I nodded slowly.
"Mark...."
"Don't worry. I'm listening."
"Please, Mark—"
"Let me guess." I laughed abruptly. "They've brought you here to pry some more, get out more information."
A little of the color left Celeste's lovely face. She didn't speak.
"It's true, isn't it?" I jabbed at her. "That's your job here—fronting for the Kel when they have to deal with humans on anything that's more than skin deep."
More of Celeste's color drained. With an unsteady movement, she started to turn away.
I caught her arm and jerked her back so that she faced me. "Answer me, rack you! Isn't it true? Aren't you here to probe me for them?"
"Mark, you're hurting!" A nerve twitched, just below her cheekbone. "It—it isn't anything, Mark. They just—can't understand you. Why you act like you do. Where you find the courage to keep on fighting."