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“When a male is pushed—” Jyrak softly snapped her fingers together against her thigh. “When he fears his mating?”

A scornful laugh rose in Mia’s throat. “I’m the least frightening thing on Zephyria.”

“No, milady, you misunderstand.”

“Then explain it to me.”

“I do not wish to intrude.”

“Intrude, please. As it is…” Mia closed her eyes and leaned her head back against the chair. “I’m not sure what happened. Or why, which is just as important.”

Because she wanted him to do it again, and maybe do it to him in return. Oh, the possibilities.

“I cannot say what drove him, precisely,” Jyrak said, “or what catalyst pushed him into the frenzy. Yet there must be something.” A pause. “Have you given him cause to doubt your affections?”

Emotion welled up so sharply in Mia, it clogged her throat. “No.”

“You love him?”

“I don’t know.” Mia shook her head. “He knows I’ve accepted his claim on me, even given the unfortunate circumstances.”

“And he accepts this fully? Is there no fear between you?”

The truth hit Mia so hard, she groaned. How many times had he told her that he wouldn’t let her go?Not even death will loosen my hold on you, he’d said, so fiercely the words had indelibly etched themselves into her bones.

“He’s afraid I’m going to leave him,” she whispered, gutted by the realization.

“Ah. There you have it. Fear drives a male to many stupid ends.”

Mia snorted out a laugh through the tears gathering in her eyes. “He really didn’t hurt me.”

Unless she counted the new bite mark on her thigh, which she definitely did not. And nope, she was not talking about that withanyoneexcept Zoran.

“I would be surprised if he had. Rigid self-discipline is embedded in our culture. We can be fierce warriors.” Jyrak raised a clawed hand, rotating it in mute demonstration. “Yet must I ascertain your wellbeing for myself, as your friend. A warrior in the heat of the mating frenzy may lose control of his discipline. It is why we never push our mates beyond what they can endure.”

“I’m not worried about pushing him.” At Jyrak’s skeptical look, Mia added, “No, really. He takes discipline to a whole new level. What I’m worried about is the lack of trust.”

“You do not trust him?”

“I trust him with my life. Have trusted him with my life,” she said as memories of thevyirkolenattack surfaced. “He doesn’t trust me, and I don’t know how to change that.”

“Your frustration is understandable. Would that I could aid you in finding a solution.”

“I think it’s just going to take some time.” Her thighs rubbed together as she shifted, and another frisson of pleasure shuddered through her. “How can I be so mad at him for giving me three amazing orgasms?”

Jyrak let out a strangled cry deep in her throat, then coughed discreetly into her fist. “Three? In that short a time?”

Mia felt a blush crawl into her cheeks. “I didn’t mean to say that.”

“No, no. Tell me more.” Jyrak blinked once, her eyes impossibly wide. “Are you certain you did not miscount?”

Mia laughed until a sob caught her by surprise. Jyrak, being a wise friend, merely held her hand until the emotional storm passed and Mia could find some calm.

She waited until she’d sorted through her emotions before returning home, which took some time. Jyrak had scrounged up a needle and thread so Mia could repair her breeches well enough to last through the day. Her shredded panties were unsalvageable. There Mia would not budge: Zoran could damn well replace those himself. She’d make sure of it.

Mia was surprised by the number of people who discretely stopped by to check on her. She finally shrugged off her robe, leaving her arms bare so everyone could see for themselves that she was fine.

Perfectly fine. Ecstatic even. Her mate had given her three orgasms, so why was she so pissed at him?