He did not regret it.
That might have been the most dangerous part.
Veya shifted closer, her nose brushing the base of his throat.
“Are you awake?” Dax asked.
“No.”
“That is an impressive answer for an unconscious woman.”
Her mouth moved faintly against his skin.
“I’m practicing.”
Dax looked down at her.
The feverish color had begun to recede from her face. Her body remained warm, but the violent tremors had eased into occasional shivers. None of that proved the tether had resolved, and he would not insult either of them by pretending sex had repaired it.
“How do you feel?”
Veya took time before answering.
“Sore.”
“That is partly my fault.”
“Only partly.”
His expression tightened.
“The tether is still there?”
“Yes.”
She lifted her head enough to look at him.
“It is quieter, but I can still feel it.”
Dax did not ask whether she could feel Rhen. The answer would accomplish nothing except give his brother space inside the bed.
Veya studied his face.
“You think I regret it.”
“I think you survived a transformation, sedation, a confrontation with Rhen, and another tether episode before choosing to have sex while your body is still trying to decide what it has become.”
“When you say it like that, it sounds irresponsible.”
“It was catastrophically irresponsible.”
“Do you regret it?”
“No.”
The answer came too quickly for either of them to misunderstand.
Veya’s expression softened.
