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I immediately regret asking, even though I should have an idea of what I’m walking into.

“What about your family? Do you live here alone?”

“I’m all that’s left,” he looks around the space.

“Big place for one male.”

“There’s the staff. Most of which have worked for my family longer than I’ve been alive. Hyva is around a lot, too, as the only member of his line left.”

“I heard that most Zeahiri are born as twins. I’m surprised so many of you seem to be the last of your family.”

His eyes shutter, and he looks away momentarily. “Half the children born don’t make it past adolescence.”

“So you had a twin?”

“A brother.” He nods.

“I’m sorry,” I say. I want to ask what happened, but the energy of the room is so heavy. I can’t help the desire to completely change the subject.

“Hyva mentioned you would want to see a female named Kodia on the transport. If you want to leave to spend time with her, I can find ways to amuse myself.”

His lips lift in a slow smile. “Kodia is a male.”

“Oh.”

Ohhh.

“Sorry I shouldn’t have presumed you were uh…”

“I was what?” His eyes sparkle as his smile grows.

“I just assumed you were into females. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised, I’m into females. Males, too, probably if I’d had any experience with them. Which I obviously haven’t.” I should stop babbling like a fool. “Anyways. Kodia is male,” my voice squeaks as my face flushes with embarrassment.

His smile has doubled in size. I guess at the very least I’ve entertained him, so he can count me as an interesting dinner guest. His earlier warning about the wine flies right out of my mind as I chug the remaining bit from the glass. It really tastes incredible.

“Do you want to meet Kodia?”

CHAPTER10

RAIZ

* * *

As I lead her down the stairs to the grotto where I’ll call Kodia in, I can’t help but spin her rushed confession around in my mind. The wine is likely the cause, but I’m going to enjoy her adorable outburst regardless. I will have to make sure she’s given the pain relief tea before she goes to sleep, though.

She’s never been with a male.

The thought filters through unbidden. I was already attracted to her before knowing that. Now the beastly, primal side of me wants to pursue her. Thank the stars I’m a more logical male than one who gives into base instincts to take and plunder.

I step onto the smooth stone landing and motion for her to stay back toward the stairs. “I’m going to call him. Don’t be scared.” He’ll scent her fear just as Mydax did. My tie to him should be strong enough to convey that she’s a friend, but her scent is strong.

Kneeling down at the edge of the water, I drag my fingers through the water to send him our signal. I’ve felt him and his mate close since we’ve been back. After a minute the water ripples and a large dark form shoots up from the bottom. He knocks me over as he lunges out of the water, landing with a torrent of seawater splash all the way over to where Neev stands, wide-eyed and staring.

I don’t scent fear from her at all, though, a surprise as Kodia is one of the largest synapiads I’ve ever seen. His charcoal-colored body, covered in a dense fur, shines in the dim light. He waddles sideways on his front flippers to bend and nuzzle against me. I wrap my arms around his warm body, squeezing him with all the love I possess.

“What is he?” I’m surprised to hear Neev’s voice coming from right beside me.

“Kodia is a synapiad, my soul-tied creature.”