Zilik and Alex sat side by side in Zilik's carriage. Zilik sat upright but Alex slumped down, arms across her chest, and stared at the floor.

Zilik looked straight ahead as he said, "That was unwise."

"I'm not known for my wisdom," Alex told the floor.

"There was no way for you to win."

"What do you suggest I do? Curl up in a cage?" Alex's anger flared and the air seemed to crackle around her.

Zilik tilted his head in interest rather than fear. He leaned back on the bench and crossed his arms. "No, but stop fighting a losing battle. Let me show you what else this world has to offer."

"I can look, but not touch."

"Who told you not to touch?" Zilik asked. "Touch away with me."

"Excuse me?" Alex scooted farther away from him on the carriage seat. "What part of monogamous don't you understand?"

"The part where you're monogamous to someone who left with another female that he impregnated."

Alex slid a sideways look at Zilik. "That was brutal."

Zilik smiled a sympathetic smile. "You asked. That truth is brutal. There is no need to keep a contract when the other party has broken it. You should explore other options, be more adaptable."

"Adaptable?" Alex asked.

"The philosophy of my kind."

"Not a bad philosophy," Alex admitted.

"Excellent. I'll take you back to the Institute now that we've chatted. You'll bathe, rest, and then I'm taking you to a party. Don't argue," Zilik ordered.

"I never argue with bathing, resting, and partying." Alex settled comfortably on the seat.

**

When Zilik came to pick her up, Alex was dressed in what she called the mood ring outfit. He opened a box and pulled out a sparkling necklace of faceted emeralds, peridots, and garnets. Before Alex could protest, he said, "I only borrowed it, so be careful." He put it on and fussed with it before producing matching bracelets. "We're leaving your hair unbraided. It's beautiful. There, you're fit to see the Council President. Let's go."

The party's position was marked by a sumptuous table of game meats set on platters of silver. Plates were piled in a line between the smoked hams, sausages, and head cheese. Pulled in from apple-wood, the aromatic wood smoke wafted with the cake aroma. Mostly Chameleons were in attendance, but there was a scattering of other species. Zilik seated Alex at a table and left to get drinks.

Alex looked up to see the most beautiful blue lizard she had ever seen standing over her. She was the color of the sea rendered in a bright turquoise as if it had been distilled from the very depths of the ocean. Her spikes glinted in the sunlight, her scales gleamed like mother-of-pearl. Elaborate jewelry of cabochon gems of cat's eye, garnet, and violet amethyst dangled from her neck and wrists.

A  lizard, the calm part of her mind told her.

"So you're Zilik's newest plaything," the blue lizard said.

"That's me." Alex raised her glass.

This  isn't Cla and can't hurt me.

"He likes the new and unusual, but he'll tire of you soon enough and move on," the  said, haughty with knowledge.

"Of course he will." Alex raked her with a scornful look. She saw Zilik hurrying over, drinks in hand. She gave him a reassuring smile, and then turned back to her tormentor. "I'm not even from this world and I know what getting involved with a Chameleon means."

When Zilik reached the table, the Draconinae gave him a cool look and said, "Your new sleep-mate has insulted you."

"She's not—"

Alex laid a restraining hand on his arm. "I gave no insult, darling." Alex caressed Zilik's arm.  Alex's hand glided over his hide and the sensation was soothing. Her fingers traced up and down his arm. Her fingers were small compared to his, but they were finely-shaped and elegant. "It will be fun while it lasts and when it's over, it's over. You should learn to accept that." Alex looked up calmly at the blue lizard, although challenge and menace sparked in her eyes.

The Draconinae stalked off.

"Why did you do that?" Zilik asked. No aggression, no threat, just curiosity.

Alex leaned close to him and whispered, "Revenge is sweet, even when taken for another. Besides, I owe you."

They both noticed the Draconinae staring at them. Alex ran her hand across Zilik's chest.

I love being petty.

"She's beautiful. Why did you break it off?" Alex asked.

"It was only hide deep."

"The beautiful quickly learn that they can be cruel. Most males aren't smart enough to pick up on that," Alex said.

"Are you insulting me again?" Zilik asked.

"I never insulted you. I was complimenting your intelligence to see through superficial beauty. It's a rare trait."

"Speaking of superficial beauty, look what walked in the door. How did she receive an invitation?" Zilik sniffed.

