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Slowly, Hor-ek pivots to face them. “The healer believes Devon is Alik’s heart’s fire. It is why he suffers when you are parted for too long. Why he has been in so much pain—most likely dying—because your mating has not been fulfilled. Combined with his madness from uncontrolled mating fever, his symptoms are worsening at a much faster pace than they normally would.”

“Shut the fuck up,” the other female says.

I replay the words Hor-ek spoke as my gaze homes in on De-von. Heart’s fire. She has used this term many times in reference to her sisters and their mates. Does that mean she is my mate? She has spoken about wanting a mate and how she is joyous that her sisters have found one, but also jealous that she remains alone. I study her, but I cannot read her or determine what she is thinking. Is she happy about being my mate? Or has she no desire to be mine?

“De-von?”

She doesn’t look at me. Instead, her entire focus remains on Hor-ek. “Are you saying that if I am Alik’s heart’s fire and we don’t…mate, he’s going to die?”

“That is what Vornak believes.”

“Fuuuuuuuuuck,” De-von rasps harshly.

“Wait a damn minute,” the second female snaps. “You’re not going to sit here and tell us that Devon and Alik have to fuck or he dies?”

“That is what happens when a male doesn’t claim his heart’s fire. But we also cannot say without any doubt that Devon is Alik’s. It is only what Vornak believes.”

“You said he believes he’s dying, but he’s certain she’s Alik’s mate,” the other female says. “That means he may not be dying.”

None of them have noticed I have moved closer, but I need to hear every word being spoken.

Hor-ek sighs. “A few cases have been noted in our archives of instances where a male has succumbed to the pain he suffered due to an unfulfilled mating with his heart’s fire. But without knowing if Devon is truly Alik’s heart’s fire, then we have no way to predict if them not mating will kill him.”

“So you’re all just saying we should put them in the cell together and see what happens? No.” The female slashes her hand through the air. “No fucking way. Alik is controlled by the madness of the mating fever even if he looks like he’s ‘tame’. Bohnari males have raped females while they’re under the influence of that shit, and you want to put one of my best friends—one of my sisters—in there with him? Abso-fucking-lutely not.”

“Olivia.” De-von places her hand on the second female’s arm. “It’s okay.”

This Oliv-a whips her head around. “It’s not okay. In fact, it’s real fucking far from okay.”

“Listen to me. Alik won’t hurt me, and if there’s any chance that this might cure him, then I need to do it. I couldn’t live with myself if he died, and I could have prevented it in some way. I’ve already suffered enough loss in my life. I don’t want to be the cause of any more. I can’t be.”

“Not a single thing has been mentioned about curing him, just that he won’t die. But that’s only if you are his heart’s fire, and he doesn’t kill or rape you first.” Oliv-a shakes her head. “I won’t allow it. Neither will Janik or Quinn or Lindsey.”

De-von gently grasps Oliv-a’s shoulders and waits until the other female meets her eyes. “I know you enjoy wielding your princess powers over people, but this isn’t something you get to allow or forbid me to do.”

Tears fall down Oliv-a’s cheeks. “What if he hurts you? Or worse?”

Ever so slowly, De-von turns her head toward me. “Alik’s not going to hurt me, are you?”

With careful movements, I close the distance until my chest brushes up against the clear barrier. I raise my arm and lay my palm on its surface, not once looking away from her.

“De-von. No hurt.”

She stares at me for several moments before turning back to Oliv-a with a small smile. I notice it doesn’t reach her eyes. “See? It’s going to be fine.”

“I’m going on record to say that I hate this,” the other female says.

“That’s why I love you.” De-von breathes in. “Now, why don’t you and Horek let me have some time alone with Alik. He and I need to talk.”

Oliv-a nods. When De-von loosens her hold on her, the other female walks straight up to the barrier that separates us and jabs her finger hard against the wall directly in front of my face. “I don’t give a shit what happens to me, but if you so much as hurt a single hair on Devon’s head, I will personally be back down here to murder you. I don’t want to do that to my mate or my mother-in-law, so don’t fuck this up. Do you hear me?”

Without waiting for an answer, Oliv-a spins and storms out of the room. Hor-ek glances at me, then De-von, hesitates a moment, but then he too leaves, making sure the main security door stays open. It is only my…mate and me now.

“That went well,” she says, although I do not think she truly means it.

I wish I knew the words to speak to her, but my mind is all jumbled. The intense pressure inside has returned as well. As though a door resides within and someone is pounding on the other side to be let out.

Chapter 12