"Emma is gorgeous," Cassidy said in agreement as she clasped hands with Karla. "And she has confidence to go with it. I've never seen anyone move like she does. I think it'd be great to look a little bit like her."

She gave a faint smile. "Poppi says that anyone who doesn't want to serve me is blind and doesn't have the right to be called Blood. But that's my father and a father's opinions aren't really non-biased. I love the land, Karla, and I want to do what's best for my people -- if I ever have them. And Darkness knows I don't like dressing up in fancy clothes unless I have to." She blew out a breath.

"He doesn't trust me, but he wanted to protect me. I could feel that from him. He was just as surprised as I was to feel it. He said that what I did for Shira went a long way towards working towards trust." She squeezed Karla's hand and looked at her. "I'm frightened. Not that he belongs to me, I didn't feel like he would do anything to harm me even if he wasn't sure of the pull. I'm afraid that I'm going to let them down or not be strong enough to protect them or care for them. Something is really wrong where they come from and that's why they were so surprised by me."