Stix and Satia walked down the street toward the gym. She pointed at various things and asked what they were. He explained to her why people in New York didn't drive and what an Air B&B was. They both laughed at the absurdity of woman who carried their dogs in baby carriers and argued about why New York Style pizza was supposed to be better than Chicago pizza.

"I think the biggest thing I don't understand is the language here. It's like every part of this country has different slang or a different way of pronouncing things. Is it potato or potato? New Orleans or New Orleans? Why can no one agree?"

"It's like anything in life. Everyone thinks they're right."

She nodded. "It's when they use those thoughts to hurt others that I will never understand."

Stix's gut clenched. Something in her words struck a strange chord inside him. He got the distinct feeling that she'd been hurt in the past. And not a little heartbreak either. The thought made his ursa grumble. He didn't want anything bad to happen to her, ever. And if it were up to him, he'd make sure it didn't.

They stepped up to the gym door and Stix pulled it open for her. She wrinkled her nose as she stepped inside.

"I don't think I've ever been somewhere that smelled so much like... men."

Stix chuckled. "That's a nice way of putting it."

Around the room a dozen men sparred in various rings scattered around the gym. In the corner, a beginner class was going over training basics. Stix glanced around for a space to practice.

"Well look who showed up." Deacon walked toward Stix banging his gloved fists together.

"What are you doing here?" asked Stix. "It's been months since you've come to train.

"Yeah well, now that I've kicked Maria to the curb for good I figured I better get myself into shape so I can find myself a real mate." Deacon showed Satia his biceps and winked.

Stix held back the growl and urge to punch Deacon in the gut for looking at Satia.

"If I'd known you were going to be here I'd have waited to warm up," Deacon said to Satia.

Without missing a beat Satia turned to Stix. "I came to watch Stix workout. I'm not interested in anyone else."

A broad grin spread across Deacon's face. "Well then, come on bro, let's give the little lady something to watch."

Stix grumbled. He'd come to workout not show off. But that was precisely what they were about to get with Deacon in the ring.

"Why don't you go sit over there," he said. "I'm going to put my stuff down and wrap my hands."

"Wrap?"

"Yeah, we wrap the hands and wrists with cotton to keep from getting injured."

"Oh." She nodded with concern in her eyes.

He squeezed her arm. "This isn't real fighting, it's practice. It'll be fine." He pointed to the bench by the far ring. "I'll be back in a few minutes." He leaned in close and whispered in her ear. "Tell me if Deacon bothers you. It will give me an excuse to really kick his butt."

Satia grinned. "I think I might like to see that."

She tucked her hair behind her ear and headed toward the bench as Stix glanced around the gym. Several of the guys stopped as Satia walked by. He fought the urge to shift and rip them all apart.

Man, his ursa was being ridiculous. How was he supposed to expect her to live her life if all he wanted to do was keep her locked up at home and safe? Especially when she wasn't even his.

* * *

Satia sat on the creaky bench and scanned the gym. All over men of various sizes and shapes fought, or punched bags, or jumped a rope or hit at a man wearing gloves. She wondered why they all did it. Stix had said it was for exercise, but she was pretty sure at least a few of the men were not doing it to keep fit.

"So, Stix dragged you down here to watch, huh?" Deacon approached her and straddled the bench.

She rolled her eyes. "He didn't drag me, I asked to come."

"Really?"

She looked back at him. She supposed he was a handsome ursa. Short hair, lighter eyes, and skin than Stix. His body, what she could see of it, sported many, many tattoos. All in all, he was attractive, but that was all.

"Why did you say that?"

"You don't seem like the kind of girl who would want to watch two guys beat the crap out of each other."

He was not the kind of mate she would ever want. The one obsessed with himself. The one always trying to show everyone else up. The one who thought women were his private gift from the gods. No, she found very little about Deacon appealing to tell the truth. What she wanted was a real shifter. Not a wannabe playboy.

Satia leaned in close to him. "And what does a girl who wants to watch two men beat each other look like?"

She stared at him intently for a moment, and suddenly his face changed from a cocky grin into something else entirely. Not fear exactly, but for a fraction of a second, all bravado wiped from his face.

He coughed and leaned away from her. "I don't know. A little rougher around the edges. More bubbly."

"Bubbly?"

"Yeah, like, bouncy, talks fast, smiles a lot."

"Do I not smile enough?" She'd never had anyone mention that before.

"I don't know. I haven't spent enough time with you."

A question gnawed at her. "Does Stix prefer bubbly girls?" The moment she asked, she wished she hadn't. Deacon threw her such a strange expression that she had no idea what he was thinking.

"You ready?" Stix approached them banging his hands together with oversized red mittens on them.

She stood at the sight of him shirtless in nothing but shorts. His chest was enormous with a smattering of dark circles in the middle. They trailed down the dip in the middle of his belly. She'd seen many of the men in her clan with their shirts off but none with muscles as big as his before. His arms were covered in some tribal tattoos that she didn't recognize.

