"It's not that the voice was loud and screaming at me, it was nothing like that which made me react the way I did, but the knowledge, even the thought...that this was true startled me. I settled back down and stared at the computer screen as the screensaver forced a never-ending stream of fractal patterns across the display. How could anyone think of this as love? How could you do this to someone you loved? The answer came on the heels of the question. Isn't that what love is about? Wasn't it. She saw me with as much fear as she saw her husband, perhaps even more, now that I had been powerful enough to take them from not only their house, but her husband.I looked around to the rest and said, "And a good morning to the rest of you ladies and gentlemen. You are all quite safe here. I seem to be saying a lot of that recently."Susan said, "Good morning, husband. We have been just talking about how they will not be beaten anymore. Secric was explaining how we would give them a chance to. ”“And we don’t want to have to capture another?” I asked with a sly smile.“Definitely not, the things are mentally resistant, violent and bloody sneaky if not under direct observation.”“Yes, I heard you had fun capturing that one,” I chuckled.“Yes, John. The only way to get one to approach is to pique its curiosity with a mental spoor or a scent infusion and then get out of its way when it attacks,” Ilzik replied for her. “Approaching it, even in normal armour, isn’t safe and those tongues. That would show them."I think each of us should have an equal say in things," Bailey continued undeterred. "Almost like a limited veto. We share the responsibilities and we share benefits." And we share the guy, right?" Sara asked with a smile."Uh, no," Bailey replied. "Well, I don't think so. I guess that is up to R.J." No," I said. Sara and Beth laughed and snapped their fingers."Sorry," Bailey said and blushed. "I didn't think so but I, uh, anyway. I think the veto should be for major items..