When it was time to get ready for bed, Carla had insisted they had to at least try to sleep apart. Tylan had agreed. The plan was that Sapphire would sleep in Ann’s room to try to wake her from any nightmares. Andy would stay with Pt’this with the idea that if he sensed Ann having a nightmare, he could then tell Pt’this who would try to wake Ann telepathically. Working together, Nim, Pt’this, and Andy combined their energies to put shields on Ann, Sapphire, Ann’s bed, and the bedroom. “You don’t need to do the bed and the room,” Ann insisted. “One is enough.” “You set fire to your bed,” was Pt’this’s reasoning. “It was just a little fire.” “The whole bed had to be replaced.” “No one got hurt.” “We were lucky. What if it had spread?” “It wouldn’t,” Ann said. Andy sensed there was something more to this than Ann let on. “You don’t know that,” Pt’this claimed. Ann looked away. “It was a controlled burn.” “Did you set fire to your bed intentionally?” “I needed a new bed, but no one would listen.” “Why did you need a new bed?” “Don’t pursue this,” Andy warned. He suddenly knew what Ann’s reasoning was. “Ann?” Pt’this pressed. “The old one was giving me nightmares.” “Don’t ask,” Andy told him. Pt’this ignored him. “How does the bed give you nightmares?” Ann sighed. “It doesn’t,” she said wearily. She had been told that several times when she had requested a new bed. Her eyes flickered to Sapphire across the room. She, fortunately, hadn’t heard the conversation. Pt’this then understood. It wasn’t the bed itself but what had been done on it. This was where Remtani attacked Sapphire. That alone would have been enough for most. There had been a lot of blood too. Being half dragon, Ann would have been able to smell it even after the servants had thought it cleaned. “Well, the spell is already there,” Pt’this said. “And, Nim’s gone. Let’s leave it alone and get Andy’s stuff to my room.” They went to Andy’s room. There was a big to do of getting Andy’s wedding clothes out of the room without the girl’s seeing. This caused jokes and helped improve the mood. After the guys left with the clothes, Ann and Sapphire collected Andy’s toiletries and the shorts he slept in. “Guys really sleep in these?” Sapphire asked holding the shorts up to her hips. It had been cool enough when she was there that few people had been wearing them. “They wear them for clothes too, women do too.” “They do?” Sapphire was shocked. “You didn’t, did you?” “Once, when I spent the night in his room. I felt like I was in my underclothes.” “But you didn’t wear them were others could see?” “Shades, no.” They took the stuff up to Pt’this his room. “What were you two talking about?” Andy asked. “You feel like someone asked you to run around naked.” “You’re sleep clothes,” Sapphire said holding up the shorts again. “Beats being naked when sleeping under your pledge’s father’s roof,” he said taking the shorts from Sapphire. He saw Ann glance at Pt’this who was turning red. “What?” “Pt’this likes sleeping naked,” Ann said, never one to pass up a chance to embarrass her uncle. Pt’this growled softly. “But, I’d say he hasn’t been lately because of Sapphire.” “You don’t have to sleep in your pants on my account,” Sapphire said. “Well, you do tonight.” Andy piped up. “She won’t be here.” “I was planning on wearing them,” Pt’this said. “But I do like those. What you call them?” “Shorts. If you want some, just cut the legs off a pair of pants.” Pt’this nodded at the suggestion. “You might start a trend.” The women said goodnight and left. Pt’this watched them go. “I’d like to see her in a pair sometime,” he said. “You’d like to see her out of a pair,” Andy corrected. “That too.” Pt’this grinned. “I saw Ann in these once. She’s got great legs.” Pt’this growled. “That’s my niece you’re talking about.” Andy laughed. “What can I say? Your niece is hot.” Pt’this looked perplexed. “You said that before. What does that mean?” “It means you’re going to growl at me again.” Pt’this obliged good-naturedly, and Andy laughed again. “You know, I’m marrying her tomorrow. Then what are you going to do, Uncle?” It was Pt’this’s turn to laugh. “I’m going to be busy with my wife.” Pt’this paused. “My wife. I’m actually going to have a wife again. It’s hard to believe I’m really getting married this time.” “You excited?” Andy asked. “Very. You?” “Yes. And nervous. What if I mess something up?” “Don’t worry. We’re doing this together. We’ll help each other out.” “Great, the blind leading the blind. You’ve never done this before either.” “No, but I’ve been to hundreds of weddings. I even officiated a few and also that’s why Elos will be there. Don’t worry and go to sleep.” “Good night, Uncle,” Andy said. “Good night, Nephew.” Pt’this smiled. It was good to have a family again.