rtin disliked the reception, leaving as soon as she thought it would
be socially acceptable, intending to indulge herself with a new
subject. Once she got back to the Lodge, though, she decided she was
too tired to do a proper job of starting an interrogation, and Brady
said most of the men had gone to the New Eden joyhouse. So she might
as well make an early night of it; after a hot soaking bath, she went
to bed and quickly fell asleep.

Fifteen years disappeared; it was the night after Graduation, and Mike
was holding her close after their first lovemaking, smiling down at
her. "Marry me, Joanie?"

"Of course, beloved." Cortin returned his smile, giving him a
lingering kiss.

They were married soon after, and she found that married life agreed
with her; she remained in the Service, but instead of going into the
field as she'd planned, she took postgraduate work and became an
Inquisitor. That let her spend time with her husband, when he wasn't
out on a mission, and with the three children they had. The youngest
was almost a year old when Mike came home with a pleased expression
that told her he'd contracted the Satyr Plague.

They lay together in the dark warmth, savoring each other, not hurrying
their caresses in spite of their desire. He wanted her to lie still,
let him pleasure her with his new capacity--

Her bedroom door opened, bringing her awake with her gun in her hand.
"Who's there?"

"Mike--I hadn't expected you to be asleep this early. I hope I didn't
interrupt a good dream."

Cortin put the gun down. "Only the best I've had in years. Come on
in, if you want; is there something wrong?"

"No, just thought you might like some normal company after that Palace
to-do." He entered the room, the hallway light showing, to her
pleasure, that he was already undressed. "What was the dream?"

"Graduation night, then the first time we got together after you
managed to catch the satyr bug." She was not going to tell him about
the impossible marriage and children . . . Letting amused irritation
show in her voice, she went on, "Or would have, until you interrupted
yourself. Interested in starting over?"

"Any time," Odeon said with a chuckle. "Especially since it seems this
is one I owe myself!"

16. Marriage

Cortin lay awake, listening to Odeon's soft breathing and thinking.
The dream had been almost pure wish fulfillment, a wish she'd both had
and known was impossible since the day sh