Pia was sure she had hit a nerve. She pressed, “There are plenty of things you could do. You could ask her to go for a hike, or to go hunting…” Not that Pia could ever think something as horrible as hunting down and killing another creature could be a date, but this wasn’t about her. “The lake where we’re building the city is huge. Dragos flew me over it once. There are several beautiful beaches. You could ask her out on a picnic and go swimming.”

She’d halfway expected Eva to grin and say hubba hubba, or something else about enjoying a hot woman in a bikini. Instead, Eva frowned down at her hands. “I’m not sure it’s a good idea to get involved with someone who has such different loyalties.”

Oooooohh. Maybe there was more going on than just a simple crush.

“Oh, come on,” Pia said after a moment. “Look at Niniane and Tiago. Rune and Carling. Graydon and Beluviel. Hell, look at me and Dragos. People from different races, different Wyr natures, and different demesnes make relationships work all the time. Besides, you’d just be asking her out on a date. There would be plenty of time to figure out anything else if things turned serious.”

And it would be no bad thing for Eva to consider dating someone like Linwe, who had already demonstrated the capacity for deep loyalty and commitment. When Wyr mated, they did so for life, which could be a dangerous proposition, especially if that Wyr mated with someone of a different race. Now was not an appropriate time to bring that up, but Pia made the observation, and she approved.

“It might be a moot point anyway,” Eva said. “I haven’t asked her to do anything.”

“No, you haven’t, but you should. Because if you don’t ask, you know the answer is no. If you do ask, the answer just might be yes.” Dragos appeared at the foot of the stairs, Skeeter at his heels, and Pia stood. “That’s my cue. Thanks for watching Niall.”

“No problem.” Eva stood too and kissed her cheek. “See you in the morning.”

Dragos nodded at Eva as he passed her on the steps. When he reached Pia, he said levelly, “We don’t have a doghouse.”

“Oh for God’s sake,” she exploded. “Scrub that thought from your mind. Skeeter is a house pet. We’re not putting him in a doghouse.”

“This whole situation is very wrong.” He gave her the same kind of fierce frown that had once frightened most of the inhabitants of Cuelebre Tower. Hell, it had once frightened her.

As they talked, Skeeter sat. The adoring expression in the dog’s eyes as he watched Dragos made a weird feeling flutter like a butterfly around in her chest. “That’s okay, honey,” she crooned, patting Dragos’s arm. “You’ll adjust. For tonight, he’s sleeping with us.”