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“But there’s definitely a reason they might want to keep this ability quiet,” Hyva replies.

“Do you think she can mind walk?” Altis asks me.

“Not that I’m aware of. I’ve stayed out of her mind as much as possible.” The more often I go inside it, the more likely it’d be for me to form a permanent connection. Mate or not, she deserves to be able to consent to that. It’s an intimate thing, the bridge between minds, and shouldn’t be abused just because I have the power to do so.

“I only see one way through all this,” Hyva says.

“What’s that?”

“You’re going to have to tell her. Everything.”

CHAPTER16

NEEV

* * *

Two hard raps at my door manage to momentarily distract me from the stabbing pains in my pelvis. It’s been years since I’ve had menstrual pain like this. It didn’t even occur to me to mention this to Hyva. I’ve been taking medication to control my cycle since I was fourteen. I completely forgot about it until I went to relieve myself and saw blood.

“Come in.” I don’t move from the fetal position I’m in. I know from the knock that it isn’t Raiz.

“What’s wrong?” Vynia walks around the bed and looks down at me in concern. “Are you bleeding?” She sniffs loudly and looks me over.

“Please tell me you can’t smell it?” I groan.

“I smell blood. Are you injured?”

“No.” I sit up. “I have my cycle.”

“Cycle?” She gives me a confused look.

“How often do Zeahirian females go through a fertility cycle?”

“Every two to three years on average.”

Damn. Must be nice.

“A human’s cycle is twenty-eight days. We bleed on the first day and for several days and then release an egg a couple weeks after that. I’m currently bleeding.”

“Is it painful?”

“Yes. More so for some than others, from what I learned as a girl. Unfortunately, I’ve always suffered from intense cramping. The Order started suppressing my cycles when I was an adolescent because of the pain. Do you have anything that does that?”

“No. Because our cycles are rare, we don’t ever try to suppress them. It’s not easy for Zeahirian females to become pregnant, so everything regarding our fertility is treated with great care. I’ll call for Hyva.”

“Using the mind speaking?”

“Yes.” She sits down beside me and runs her fingers through my hair. “It’s convenient in times like this.”

“That feels good.” I miss the camaraderie of female friendships. “But I should warn you, Raiz killed that inspector because he touched my hair.”

“That’s not the only reason, I’m sure,” she says. “And I’m not afraid of him. I know all his secrets.”

“I don’t know why he cares so much to begin with.”

Her fingers pause. “I’m sure you must have an idea why he cares.”

“What?” I sit up. “Not really.”