She broke into a broad smile. "Good luck." She tried to make her voice as cheerful as possible.

Stix looked at her strangely and then climbed into the ring.

Deacon snickered and stood. "To answer your question. No. He's never been into the bubbly types."

Satia's smile fell. Nice. Now she looked like an idiot.

For fifteen minutes Deacon and Stix danced around the ring throwing punches and practicing different moves.

"Why don't we make this interesting?" said Deacon.

"What do you have in mind?"

Deacon winked at her. "How about we bet on who will win today."

"I always win. I'm stronger than you. You're only half Auroran."

"Well, then this wager will give me a good reason to try harder."

"All right."

Deacon grinned at her, making Satia fidget in her seat. "Whoever wins today gets to take Satia out to dinner. The other has to man the restaurant."

Stix shook his head. "Satia isn't a prize to be won. You seriously need to get your views straight when it comes to women, bro."

"What do you think Satia?" Deacon called. "Want to go to dinner with the winner?"

Stix's gaze traveled to her, his face a mask. She appreciated him standing up for her and saying she wasn't a prize. It was one more thing that endeared her to him. She didn't know what she was supposed to say. She didn't mind going out with Stix, but if she had to go out with Deacon... She wasn't sure how her saber would react. She was pretty sure not well. Which on top of her own trepidation could lead to a disaster. However, that wasn't such a bad prospect. Maybe if she went out with Deacon and it was a disaster he'd stop looking at her the way he did. But how would Stix react? Would he even care?

"I'll go," she said.

Deacon smiled and spun in a circle. "Up to you coz. You in or you want to forfeit and call me the winner?"

Stix scowled. "You're on. And don't expect me to go easy on you."

The men put pieces of plastic back in their mouths and then circled each other in the ring. Stix was a good head taller than Deacon and at least six inches wider at the shoulders.

Deacon threw a punch and Stix shoved it out of the way. Around and around they went and the longer the fight dragged out the more anxious Satia's saber became. Stix threw a punch at Deacon's face and connected with his nose. Deacon's head whipped back and then snapped forward again. Satia clasped her hands in front of her trying to keep in her seat. He could do this.

Deacon threw a punch to Stix's stomach, sending a ripple through Stix. Satia gasped, but Stix took it in stride.

"No more of this pussy-footing around." Stix ran at Deacon, but Deacon stepped out of the way. He whipped around and ran at Deacon again, this time with his fist ready. He connected with the side of Deacon's head, making Deacon stumble, but quick enough Deacon punched Stix under the chin causing Stix to rock back on his heels. Deacon hopped up and took the advantage. Deacon hit him in the gut once, twice, three times.

Satia's heart pounded. A lick of sweat trickled down her spine as emotions bubbled to the surface.

"Stop!" Satia shouted. "Stop, Deacon."

Stix's eyes went completely black, and he swung at Deacon, hitting him in the side.

Memories bombarded her. Mandrake punching Incus, over and over.

Deacon spun around, and Stix punched him in the kidneys. Deacon countered by slamming his fist into Stix's ear. Stix fell to his knee and Deacon hit him again. Another memory. Boramus on his knees being whipped for sport by Mandrake's men.

Blood sprayed across the mat and without thinking Satia jumped into the ring and grabbed Deacon by the arm. She wrenched it behind him and spun him around. Wrapping her legs around his waist she brought him to the mat. Arm outstretched, she dug the heel of her shoe into his back.

"Holy hell, I give," said Deacon. "Uncle. Uncle!"

Stix crawled over. "Satia. Let him go. It's okay."

Satia scanned the gym. All the fighting had stopped. The men in other rings stared at her where she had Deacon pinned to the ground.

Stix's face loomed above her. "Hey. Let him go. It's okay."

Satia let go of Deacon, and he rolled over and cradled his arm. "Sheesh man. Are you sure she's your assistant and not your bodyguard?"

Deacon rolled his shoulder and stretched his arm.

"I'm.... I'm sorry," she said. "I didn't mean to do that."

Stix helped her to her feet and embarrassment heated her cheeks. "Are you okay?"

Blood trickled from the corner of his eye.

She reached up and touched it. "You're bleeding."

"It's nothing. Fights between Deacon and I have been known to get much more competitive than that."

She nodded and wrapped her arms around herself. She wanted to explain. To let him know that she didn't think him weak or think that he couldn't protect himself. She had merely been confused.

How could she let that happen? She'd embarrassed herself and Stix.

"I'm... I'm sorry," she repeated, walking to the edge of the ring and sliding out.

She dropped onto the bench and stared at her shoes. She'd thought starting a new life would keep her from the nightmares. From the memories. But she was wrong.

"So," said Deacon after a long minute of silence. "Who won? Who does she go out with?"

"I'd say she won. So who she goes out with is up to her."

Satia looked between them, and Stix smiled.