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After taking in a deep breath, Grace pressed a shortcut dial on her phone.

Trying to reach to exterior cell network... Error… Correcting error… Mana enhancing signal… Connection established.

A ringtone sounded twice, then she heard a voice.

“Grace?”

“Yes, honey, it’s me.”

“Nice to hear your voice.”

A claxon reached her ears, and a curse, Rowan swearing at someone about blocking his way.

“You’re driving?”

“Yes, I bought a second-hand car for the trip… we’re approaching our destination… Cora says it’s better to keep our whereabouts secret, to avoid spies.”

“How thoughtful of her. And how are you two… going along?”

“Fine, I suppose. We visited my pals in Louisville last evening, and went around a few bars and stores, tasting and buying Bourbon. I stocked myself for a year; the Spatial Inventory is such a great thing. But let me tell you, Cora can’t hold her liquor. Sweetheart, I have to go, there’s a police roadblock ahead.”

“Take care, yes?’

“Of course. Love you.”

“Love you too.”

With a deep sigh, Grace put the phone on the coffee table, took up a glass, and drank a full mouth of the content, an XO Cognac.

“How could you agree?” Isla asked.

“I didn’t. I pretended to agree.”

Grace averted her eyes away from Isla’s judgmental stare. With Thomas staying for a few weeks with Isla’s ex, they had an evening for themselves. A girl’s night out. They had eaten at a new restaurant, then came to the policewoman’s house for a drink and a chat.

“You know, I thought he loved you… My ex told me Rowan cried during one of his sessions while talking about how much he cares for you.” Isla creased her nose and crossed her legs, then, hitting the coffee table, she toed her shoes off and rested her feet on the top. Dressed in the same tight black dress she had worn for Lizzie’s birthday, she looked stunning. Grace felt a hint of jealousy in her, wishing she’d be as tall and shapely.

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“Rowan doesn’t know yet. I told the cat it’s up to her to convince him to become… polyamorous, and if she succeeds, I won’t interfere.”

Shaking her head, the policewoman took another sip from her whiskey. “This is crazy… And she planned it all this time?”

“Yep. Says it’s destiny. Because of Rowan’s big Will.”

“Prfff….” Isla spat a spray of Bourbon. “How big?”

“Seventy-something, for now.”

“Centimeters? It’s… enormous. How can you survive that? How can she? She’s tinier than you.”

Grace tilted her head, befuddled. “Are we talking about the same thing?”

“His willie?”

Maybe Isla’s stare wasn’t judgmental but hazed by the Mana-infused alcohol, Grace decided.

“Will, not willy. Like determination. She’s dead set on getting him to bed because she’s an Intelligence build and apparently they’re a perfect match. Horoscope and all. It’s ‘written in the stars’,” Grace made air quotes.

“And what are you going to do about it?” Isla inquired, resting her head on the couch’s backrest, her eyes sleepy.

“For starters, letting them spend some time alone looks like a good option. The past few days, I tried my best to allow them some space.”

The blonde yawned, then searched Grace’s eyes. “You’re devious… she will hit on him, and he’ll refuse, because he loves you.”

“Oh, she won’t hit on him just yet. She’s preparing for ‘the moment’. Sex while not in heat is impossible, because her… ahum… vagina is like…” Grace raised her straight pinkie in the air. “And she’s a virgin, on top of that.”

“How do you know? You measured it?”

“She shares so many details. Talkative little bitch. Because we’ll be like sister-wives and shit, she thinks. Her culture's big on waiting for sex until you're married. That's why she despises the Vampires… Never mind… Hear this: being an Engineer, she calculates ten times a day how many Pascals—that’s a pressure unit—are required to… you know… make her not a virgin anymore.”

“I can a man can figure out the Pascals on its own.”

“She’s batshit crazy, Isla. But's for the better. A few days alone with her will make Rowan see that.”

“She can’t hear us, right?” Isla asked with a hint of concern, looking around.

“Nope. Once out of that ship, she can’t interfere with the Core anymore. I mean, she’s still an Admin but has to be physically present in the control room. Never mind that…”

Grace paused the talking and moved closer to Isla, on the couch. “What if… Rowan would be too busy to care about a nosy stinking cat? What if other… things would keep his mind engrossed?”

Saying that Grace began to play with a strand of Isla’s hair, caressing her cheek with her thumb. The blonde shivered and raised her hand, but instead of pushing Grace off, she returned the caress. “You can’t be serious…”

“I am. If polyamory is in the air, let it be with a woman I like… one he desires too... I saw it in my visions, Isla... You’ve noticed how he’s ogling you, right?”

Isla shook her head, trying to hide her embarrassment. “He does, but… not in a filthy way… You know, when men stare at you like at meat… Rowan never made me feel that. It’s… like he admires a painting.”

“Sure, the Mona Lisa,” Grace rolled her eyes, finished her Cognac, and put the empty glass on the table. “He can control it, and I know he loves me, but he is attracted by you too. So why not go for it? That will keep his hands full,” she sneaked a hand into Isla’s décolletage, “and the little beast will have to give up.”

Isla tried to fight Grace’s hand, grabbing it with her own, but maybe the alcohol had sapped her strength. “We shouldn’t… The deal was… friends with benefits… once in a blue moon… that was all…”

“Was?” Grace leaned forward and kissed the blonde, profiting from the slightly opened mouth. After a second of hesitation, Isla answered her kiss.