“I won’t apologize!” Zaria snaps, her ears twitching in annoyance.
“I’m not asking you to. Just be cautious,” Rayna begs.
Zaria sighs heavily and nods. “Fine. I’ll keep quiet.”
“Thank you.” Rayna looks around and spots some of her friends and waves. “Do you mind if I go see my friends?”
“Of course not,” Zaria and I answer together.
Smiling, I look at her. “Jinx.”
“Huh?”
“Never mind.” I wave her off.
Rayna embraces Zaria, giving her a brief hug before waving goodbye. The moment Rayna waves goodbye and excitedlyheads toward her friends, Zaria swiftly turns and looks directly at me.
“What’s wrong?” Zaria asks, pulling me aside.
“Huh?”
She gives me a knowing look. “Look, we have only known each other for, like, a few weeks, but I can tell something is wrong. Plus, you look a little pale. Are you sick?”
My cheeks flush with warmth as I inch closer to her. “Is there somewhere we can talk? In private.”
Concern shines in Zaria’s big brown eyes, her tail swishing back and forth. “Sure, come with me.”
She grabs my hand in hers and leads me through the crowd of people, toward a side door. Pushing it open, we slip outside onto a small balcony, which seems to be empty.
“Right, what’s wrong?” She turns to me.
"I'm– It's–" I stammer, my eyes shifting to Zaria, trying to determine if this is a common occurrence among shifters or fae. I've gone through my Renascitur, and now I'm uncertain about what lies ahead.
Zaria patiently waits for me to collect my thoughts. I adore her for being so understanding.
“I have my period!” I blurt.
Zaria’s eyes narrow and she tilts her head to the side, as if what I’m saying makes no sense to her.
I know I’m bright red right now, but I’m going to have to be blunt.
“I’m bleeding . . . down there,” I whisper, pointing.
Zaria’s eyes widen, her mouth forming an O shape. “Oh, right. We call it the Cycle of Brigid.”
I wrinkle my nose in response. “Isn’t she a goddess?”
Zaria's laughter fills the air, and I notice Asrai trying to stifle her own amusement, her hand pressed against her lips.
“Yes. She was the goddess of spring, the dawn, and fertility.”
‘Each marking a new beginning,’Asrai signs.
“Well, thank the goddess. You know what I’m talking about.” My shoulders slump with relief. “I need painkillers and to get out of this dress. My cramps are killing me,” I groan.
“Do I need to send for a healer?”
“No. I just need some rest. Can we sneak away? You can rejoin the party. I just need help out of this dress.”
