Imperial Palace, the Stable
Keeper Wing

As the door opened, Alitus turned to face it, lowering both hands to his sides. If he released his pheromones now, it would lower Rudy's resistance. The pheromones gave Alitus a distinct advantage. Using them to coerce, however, was not in his nature.

The man stood in the doorway, blocking the groom's entrance behind him, and made a small gesture. "I got this, Byrin." The door shut behind him.

Alitus steeled himself for confrontation, hyper-aware of Rudy's stillness, like the motionless menace of an animal poised to strike.

Rudy took three steps into the room and halted. He wore gym shoes, socks, loose shorts, and a white towel around his neck. A white headband held dark hair out of his eyes. A fine sheen of sweat covered him. Rudy was built like Alitus, but more athletic, his muscles more defined. Alitus was blond; Rudy brunet. Both blue-eyed, Alitus's were ocean dark, Rudy's, sky pale. Alitus had been bred for intellect, and Rudy for natural earthiness and sensuality.

"How you doin', Alitus?" The man lifted a corner of the towel and wiped his face, dabbing at his nose, which had a bluish tinge on its left side. The color had seeped into the area below his left eye as well.

"This will never work." Alitus shook his head. "We're far too different."

"Yeah, well, nice to see you, too, you smartass." Rudy jerked open the door.

Outside, Byrin stood like a guard dog off its leash, waiting for a finger snap from its master.

"Wait." Alitus held up one hand. "I'm sorry."

No answer at first. Rudy studied him. "For what? That I'm leavin' 'cause I don't have time for your bullshit? Or that you didn't break my nose?"

"Neither." Alitus gestured for him to shut the door, which Rudy did. "I'm sorry we got off to such a bad start. I should have begun this conversation by saying I was sorry."

"Oh, yeah?" Rudy folded his arms. "That supposed to make it all 'better,' Better?" Before Alitus could answer, Rudy put in, "Let's get something straight right up front. I'm doing this for Her Majesty, not you. I don't need your apology or want it, so if that's all you came for, you can go. I'll fill in for you because she asked me to. I don't need another reason."

"Fine, then."

"Fine." Rudy jutted his chin upward.

Neither spoke. Neither looked away.

Alitus let out a long sigh. "Damn it, Rudy, I was a smartass."

A grin stole across the man's face. "You've got a mean right hook, you bastard."

"If it makes you feel any better, my hand still hurts."

The two men met in the middle of the room and shook hands, Alitus still gloved. When Rudy squeezed, Alitus winced

The other man didn't let go. "What the hell were you thinkin', man?"

Alitus withdrew and rubbed his hand. "She makes me crazy. I didn't think."

Rudy cuffed him on the shoulder. "If I used an excuse like that I'd get thrown out of here."

"Haven't got one better."

"Punny." Rudy wrapped his hands around the ends of his towel. "You do realize what a problem this veil thing is going to be for droid security, don't you? I've been reading up on them. The stuff that keeps the pheromones inside makes it so droids can't read through them to know who's who. An assassin could walk right up to Her Majesty and no one would be the wiser until it was too late."

"I know. That's why they're limiting Better access to her. We won't be able to get an audience until we've been screened. Another way to screw us."

"On a different note, how am I going to get from the Stable to your office without being seen in that Veil thing?"

He lifted one shoulder. "Use the passageway from the Stable to my old office and then go from there. It's the one right outside hers."

Rudy gave him a puzzled look.

"You know." Alitus gestured. "The passage you use when she calls for a Jade during the work day." When no response came, Alitus sighed. "You mean she's never summoned you for a quickie?"

"You bastard." Rudy twisted his mouth in a sardonic grimace. "I'll bet she called you. Which is another reason for me to dislike you."

Alitus rocked on the balls of his feet.

"You smug son-of-a-bitch. Why I like you is beyond me."