The stewardess patted Satia's shoulder. "You did it. We're here."

Satia blew out a deep, low breath and smiled. She'd gone on the plane alone. She stifled a chuckle and mentally patted herself on the back. She couldn't remember the last time she'd gone somewhere of her own free will. In fact, she didn't know that there had ever been a time where she hadn't been beholden to someone or had someone shadowing her when she went somewhere. Even in the lodge, though she had technically no longer been a slave, she'd not gone anywhere for long without one of the men searching for her. This trip had been the first real decision she'd ever made for herself in her life.

The men hadn't been happy with her decision to leave. They'd tried for two weeks to talk her out of it, and it had taken her that long to muster the courage to go alone, even though her mind had not once been swayed. If she was going to be free she needed to start being her own person, and that began with getting out on her own.

Satia thanked the stewardess and pilot and exited the plane. The pilot walked her bag down to the tarmac, and she smiled at him.

"Are you going to be needing a ride back?" he asked.

She shook her head. "I don't think I will."

He tipped his hat to her. "Very good, Miss."

"Uh..." Embarrassment flooded her cheeks. "Do... you know how I would get into town?"

"You can catch a taxi out front. They aren't cheap though."

Satia reached into her handbag and pulled out her wallet. "Will they take this?" She showed him the credit card Affina had sent her.

"Yes, ma'am. They sure will."

"Good." Satia put her wallet away and grabbed the handle of her bag. She stared across the tarmac. The expanse of black that separated her from the building and hence the taxis beyond seemed as if it would swallow her whole. Satia squared her shoulders and strode to the building. It was too late to turn back now.

Satia stared up at the familiar building with dread running through her. The last time she'd been in it, she'd been Mandrake's prisoner. Her body shook as she took a step closer. A couple exited the building, the scent of the lobby floor wax made her stomach lurch. She breathed deep and pushed the fear aside. It was only a building. Razor had told the Obsidian Mountain Clan they couldn't come back. And Gerri Wilder had threatened to have her wolves eviscerate them if they tried, which Satia had no doubt the woman could do. Even so, Satia's heart galloped as she stared at the place she'd last seen her captors.

Her nerve wavered, and she took a step away.

"Do you need help, Miss?" A man standing by the door asked.

Satia stared at him for a moment and then shook her head. She had come all this way. She couldn't back out now.

Swallowing hard she wheeled her bag to the door, and the man opened it for her with a smile. Technically, Gerri wasn't aware that she was coming, but Satia was sure when Gerri heard her plight, she would help. For all of her tough exterior, Satia had felt the woman's compassion and empathy. She prayed to the gods that Gerri would continue to show that same compassion now that she was showing up unannounced.

Satia blew out a deep breath and pressed her shirt with her sweaty palms. The place smelled of shifters of every species. Dragons, wolves, cats, ursas, all of them came to Gerri for help. And all of them left their scent behind. Inside the highly polished floor gleamed, reminding her of the hours and hours of her life she'd spent scrubbing Affina's floors.

As Satia arrived at the elevator and pressed the button her gut clenched. What would Affina think of her coming to New York and not contacting them? Razor had been kind to all of them but it was obvious he did it out of obligation, not affection. Not that she blamed him. The men had not been kind to him back on Aurora. Their lives as slaves had not been as harsh as some she'd heard of, but they had been in no way easy either.

The doors opened, and Satia stepped in. Her fingers shook as she pressed the button to Gerri's floor. Her heartbeat quickened as the doors began to close and memories bombarded her. Being shoved inside the small chamber, pressed against Mandrake and his men. She passed the fourth floor and stifled a cry remembering the feel of a large hand squeezing her rear to the point of pain.

Out. She had to get out!

As the doors opened she raced into the hall, fell against the wall and sucked in several deep breaths. This was not who she was. She was not her fear. She was Satia, daughter of Therimia. Satia took one last deep breath and stood straight again.

She strolled to Gerri's door trying to compose herself. She lifted her hand to knock but couldn't do it. What was she doing? Why did she even think Gerri would help her? She should get herself back on the plane and return to the lodge.

Satia rapped on the door. A chill ran over her. Too late now. She straightened her blouse and waited. Seconds ticked by and nothing happened. She knocked again with a shaky hand. Nothing. A pit grew in Satia's stomach. What if Gerri wasn't in town?

She blew out a breath and scanned the hall. Stupid. This was stupid. Satia pulled out her phone. It was three in the afternoon. Gerri could be anywhere.

Defeated, Satia slumped against the door, staring at her phone. She should call Affina, tell her she was stranded and stop with the foolishness. She opened Affina's number, and her finger hovered over the call button. Seconds ticked by and Satia set the phone in her lap and leaned back against the door. Something inside wouldn't let her. She didn't want Affina fawning over her. She didn't want to see the pity in Affina's eyes at what she'd been through. Didn't want to hear Affina's helpful suggestions as to what she should do with her life. The only thing that could help her now was getting a life of her own- on her own. But how could she do that now?

