“Of course he does.” Zura looked surprised. “Can you not tell? I have seen how he looks at you. I have seen the change in his behavior, just in the very short time that he has known you.”
“What kind of change?” Violet asked, surprised. “He seems very…angry. Focused and intense.”
“Pshaw.” Zura snorted. “You have not seen him angry. His dark mood is lessening. I can see it in the way he speaks to people, and I can feel it in his energy. Our family has some psychic powers, and we can sense each other’s moods and emotions.”
“That’s not necessarily because of me,” Violet protested.
“It most assuredly is.”
“He told me that I am not his true mate,” she protested.
“I know.” Zura looked downcast at that. “But still, you are the only woman he has shown any interest in, in my memory. I have tried to introduce him to many potential mates over the years, and he has always rejected them.”
Irrational rage burned through Violet at the thought of Treffon being with those women. Had he touched them the way he’d touched Violet? Kissed them? Made them cry out his name?
“Oh, do not worry, he has never actually spent time with any of the women I have introduced him to,” Zura said, as if she were reading Violet’s thoughts or feelings. She opened up a flask and gulped down half its contents in one swallow.
“Ooh, I’m parched. Is that stuff any good?” Violet asked.
“It is a brew that cannot be metabolized by humans. Lorn! Bring the human a drink!” Zura called out to a nearby Thorolf, who hurried off to obey her command.
“Thanks. It’s just that I… If I’m not Treffon’s true mate, I’d always feel that I was second best,” Violet said.
“I believe that you two could make each other very happy,” Zura said to Violet. “Not all Vulfans are lucky enough to meet their true mate, but they can still make successful matches with someone else. They can enjoy, ahem, certain activities with each other, and take pleasure in each other’s company. You know about the population wars? When the cyborgs released the virus that killed off ninety percent of our women, thirty years ago? Many of our men lost their true mates and were forced to make matches that were more for breeding purposes, or to keep their sanity.”
Shouts rang out from the field, and Violet turned to look at the fight.
One of the men had shifted back into humanoid form…and hurled a spear directly at Treffon. The spear lodged in Treffon’s flank, and his fur was instantly stained red. The attack sent a shockwave through Violet, and she felt her own ribs throb in sympathy.
“No!” she screamed. All her annoyance at Treffon was forgotten. She leaped off her seat and ran towards the field.
