There were small, but perceptible changes in my life now. At home, I sat on the furniture. When I ate, I


    fed myself. The men frequently portioned out my meals, but they didn’t hand feed me, usually. Most


    mornings I choose what ornamentation I would wear. The differences were slight, but they mattered to


    me.


    Every day I thought of my daughter. I wondered what she was doing and how she was. In quiet


    moments I would sit and look toward the sky praying for her safety. She was a fixture in my daily


    thoughts.


    One mid day meal, as I sat with Damien outside the Keeper’spound in the forest, I was staring up


    at the sky. It was wide and beautiful beyond the trees. Flying freely through it must be a wonderful


    experience.


    “What are you looking at?” Damien asked peering up through the canopy.


    “I’m thinking of Hannah,” I told him passing him the bowl to take a bite. “I look at the sky and wonder if


    she’s out flying in it somewhere. I’d Love to know where she is and what she’s doing every day.”


    He sat and watched me for a moment before he spoke.


    Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    “I don’t understand,” he said simply. “Why do you want to know that?”


    I sighed and looked at him. He was never going to understand, but he probably wouldn’t drop it.


    ninjanovel


    “Didn’t you wonder what Christof was doing when he disappeared into the mountains? I worry about


    Hannah and hope she is well. It would make me feel better if I knew what she was doing,” I attempted


    to exin.


    Damien sat back against the tree he was Lounging on as he handed me the bowl.


    “Always so curious, you are like Christof in that regard,” he told me. The subject was in the open, so I


    pushed a little with him. “You have other children out there, you must. Don’t you ever wonder about


    them? What they are Like or what they are doing? Do you think about our daughter?”


    I tried to pass the bowl and he stopped me.


    “Eat more and I‘1l answer you,” he said grinning. “You almost look well again.”


    Dutifully I took a Large bite and looked pointedly at him.


    “No,” was the simple answer, “I never think about them. I assume Hannah is well, but I do not think on


    her unless you bring her up. Others may exist, from what the women said I have been a breeder.”


    He paused for a moment and then spoke again, “Christof thinks about it. He wonders about the


    children he has sired. When we were bonded to you he saw how children lived on your. He is


    curious how his offspring fare.”


    “Would the women tell you?” I asked taking another bite.


    “They never have, but we’ve never asked,” Damien said simply.


    We sat in silence for a few moments before Damien spoke again.


    “I think I would enjoy knowing more about Hannah. She was interesting.


    I liked her,” he added after a Long pause.


    Long ago I’d promised myself I would not cry anymore about my daughter. Hearing Damien say he


    liked her struck me hard. He had never seemed to be that interested in her. During our time in the


    mountains he had either been fearful or indifferent. Despite my resolve I felt the tears slipping down my


    face.