Tegwyn follows my gaze, muttering a curse. Now he sheathes his claws, searching my face again.
He really is worried about me. It's heartwarming, I suppose,sweeteven. He truly is a paradox.
“Tegwyn. No one has harmed me. I’m just…”
His brows jump to his horns. “You’rewhat?”
I stare down at my hands, cheeks burning red with shame. “I…have my bleed…”
He blinks. “Bleed?”
“As in mymonthlybleed. I’ve had them every month since I turned twelve. Well, twelve and ahalf…”
A nervous sound escapes me, and I cover my face, wishing the ground would just swallow me whole and be done with it.
It takes him a few moments, but when the realisation finally hits him, he stumbles, tripping on a stalagmite. “S-shit!”
I burst into a fit of laughter, slapping my hand over my mouth to stifle the sound. It’s nervous laughter, but I just go with it, letting emotion override my senses.
He just looks so ridiculous.
“Fuck! I should… I need to…”
He makes a beeline for the exit, but I reach out for him. “No! It’s okay, you… weren’t supposed to know…”
Another giggle escapes me, and I just can’t help myself now.
Silly, clueless faerie.
“Of… of course…” he mutters. “How could I not have realised? A human female’s monthly bleed islegendaryafter all.”
Legendary?
He catches the confusion in my gaze. “Erm, Fae females aren’t quite so regular… Many of them don’t bleed at all. Others never bear young.”
His voice trails off, and I’m not used to seeing him this way. He really can be an odd creature at times.
Tegwyn runs a hand through his hair. “So…w-when it’s over, you…you are…?”
I lower my gaze. “Yes.”
He's talking about the possibility of my becoming pregnant once my cycle is over. It seems such an alien concept for him, but I can’t meet his eyes.
Not again.
I’m afraid of what I may find inside them.
He chuckles awkwardly, backing towards the exit again. “Commendable. Truly. Well, when you’re donebleeding, Ivy… I’ll be in the kitchen.”
And with a flash, he’s gone.
I don’t get up for some time. In the end, I throw the furs and blankets back over my head, wishing I could erase that entire conversation from my mind.
These next five days are going to be rough.
Tegwyn
I dig my claws into the wall, keeping a reasonable distance from Ivy at the other end of the tunnel.
