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A wave of sadness hit him. Sinead was a beautiful person but hid it under a layer of fake happiness. She was determined to pretend there was nothing wrong, and the world was a bright, happy place.

Shit happened, and it had happened to Sinead. Talyn could feel it, although he didn’t know the details. If he lowered his barriers, Sinead might open up. She needed to now they were joined. It was important that they got to know each other intimately. It was more than that breath stealing kiss that had opened him to this possibility. He needed to know what was truly in Sinead’s heart.

It would be different to what happened when two Lillips connected. They couldn’t share things empathically. Talyn got flares of what went on in Sinead’s head, but it was muddled, and he had trouble deciphering some of it. He had to handle this differently if they were to succeed as a couple.

Talyn cupped a hand against Sinead’s cheek. “I know our joining has been a shock, but I can be useful.”

“Useful how?” She didn’t hesitate in leaning her cheek against his hand.

“I’d like to read you fully. It means you giving me access to everything you’re feeling.”

She jerked away and shook her head. “No! That’s frighteningly intimate. I barely know you.”

Talyn drew in a slow breath. “Let me try to know you.”

She bit her bottom lip. “Will it hurt?”

“No, you’ll get a flood of calmness, nothing more.” Talyn was rushing things, but this felt right. He lowered his barriers more. “If it feels too invasive, I’ll stop. You only have to say.”

“Talyn, perhaps you should reconsider,” Booby said. “You’ve not fully lowered your barriers for fifteen months and eight days. It will be a shock to your system to do something so intense.”

“I know what I’m doing, Booby.” He hadn’t accessed this part of his mind for a long time, and it would be rusty. It would also be as overwhelming as hell, but he could handle it.

“I’ll monitor your vital signs,” Booby said. “I’ll inform you if there are problems.”

“What kind of problems will there be?” Concern filled Sinead’s eyes. “I don’t want you to hurt yourself.”

“I won’t. This is a good thing I’m doing. It will help us to gain clarity over our situation.”

Sinead’s eyes narrowed. “I’m not sure. It seems like you’ll be the one gaining the clarity, and I’ll be left in the dark about you.”

He smiled. “You know more about me in three days than most people learn in a lifetime. You’ve seen inside me without even trying. Are you sure there isn’t some Lillip in your lineage?”

Sinead laughed. “Not a chance. My mom is not a fan of aliens. She’d be horrified if she knew I was working with aliens every day.”

“What does she think you’re doing?”

“Bar tending on Starland. I’ve yet to break the good news to her.”

“Your mom doesn’t know what she’s missing,” Talyn said. “We’re incredible.”

“And modest,” Booby said. “It’s one of Talyn’s better qualities.”

Sinead’s smile widened. “You’re right, Booby. Okay, let’s give this mind melding a try.”

“It’s not a mind meld. I won’t read your thoughts, but it will give us a deeper connection. It’ll help me understand you better.”

“If you say so.” The skeptical look on Sinead’s face suggested to Talyn she didn’t believe him.

He placed both hands on either side of her head and drew her closer. “Relax. This won’t hurt. The more you relax, the easier it will be.”

Sinead shifted in her seat. “Do your worst.”

“I hope to do my best for you.” He lowered his barriers and focused on Sinead’s mind.

Immediately, he sensed something was wrong. His heart raced, and his pulse fluttered. A grinding ache speared through his brain.

“Is everything okay?” Booby asked.