Fabricio sighed and put down his cup. “Fine. You want to know why I’m being nice to you? I’ll be blunt. I don’t want you to hurt me anymore. I figure if I treat you like a human, maybe you’ll treat me like one.”

A bitter smile crossed Kovit’s face. “So it’s all fake. You’re just pretending I’m human to manipulate me.”

Fabricio gave Kovit an disgusted look. “You are human. I can’t pretend something that’s already true.”

Kovit blinked. “Pardon?”

“I’m just pretending you don’t scare the shit out of me, and I’m trying to pretend what happened in Toronto was a bad dream so I can function normally around you.” Fabricio picked his maté back up and held it close. “But I’m hardly pretending you’re human. That’s just a fact.”

“I’m a zannie.” Kovit’s voice was soft. “Not many people consider that human.”

Fabricio shrugged. “You said you grew up in captivity in the black market, right? No offense, but I don’t think you exactly met the most exemplary side of humanity over there.”

“I met plenty of people who weren’t part of the black market too.” Kovit’s eyes went dead. “They didn’t consider me human either.”

Fabricio’s lips quirked. “Ah. Well, if you treat people as less than human, then you shouldn’t be surprised when they treat you the same. You dehumanize them as much as they dehumanize you.”

“So what? You think if I’m nice, they’ll be nice back?” Kovit’s smile was deeply amused. “You’re living in a fantasy world. I eat pain, and that scares people.”

“Sure it does. But lots of people are scary—terrorists, fascists, racists. That doesn’t mean they’re not human, much as some people might wish.” Fabricio’s eyes met Kovit’s. “You’re a sentient, thinking being. You choose who you hurt, and if you hurt someone.” Fabricio made a frustrated noise. “You’re not a fucking avalanche mowing down everything in its path.”

Kovit looked down at his cooling tea. “I think you’re vastly underestimating people’s fear of what I am. I suspect the average person would much rather die in an avalanche than meet me.” Kovit gave him a small smile. “But I appreciate the thought. And the tea. Thank you.” Kovit rose. “I think it’s time I slept some of that jet lag off now.”

Fabricio raised his eyebrows and sipped his tea as he watched Kovit vanish into the bedroom.

Nita stared between Fabricio and Kovit, uneasiness growing. She could see, clear as day, Fabricio’s plan. Humanize himself to Kovit, make himself a real person so Kovit wouldn’t be able to bring himself to hurt Fabricio again.