Jeanie watched them leave with mixed feelings. Her name wasn’t cleared yet but she wouldn’t be taken out of True’s home and be sent to prison. Jinx openly smiled at her.

“We’ll find your email or that message you left.”

“We didn’t run the website at the time,” Luna chipped in. “That is good news.”

“What is good about that?” True placed his elbows on the table and rested his jaw in his upturned hands.

“Humans had access to incoming emails and messages. We’re looking for a human.” Luna beamed.

“She’s right.” A hint of excitement sounded in Query’s voice. “We have all the files on every human who worked for the NSO. That’s where we should start. That’s how Agent Brice contacted her. He might be the one who received and answered her email or perhaps got a copy of the message she left. They go in the same files.”

“Why would someone do that if they worked for us?”

Luna answered True’s question. “Money. I know humans need money and they get it by working. He would have been out of a job when Species took over Security and the website. Exchanging information for money is a very human trait.”

Jinx growled. “We’ll meet at Security first thing in the morning and pull up the records on human males who’ve worked at NSO. That might be faster than going through the file cabinets containing old email and message copies.” He stared at Jeanie. “You can look at their faces. All employees had picture badges and that information is on our computers.”

“She can just scroll through them until she finds the right human.” Luna nodded. “We might get lucky if Brice is his real name. Wouldn’t that be great?”

“I doubt he’d be that stupid.” True straightened in his chair. “Worse yet, what if the human gave her information to someone else we don’t have a record of? No photo, no identification.”

“Don’t be negative,” Query snapped. “This is hope.”

“I just don’t want you to get too excited that we might resolve this quickly.” True studied Jeanie, glancing down at her side. “I’ll never forget how you almost died. Tomorrow might be challenging so you need sleep. Many humans worked for the NSO and there will be a lot of records to review.” He met her gaze. “I’m going to ask Luna to escort you home but I’ll be there in few minutes. I need to do something first. Would you mind taking Jeanie to the third floor and waiting with her until I return, Luna?”

“I’d love to.” Luna stood. “I’ll even make her a snack. I learned in basic first-aid class that injured people need to eat often and drink fluids. Come with me, Jeanie.” She maneuvered around the long table. “That is such a pretty name. I can call you by it, can’t I?”

“Of course.” Jeanie wanted to know why True wasn’t the one taking her back to his apartment.

He gave her a stiff smile. “Go. I’ll be there soon.”

I’m being dismissed. She turned away and forced a smile for Luna’s sake. The tall New Species gently hooked her arm through Jeanie’s.

“I’m so glad you are here. We can see each other often and we are going to be great friends.”

Jeanie worried about why True remained behind but Luna distracted her. Genuine warmth curved her lips. “I’d really like that.”

True rushed to block the exit to prevent anyone else from leaving the library. He glanced out to see how far Jeanie had progressed down the hallway before he turned and closed the doors.

“What are you doing?” Jinx motioned to the doors.

True silently estimated how long it would take before the females were out of hearing range.

“Is there something else you wanted to discuss?”

Four. Three. Two. One. True didn’t warn the male before his fist made contact. Jinx hissed out a pained groan as he stumbled back, clutching his stomach.

The feline gasped. “What the hell?”

“That’s how I felt when you got in my face about not mating Jeanie,” True snarled. “It isn’t pleasant being attacked without seeing it coming.”

Jinx rubbed his belly. “That hurt.”

True advanced, pushing the other male back with his chest. “Don’t flirt with my female again or challenge me in front of her.”

The feline gaped at him. “You could have hit me when I said that stuff if it pissed you off instead of waiting to retaliate.”

“It upsets Jeanie to see us fight.” He gave Flirt a dirty look. “You stay away from my female too.”

Flirt kept his distance. “She made her choice. I respect that.”

“She doesn’t like violence.” True glared at Jinx. “That’s why I waited until she was gone. I’m trying to prove I can be a good mate by controlling my instincts.”

“You mean your temper.”

He shook his head. “Instincts. She’s mine.”

“Then mate her.”

“I tried. She won’t do it.” Frustration rode him hard. “That makes me angry.”

Query took a seat on the tabletop. “Humans need more time to think about making a lifelong commitment. I’ve read they mostly listen to their heads instead of their hearts. They seem to think caution is in order since they don’t trust their instincts.”

“Maybe the sex was bad,” Jinx muttered.

True lunged but the other male jumped out of the way, putting a few males between them.

“It was a joke! Calm down.”

True snarled, debating whether he should just toss the two males aside and punch the offensive male.

“Shit. Is that it?” Jinx paled. “I’m sorry. I forgot you weren’t used at Mercile for breeding experiments except for once. I’ve only known you to share sex with a few females since you were released. Is she your first human? I could give you advice if you need some. I’ve shared sex with a lot of them and you mainly just need to be gentler and try to keep silent. Human males don’t get as vocal to show their enjoyment so their females can find it alarming to be growled at.”

“Shut up, Jinx. You’re certain to start a fight if you keep talking about it.” Query stood and approached True slowly. He stopped a few feet away, his expression grim. “It is a human thing. Don’t take it personal. I’m sure you’ve done everything possible to show her you’d be a good mate. I can see how you feel about her. Just give it a little more time and I’m certain she’ll agree to sign the papers. I also see the way she looks at you and so does Jinx. It’s why he’s being an ass. He’s attracted to her but it’s clear you’re her male.”

“No need to rub it in.” Jinx moved out from behind the males and sat hard in a chair. He frowned at True. “I just want to make sure she’s protected. It wouldn’t matter if we find the human who used her or not if she were a mate. Species law makes her exempt from being prosecuted. There is a chance that it wasn’t an employee pretending to be that agent. He could have sold the information to someone else or given it to an enemy as revenge if he felt slighted by the NSO.”

“I tried to explain why she should be my mate and how it would protect her.”

“What did she say?” Query arched an eyebrow.

“She didn’t say yes. That’s the bottom line. It’s frustrating.” He held Jinx’s stare. “So is refraining from punching you when you challenge me and preen in front of her, Jinx.”

“I don’t preen.”

“You so do.” Flirt threw out his arms and puffed out his chest. “Look at my muscles, female.” One hand lifted and he wiggled his fingers. “The hand works perfectly to touch you with.” He flipped him off. “I know she got the doctors to work on it so it isn’t useless and you had to make sure she noticed that to remind her that she once cared about you. The way you bowed over the table to get in True’s face was just to appear larger than him in an attempt to draw her attention.”

“I’ll get in your face,” Jinx threatened. “Keep insulting me and we will fight.”

“Enough!” Query glared at them.

“At least my name isn’t Flirt,” Jinx spat. “You’re the one who preens enough to earn that title and you actually fought with him in front of Shiver.”