"Excuse me? What do you think you are doing camping out by my door?"

Satia started awake and blinked, sleepy-eyed, straight from Gerri's bright red pumps all the way up her thin legs to her stern calculating gaze.

Gerri's mouth twitched. "I know you. You're the saber female." She twirled her keyring around her finger and then prodded Satia with her pointed shoe.

Satia hopped to her feet and pressed down her clothes. "I'm so sorry. I must have dozed off."

Gerri pressed the key into the lock of her apartment door. "Yes, I see that. But what are you doing here? I wasn't expecting you."

"No. No. I'm sorry. I... I didn't have your number to call you and I... I... need help."

Gerri opened her door and stopped, scrutinizing Satia. "You sure do."

"Please," Satia begged. "I fought all the men in my clan to come here. I don't want to bother Affina and Raze, they have enough on their plates. I need to stand on my own two feet. I need to provide for myself. I can't do that if everyone is always babying me."

Gerri's eyes scrutinized every inch of Satia and Satia fought the instinct to look away. Her saber growled deep in her chest, pacing back and forth.

"You do realize that I am not an employment service, right? I am a matchmaker."

Satia nodded. "I know but... I figured you meet a lot of shifters here and you might discern someone willing to help me. I'll work. I'm a hard worker. I was Affina's maid and lady in waiting since I was six."

"How old are you now?"

"Twenty-two, ma'am."

Gerri snorted and pushed her door open wider. "Ma'am. How old do you take me for?" Gerri held up her hand. "Don't answer that."

Gerri stepped into her apartment and disappeared around the door. Satia shuffled her feet unsure of what she was supposed to do.

"If you want my help you have to come inside," Gerri called. "I'm not prone to doing business in the hallway like a prostitute."

Satia gathered her bag and sweater and headed into the apartment. A thousand different scents hit her at once. Stronger and more pungent than in the lobby or elevator or hallway. Gerri entertained a lot of shifters in her apartment, though wolves seemed to be the most prevalent.

Satia closed the door. She spotted a couch and a large oversized chair. She left her bag by the door and sat on the sofa, once again straightening her clothes.

"You don't need to primp for me." Gerri walked back into the room holding two bottles of water. She handed one to Satia before curling up in the large chair. "I can see everything about you already. And what I don't, I'll ask."

Gerri opened her bottle and took a sip. Satia adverted Gerri's gaze and chugging half of her own water.

"You're lucky you caught me. I am off to Aurora for a meeting in the morning. If you'd come a day later you'd have missed me. Pretty stupid if you ask me."

Satia's cheeks heated at the insult. "Being stupid is not something that has ever been used to describe me before," Satia retorted.

The corner of Gerri's lip turned up. "So there is spirit inside you."

Satia stayed silent.

"Okay..."

"Satia."

"Right, Satia. Were you mated on Aurora?"

"I didn't have time for a mate."

"Lovers?"

Satia stifled a gasp. Lovers? That was unheard of with sabers. Sabers mated, or they did not mate. That was all.

"I'll take that as a no," said Gerri. "So you're a virgin then. Those other sabers. Mandrake and his men. They didn't-"

"No," Satia replied. "They hurt me, but they didn't rape me."

Gerri nodded. "So you want a job."

"I want a life."

"And are you ready for a mate?"

"I haven't yet met anyone I was interested in... in that way."

"Oh, sweetie. Didn't anyone explain to you how that works?"

Satia dropped her gaze to her hands and shook her head. "My mother died before I came of age."

Gerri clucked her tongue. "You sabers really did have it bad didn't you? Everyone being killed off or dying. You're lucky there are any of you left. Anyway, no matter. Here's the crash course. The mating bond is strong and fast. For a male it can happen as soon as he sees or smells a female. For females it can be as quick or a bit slower depending on where they are in life. For instance, an underage female will not know, while a male of age will. Whether it takes time or happens quick, you needn't worry, your feline will tell you. And there is no fighting it, denying it or changing it. Once your cat has chosen, you're stuck. Are you ready for that?"

"I... don't know. It seems like it would be a lot to process."

"Oh it is, but if you are ready to be your own person and have your own life, you might consider doing it with the one you are meant to be with."

"And you have identified that person?" Butterflies flitted around in Satia's belly. She wasn't sure if she wanted Gerri to say yes or no.

"All I do is get impressions. I meet a male or a female and get a sense for who they are, and what they need and then sometimes I happen to know someone that I think would be perfect for them. Or, as in Razor's case, I didn't find anyone for years, but that was not my fault. I was unaware of Affina's existence and his prior feelings for her. But the moment I saw her, I knew."

"So... You know someone for me then?" Satia held her breath.

Gerri sipped her water again. "I know someone who might be willing to help you find a job."

Satia's saber grumbled and slunk to the ground. Not hearing Gerri say she knew who her mate was saddened Satia more than she'd anticipated.

"Well, It's a start. And I am grateful for your help."