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Randa had brought them to a shop that specialized in clothing for “robust men,” which offered a wide array of garishly-printed fabrics. None of the Light Phases wanted to wear clothing so bright. They were hunters. They liked to blend into their surroundings. Randa kept making them try things on until they gave in, though. The woman was relentless.

Kahn shifted uncomfortably in his new shirt. He harbored a deep suspicion that Randa had assigned him the worst outfit in the store. It had idiotic little alligators on it. None of the other Light Phases had to wear idiotic little alligators.

If he was forced to wear strange animals on his clothing, he’d prefer a cow shirt to one with alligators. Light Phases knew the monstrous carnivores from every dimension, so the weak delicious animals seemed far more exotic. Whatever cows looked like, it had to be preferable to stupid, smiling reptiles. Unless…

He looked Julius’ way. “Are cows reptiles?”

“That question bodes well for dinner.”

Kahn sent him a graphic finger gesture.

Julius grinned. “So, how did the trip to the food market go?” He asked, like he already knew the answer.

Kahn crossed his arms over his chest, wondering if the damn shirt would rip. It felt suffocating. He asked to go up a size, but Randa looked at him like he was crazy. “The woman refuses to use the Wood House’s human money. That is why her home is so small and probably why she is so thin. She buys supplies only with her own funds.”

“Why?” Julius was baffled. “The human money is just paper. The Wood House gives it away freely to anyone who asks.”

“Maybe it’s the asking that stops her. Randa is stubborn. She will plunge into an abyss, rather than reach for a hand to pull her free of it. I believe that’s why she came to us for help and not to Job. She likes that she’s trading us something. She doesn’t want to owe anyone.”

Julius considered that. Unlike Kahn, he looked good in his new human clothes. The dark slacks and floral shirt suited him. Why did he get the best outfit? “I did some digging around the Council today. Job wasn’t there, but Tessie was. She’s instructed me to quote, ‘be careful’ with Randa.”

Kahn made a face. “So don’t stab her?” He translated sarcastically. The Light Phases didn’t have the best reputation, but they weren’t crazed maniacs.

…Well, except that Banished psycho Vandal, but none of the others counted him as a member of the Light House. In fact, they planned to behead him, at the earliest opportunity. He was number five on their Must Kill list. That was a high position. It was a long list.

“What the fuck does Tessie think we’ll do? Cannibalize Randa?”

“I think she thinks it’s possible.” Julius shrugged. “I also got pushback from the Fire House about Randa being around us. Sullivan Pryce likes Randa and the Fire House dotes on Sullivan Pryce. They want to know why we’re so interested in her.”

“None of their business.”

“They’re Fire Phases. Given a chance, they’ll make it their business.”

Possessiveness flared from out of nowhere and Kahn didn’t bother to shake it off. “Randa came to us, not them. They can back the fuck up.”

Julius didn’t argue. “The Water House wasn’t happy about it, either. Nia told me to leave Randa alone, as if I was a threat to her.” He was clearly insulted. “When have I ever been a threat to a woman?”

“Did the Stone House warn you away?”

“No. They disowned Randa long ago. Seems her Match was not to their liking.”

“Assholes.”

“Exactly.”

“She had no choice about her Match.” Kahn snapped, like Julius was arguing the matter. “What did they want her to do? Renounce him?”

“In a word… yes. She’s very desirable. From what I gather, she was set to be a queen. It’s all rumor, because Jerrod the former Stone King died in the Fall. I suppose he wanted to bind with her and she refused.”

Kahn grunted, Binding was the Elemental equivalent of a marriage. Not as momentous as a Phase-Match, but the next best thing and you could choose the person you Bound with. Of course Jerrod would want to choose Randa. She was the most beautiful woman in the realm.

“Binding with the king would have raised her family’s status beyond their wildest dreams.” Julius went on. “Randa refused and went with her Match to the Air Kingdom instead. Her family never spoke to her again. Most of them died in the Fall.”

Kahn considered that and realized he would have done the same damn thing, if he’d been in Randa’s place. He would give up everything for his Match, without a second thought. He still didn’t believe he’d ever have one, obviously. But if he did she would be the center of his world.

His eyes went to Randa.

“Hekktor and Randa’s relationship was a subject of much gossip.” Julius continued.