe.”

Anna’s jaw actually dropped. For a moment, I wasn’t sure if I should laugh or push him out of the

room. Way to go, Graves.

“I must be late.” A pleasant tenor, behind me. Hiro slid into the room, his footfalls eerily silent

against the plush carpet. “Kir. Milady.” His lip all but curled, sarcasm dripping from the word. Then

he half-turned and looked at me. When he spoke again, it was a respectful murmur. “Milady.”

How he could say the same word so differently each time was beyond me. He bent forward slightly,

a tiny bow, and I did the same thing before I could help myself. Hey, man, when in Rome, right?

He smiled as he straightened. “Exquisite manners, young one. I regret my lateness. Forgive me.”

I was about to say no problem, but Kir almost choked. Anna’s face was smooth and smiling too, but