As my young son suckled contentedly I spoke without thinking.


    “He has them already,” I said watching his little face. “I felt them when he was inside of me. I’ve heard


    their heartbeats for many turns of the moon.”


    The room was silent as I pushed a wet, sticky lock of hair back from his face. It would need to be


    washed soon. It would never be cut, though, that much I knew.


    “You heard them?” Nu-reeh said sounding surprised.


    “Humans cannot…” Dinah started to say and stopped.


    “Most humans cannot,” Nu-reeh said and I looked up to see her Looking quite pleased, “I chose my


    breeder well. This human’s mind is well suited to this world.”


    The men looked perplexed, which I suppose is why Nu-reeh continued to talk.


    “You are born into sets determined by a force outside of our control,” she said conversationally. “Most


    female breeders feel it the moment each of their offspring’s Brothers connects. Your ve’s ability to


    adapt to our world is quite impressive. I am d we chose this ve. It was a wise decision, Sisters,”


    thest twoments were directed to Tosu and Dinah.


    The women were talking about this, so Christof took the chance to rify.


    He spoke softly and let the question hang without pushing the women.


    “You chose this ve for us, Mistress?”


    “Your Brothers wanted a human ve,” Nu-reeh answered him, “we saw this ve and knew we would


    give her to you all. We sent you to the auction and we…assured no other Paterians would bid on her.


    She was paid for before you first saw her.”


    It felt so strange to be reminded I was just a thing the women traded at will. My very existence was


    theirs to y with. Ever since the moment I left Earth, my life had been theirs to control. I was swept by


    the old feelings of abject helplessness and that depressed me greatly.


    The conversation continued as I stared down at my baby, but I did not hear it. I felt theforting


    hands that Evan and Damienid on my head and shoulder. They understood how this made me feel.


    Gratefully, I rubbed my cheek on Evan’s hand as it Lay on my shoulder, as I fought the tears that


    wanted to flood my eyes.


    The women left and the Healers showed up after the centa had been delivered. Once again, they


    wanted it. Damien still found it an odd request, but he didn’t see any harm in it.


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    My lower body was dried and then coated inside and out with a generous portion of the powerful


    healing salve. I felt my flesh tighten after the application.


    “He is so small,” Evan said as Bane picked me up. That was urate. The Little bundle in my arms


    was tinypared to both Hannah and Kennedy. It could have been Evan‘s gic makeup or it could


    be that’s how boys were, I just didn’t know.


    “His hair is all stuck together,” Evan continued as Bane walked us toward the bedroom. “We need to


    bathe him.”


    “Patience,” Damien warned pulling back the covers on the bed, “Let them rest a little, Like we did with


    our other children. You don’t need to rush, Brother.”


    Damien’s words seemed to impart some calmness to Evan and he allowed us to be settled on the bed.


    He tucked the covers around my feet and helped Kein prop me up with the pillows so our son could


    finish feeding. The child and I were made absolutelyfortable as he finished and I burped him.


    The other men went to clean up the birthing room, but Evan would not leave. He was fascinated with


    the tiny boy now sleeping in my arms. Nu-reeh had wrapped the child tightly, but his head was


    exposed. I watched transfixed as Evan tasted the boy’s ear and licked his cheek.


    “It tastes of you and me,” he said curiously, “but I taste him also.” “Do you want to hold him?” I asked.


    Evan did. He held the sleeping child and practiced rocking him as I’d done with Hannah and Kennedy. I


    let my eyes slip closed as I heard Evan murmuring to the boy.