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“Oooh, you’re a royal vampire.” Tallulah Jayne bounced over to Rysimer’s cell. “So, you’ve for real never seen my TV show, and you still think I’m special? Is it because I’m so hot?”

He shook his head emphatically. “No, I told you, I wish to pursue you, because you possess a ruthless and calculating nature. This is necessary for a Light Queen.”

“But you do think I’m hot, right?”

Rye looked confused. “Your temperature has nothing to do with my interest.”

Randa gazed towards the sky, seeking patience. “She’s asking if you find her physically attractive.”

“Oh!” Rysimer nodded at Tallulah Jayne. “Yes. Very much so. We should have sex to see if you are my Match.”

“Baby, I am so down with that. We can go to my place and…”

“If you’re his Match, it’s like a marriage.” Randa interrupted flatly. “He’ll want you to live in his kingdom, which is a jungle without water heaters or clothing boutiques.”

Tallulah Jayne hesitated. “Let’s try a date first.” She suggested to Rye.

Kahn scoffed.

Rysimer ignored him. “If you want a date, we will take Julius’ girl.” He assured Tallulah Jayne instantly.

“You can’t have my date.” Julius argued. “What would you even do with her? She is too young.”

“I don’t know what we’ll do with her, but Tallulah Jayne wishes to have her.”

Tallulah Jayne frowned. “Like a threesome? God, I haven’t done that since my twenties.”

Mannus and Daven perked up at that conversational tangent.

“You’re getting this confused.” Randa explained, before things took a turn towards the porno. “‘Date’ can be a noun and a verb in their language. The person and the event. You take a date, on a date.”

“Well, they cannot take my date on their date.” Julius proclaimed righteously. “Not without me to protect her from Rye’s small, vicious woman.”

Kahn nodded, like that was a great point. “Tallulah Jayne might eat her or something.”

“Gaia, I hope so.” Daven mused with a happy sort of sigh.

“I’m not vicious.” Tallulah Jayne protested, one hand laid across her chest in outrage.

Sullivan side-eyed her.

“Oh fine! I am, but not to Dr. Ashley.” Tallulah Jayne flicked a dismissive palm. “Why would I bother? She’s not nearly as adorable as me.”

Julius wasn’t backing down. “If word gets around to the other humans that I allowed a young girl to be terrorized, I wouldn’t get another date of nouns or verbs. I will babysit Ashley to keep her safe. It will protect my reputation amongst prospective Matches. Human women are difficult to lure.”

“I could lure many.” Daven boasted.

“You could not.” Mannus retorted.

“Could to! It’s easy if you know what females desire.” He arched a smug brow. “Several offered to mate with me last night, if I just gave them that human paper money.”

Randa dropped her forehead into her hands, like she was already exhausted. “Gaia, help me.”

Kahn shot her a concerned look and then glowered at Sullivan. “Enough. Let us out of here. Randa wishes to go home.”

“I absolutely do.” Randa agreed. “If we’re not being arraigned, I’m going to take a shower and sleep until midafternoon and try to forget I know any of you. Then, I’m going to make dinner for Isaacs and…”

“You’re still cooking dinner for Isaacs?!” Kahn interrupted at a shout. “Why? It’s a terrible idea.”