The Administrators were a cross between angry and surprised, but that single word Basin had used changed their minds. They looked to Hannah who had to admit the word was English and it had been used correctly. There was no way Rose had taught them an English word to fit this exact situation. She was bonded to her family.


    Somehow, someway we had managed to connect our minds across the species barrier. It was strange and unheard of, but it did attest to the respect the men must feel. It was impossible to bond with someone that you didn’t respect. Everyone knew that much was true.


    The decision was made and the Administrators weren’t entirely happy with it, but I was thrilled. Rose and I were free to make our choices and stay where we were. The former vers respected us and we loved them.


    “And what of Fuji?” Hassar asked in a resigned fashion. “Will she also be returning to her… family.”


    “Hardly,” Stayne snorted from along the far side wall. He and his Brothers were here to watch the proceedings, but had not really taken part. “Shees to us and uses us when she has sexual needs, but we have no other attachment. Fuji is entirely a free creature.”


    Hassar promised to talk to Fuji. The Administrators didn’t like the way Stayne described his rtionship with her. A coupling was something both sides should be agreeable to. Stayne made it sound like he and his Brothers were at Fuji’s disposal.


    “Go back to your chores,” Gunth ordered to the general crowd once Hassar was done talking. “Get everything settled before nightfall.”


    “And sanctions for the unnned pregnancy?” Kein asked as the men behind us started to disperse.


    Gunth’s eyebrows shot up and I knew we’d used a word he didn’t know.N?velDrama.Org holds this content.


    “The new child,” Damien rified. “We created a child without the Administrators’ consent. In Ciara’s nativenguage the word is pregnancy. Our owners never taught us the Paterian word, we have always used the human equivalent. What are our sanctions?”


    I shook my head and smiled. My men were always willing to take punishment they felt they deserved. Now was no different.


    “Go to the evening meal,” Gunth said gruffly. “You already take the jobs I would send you to do if I wished to sanction you. You have taken your punishment already. My only warning is I do not want this… situation to cause distress in the camp.”


    I shrugged and smiled at my men as I stood. The day had been a strange mix of stressful and exhrating. In addition, I had missed the midday meal. A nice, quiet evening meal would suit me fine. I was hungry and I didn’t feel all that well right now.


    “Hannah,” Damien called, “will youe sit with uster in our rooms? Perhaps we could talk?”


    My oldest was livid. I wasn’t quite sure exactly why. She red at Damien and huffed off with Ra right behind her. Their talons practically dug into the stone as they stalked away. They had no intention of speaking to any of us right now. It made me sad.


    “We will join you, Uncle,” Kennedy said, smiling as she strode past. “My Sisters and I wish to feed, but we will return to your roomster. Many congrattions to all of you on the pregnancy.”


    Damien and his Brothers murmured thanks to Kennedy as she passed. We were all curious about her impassioned speech. Whatever she had said must have had some weight to it. We would have to ask herter.


    It was habit the way I traveled with my family. Damien at the lead and me following, surrounded by his Brothers. We started to walk that way and Kein realized what it would look like. Before we had made it out of the Administrators suites I was walking next to Damien as the family followed.


    The hallway was crowded with men heading to the evening meal. Unlike usual the bustling hall was quiet, though. The only sound was the tread of boots on stone. It was unnerving.


    “So,” a strange man announced loudly sidling up next to us, “what now? Is she back to being your bed ve full time? Will you put your ve bands back on her?”


    “No,” I stated firmly before Damien could answer, “I am a free woman. I just happen to enjoy spending my free time with Damien and his Brothers.”


    The man had a mop of dark brown hair and thick stripes. He was really angry, as was his family. I saw the hint of their fangs as they threatened to drop. These men wanted to fight.


    “Listen, buddy,” I said stopping in my tracks and putting up my hands, “Damien and his Brothers are very special to me. I get that you don’t understand our rtionship, but it is not what you think. None of us should have to justify this to you. It isn’t your business.”


    The men stood staring at me and I felt my family’s desire to put my fragile body behind theirs. A fight was looming in the crowded hall and I stood at the center of where it would be. Grabbing me and moving me may infuriate the other men, so Christof was ready, but not moving for now. A free woman would stand where she wanted to stand, even if it was dangerous.


    “What,” the dark hair man asked, “is bu-ddy?”


    Unbidden, English was sneaking back into my vocabry.


    “Friend,” Bane answered calmly, “it is a word from her nativenguage for friend.”


    “How do you know it?” the man’s Brother asked.


    Damien spoke and exined that we had a bond. It was stronger now because of the little girl growing in my belly. Even without that we had a mate bond, Damien and his Brothers had ess to my knowledge.


    I bristled at the conversation and crossed my arms impatiently.


    “Our mate bond is not his business,” I snapped angrily and loudly. “It isn’t anyone’s business except ours!”


    Kein’s hand smoothed down my back. I was being quite temperamental right now. The family had a reputation for steady reserve and they really wanted me to be like that, too. I’d been erratic all day.