Cla and Gabe entered, followed by Cale and Deela and Rile and Caj. Cla was the most impressive with an ornate breastplate with matching forearm and leg guards gleaming in the low light. The others' breastplates and limb guards were plain, polished metal, a single crest in the middle of each. All wore a skirt of leather strips with metal riveted onto each strip. Alex thought that the armor looked vaguely Roman.

Zilik saw that Alex's light had gone out. She stared into her drink, swirling it slowly. Lok slid into the seat next to Alex.

"Can you believe she wore that thing to our party?" Lok's voice was smooth and petty, reviving Alex. "Does she think this is some military exercise? Ridiculous. How did she ever get invited? Zilik?"

"I want to know myself," Zilik said.

"She can't dance in that get-up. Not that she could dance anyway." Lok's voice dripped with scorn. "Alex, my sweetest fruit, my cactus blossom, let's show her how it's done." He pulled her up.

Zilik was about to protest, but Lok's face showed that Zilik owed him. On the dance floor, Lok leaned toward her, moving in close with a graceful sway.

"I know Zilik has been teaching you our dance steps. What have you learned?"

She told him and he nodded. He spoke with the bandleader and the music struck up. Inside the confines of the dance floor was a sea of dancers, their every move in perfect synchronicity. Despite her lessons, Alex felt awkward next to all the gently swaying reptiles.

"Don't worry, you look fine," Lok whispered in her ear. "Different but fine. I can't wait for a repeat of those swirling pelvic motions."

They swept past the glaring Draconinae. Her eyes were two black holes, each round and bottomless and burning with hatred. Alex pointedly ignored her.

"Have you met Lina?" Lok asked.

"She came to my table to 'warn' me about Zilik," Alex answered.

"And to make some nasty comment about you as well." Lok traced down her cheek with a gentle claw and Alex felt fire kindle inside her.

Alex kept dancing but pulled a step away, away from unwanted soft sensations inside her. "I don't care. She's not Cla."

"Let me help you forget about Cla," Lok said, his tail once again curling around Alex's leg and they moved to the music together. Lok pulled her closer but Alex increased the distance on the next swing.

Zilik walked up to them. The music had changed without Alex noticing.

"I taught Alex this pattern and want to dance it with her." Zilik stepped on Lok's tail again so it unwrapped from Alex's leg.

"See you soon." Lok trailed his hand down her arm.

"Remember what I said about my species," Zilik told Alex. He took her hands in his, and gently guided her back into dancing position.

"Lina told me as well. It doesn't matter. I'll let Lok have some fun in public, enough to gain him some status, but not enough to hurt me," Alex said as she slipped into Zilik's dance rhythm.

"Why would you help Lok?" Zilik put one hand on the small of Alex's back.

"Why not? He's been kind to me and if he has an agenda, so does everyone else." Alex laid her hand on Zilik's arm. "He stood with you against that Gila. I respect him for that."

Zilik moves that hand any lower and he'll be sorry.

"That's cynical," Zilik said.

"If he's been your enemy, I'll stop, but I thought you said you were friendly rivals. If not, let the brave and curious be rewarded. I want that InterSpec status," Alex said. "I have an agenda, too."

Before Zilik could answer, Cla blocked Alex's next dance step.

"The Kuni requires your presence. Follow me now." 

"Very flattering. I'm not allowed to go anywhere without prior, written permission." Alex was glad of the rule for the first time. She stepped away from Cla and took her hands off Zilik.

I need them free to fight.

Zilik pulled Alex close to him again, although his color changed to an angry red. "It's true, Cla. Leave Alex alone. Find your own party."

"The Kuni is here on Council business and has demanded it." Cla took Alex's arm. "It's not your place to deny the Kuni anything."

Alex shook her arm free and pushed away from Zilik. "Touch me again and I'll skin your hide for a pair of boots."

"I've not heard that the Kuni was here." Zilik stood his ground.

Cla ignored Alex and addressed Zilik. "You overestimate your importance, Chameleon. Typical of your kind. Step aside or it will go badly for you. Physically and politically." Cla turned back to Alex. "Do you wish me to take you forcibly, mammal?" Cla looked quite eager, black beady eyes glittering and a malicious grin on her muzzle.

"I'll follow you into your trap," Alex said. "Zilik, stay here. You're too important to put at risk. If you want to help, find Lok and cook up a political counter maneuver."

***

A/N: Cla's back and she has backup as well! Did she evoke enough of an emotional response from y'all?