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  “I don’t hate you either,” Kat said quietly. “I never could—which is what I was trying to tell you before we were interrupted in the viewing room.” She stepped forward. “In fact, I…I love both of you. Very much.”

  Tears stung her eyes as two sets of muscular arms enfolded her. “Kat, little Kat,” she heard Deep murmur as Lock whispered, “My lady…” into her hair.

  “I’ve come to ask you for something,” she said at last, pulling out of the sweet, three-way embrace and looking up at them. “Kind of a last request.”

  “Anything,” Lock said at once and Deep said, “Name it.”

  “A joining.” Kat spoke rapidly as both brothers opened their mouths to protest. “Just hear me out. I want to act as your focus so we can find Lauren. I spoke to her mother earlier and she’s distraught. If I could give her any information about where Lauren is and if and when she’s coming home, it would mean a great deal to her. Will you help me?”

  “Mother L’rin told us to never use you as a focus again,” Lock protested. “She said that it was very dangerous for you.”

  “She also told Deep there was no hope to save me from the soul poisoning,” Kat said flatly, pointing to her cheek. “So what have I got to lose?”

  The Scourge home planet is three times as far as Twin Moons,” Deep said thoughtfully. “Such a distance has never been attempted before. Even if we could cast a net so far, it could be all for nothing if they’ve folded space. Attempting such a distance might be the end of all three of us.”

  “Oh.” Kat shook her head. “I…I didn’t know. Then of course I withdraw the request. I wouldn’t want to put you and Lock at risk.”

  “Risk be damned,” Deep growled. “I don’t care how dangerous it is at this point.”

  “I agree with Deep,” Lock said quietly. “There is no life for me without you, my lady. I too, will take the risk.”

  “I can’t let you sacrifice yourself for me,” Kat protested.

  “We’re not. Or not just for you,” Lock said. “It’s for Lauren and her mother too, remember?”

  “Well, yes…” she said hesitantly. “But—”

  “I would rather burn brightly for an instant and bring some light into the universe in my last moments than live a thousand years in darkness,” Deep said softly. “And I want to be joined with you again, Kat. I think Lock feels the same.”

  “I do.” Lock nodded. “So very much, my lady.”

  “Well then…” Kat knew she shouldn’t let them do it but the lure of being between them again, feeling their minds joined to hers, was too tempting. Then she had a new thought. “But…can we even do a joining now that you two aren’t connected anymore?”

  “Severing the bond between us won’t have affected our abilities as seeker/finders,” Lock said. “Though it may mean we’ll need a great deal of…contact in order to achieve a good link.”

  “We’ll need that anyway, casting a net such a distance away.” Deep stepped closer and brushed Kat’s cheek lightly with his fingers. “How do you feel about that, Kat?”

  Kat’s breath caught in her throat. “What exactly are we talking about here? Complete nudity?”

  “At least.” Lock cleared his throat. “And quite possibly penetration as well.”

  “By both of us. At the same time.” Deep searched her eyes with his. “Now how do you feel about it?”

  Kat lifted her chin. “I say I’d rather go out with a bang than a whimper. Although…” She bit her lip. “It has been awhile since I ate the bonding fruit.”

  “Wait here.” Lock disappeared and came back a moment later with a lovely blue crystal bottle etched in flowing designs and a small crystal goblet to match. “Here.” Handing the cup to Kat, he poured it about half full of a shimmering, clear liquid.

  Kat raised the goblet to look at its contents and a familiar scent wafted up. Fresh pineapple…ripe raspberries…buttered popcorn. “Bonding fruit.” She looked up at Lock. “Is it made from bonding fruit?”

  “It is distilled from the Kala fruit, yes.” He nodded. “I found it in my things when we came back from Twin Moons. I think our mother put it there.” He gave Kat a sad smile. “She likes you a lot, you know.”

  Kat felt a lump in her throat. “I liked her too. I just…I wish I could have gotten a chance to know her.” She took a deep breath. Okay, I can’t do this if I’m bawling like a baby. Get hold of yourself, girl!

  “My lady, don’t—” Lock started to say but Kat didn’t wait for him to finish.

  “Bottom’s up!” Lifting the goblet, she tossed down the contents in one gulp. The sweet, innocent-smelling liquid lit her insides on fire. “Wow!” Kat gasped, her eyes watering. “What the hell is in that stuff? I don’t remember the bonding fruit tasting like that.”

  “That’s because this ‘stuff’ is the distilled and fermented essence of the bonding fruit,” Deep said dryly. “It’s incredibly potent.”

  “I was about to tell you not to drink it too quickly.” Lock gave her a worried look. “Most females just sip it.”

  “Just sip it, huh?” Kat looked ruefully at her empty glass. “Sorry. I guess my history of bonding fruit abuse continues. I’d offer to go to rehab if I had the time.”

  “Let’s not talk about time right now.” Deep pulled her into his arms and Lock came up close behind her, pressing against her back. “Let’s talk about pleasure…and building enough power to cast our net.”

  Kat had one more fear. “Before we do this…is it going to cause a bond?”

  Deep raised an eyebrow at her. “Are you still afraid of being bonded to the two of us?”

  Kat frowned. “Not at all. I just don’t want to drag either one of you down with me—if the joining itself doesn’t do us all in, that is.”

  “I don’t think that’s possible, my lady.” Lock sounded sad. “With the bond cut between the two of us and Deep, I don’t see how we could form a bond with you—even half a bond as we did before.”

  “All right then.” Kat relaxed. “I just wanted to be sure.”

  “What you can be sure of is that we want you,” Deep rumbled in her ear. “And right now, we want you naked.”

  Kat bit her lip but allowed them to undress her. She knew she ought to have lost her body consciousness by now—they saw her ample curves as beautiful and alluring, after all. But she didn’t know if she’d ever get used to being naked with two gorgeous guys staring at her. You don’t have time to get used to it, a nasty little voice whispered in her head but Kat pushed it away. As Deep had said, it was better not to talk about time.

  True, little Kat. Better we should speak about desire. Deep looked down into her eyes, a faint smile on his sensuous lips.

  Oh, I can hear you again!

  And I can hear both of you—though Deep’s mental voice is very faint, Lock said in her mind.

  That means we need to get closer, Deep sent.

  All right. Reaching up, Kat cupped his scratchy cheek. With her other hand, she laced her fingers with Lock’s. It was surprising how good it felt to be able to hear both brothers inside her head again. She had thought during their first joinging that she would never get used to having two sets of alien thoughts and emotions filling her all the time…but apparently a girl could get used to almost anything. What about having two cocks filling your pussy? Kat blushed but neither Deep or Lock reacted so apparently she’d managed to keep the thought to herself.

  Not quite, Deep sent through their link. But that’s all right…we won’t get to that for awhile.

  We want to see you first, to touch you and bring you pleasure, Lock murmured in her mind.

  That sounds wonderful, Kat sent. But you two are always the ones giving the pleasure.

  Meaning what? Deep frowned.

  Meaning that I want to be in charge this time. Kat nudged them toward the bed. At least to start with.

  What would you have us do, my lady? Lock asked.

  First I want to undress you. Turning to him, Kat began to suit acti