Page 117 of Simon

Especially after what Simon said what would happen after the party.

“What is it?” My father rushed to my side. He was on the other side of the tent as he spoke to Rune about what sort of dress he thought I might like. Rune had been flipping through pages of an old sorcery book, holding up the white material on a nearby table and running his fingers through it.

“I think I might be starting something.” I groaned and ran my hand over my stomach.

Of course! I would have my period.

Father and I were always open about my menstruation cycles. We were scientists, and he was not the least bit scared to talkabout it. He told me about the birds and the bees, how women menstruated and how it was perfectly natural.

Calliope’s head perked up, and horror struck her face the moment I said “menstruation.”

At least she knew that word.

“No, no, no!” Calliope ran over and slapped her hands on the treat table.

“This cannot happen. You cannot have your period right now! Tonight is the ceremony where we all get to see you consummate your union. We can’t have your blood scent around; it might, bring out the ogres,” she hissed.

Father stood up to his full height, which wasn’t very tall, and stared down Calliope. “Excuse me? Everyone gets to see her do what?”

I didn’t see Father angry often. Just the time when Dutton hit on me and the few times when I got sick on Earth and he didn’t think the doctors did enough to speed up my recovery.

Father’s anger was rising at an alarming rate.

At least I didn’t have to worry about his blood pressure anymore.

“Father, it’s fine—” I went to reach for his hand, but he pulled it away.

“No, it isn’t!” he snapped. “There will be no consummating in front of anyone. My daughter will do no such thing!”

Calliope tilted her head and pouted. Valpar, who stood outside of the tent, stormed in. “Who is yelling? Are you speaking to my female?” Valpar stood in front of Calliope, who was oblivious to being yelled at.

“It’s behind a tent, silly. We just see the silhouette of them doing the deed,” she said it like it was no big deal. She placed her middle finger and thumb together to create a hole with one hand and stuck her index finger through it with the other.

I snorted and threw my head back in laughter, only to have my father dart his head back at me as he narrowed his eyes.

I groaned and wrapped my arms around my stomach, then snatched another piece of chocolate. My head started to hurt, and my body was just generally feeling weak.

I couldn’t handle this, not right now.

Rune, being the peacemaker, stepped forward and put a hand on Father’s shoulder. “Just remember that customs here differ from your world.” Rune turned his attention to Calliope. “Thank you for wanting to include Lucy. Right now, we have other things to attend to. Will you arrange to have some feminine products brought to the tent?” Calliope nodded eagerly, and Valpar’s normally deep green face went very lime green.

Valpar rushed out and left us all with just our tiny family, and I leaned on the table.

A woman on her period, during her wedding day, in a white dress.

Could it get worse?

“Yes, it can get worse.” Rune chuckled and kneeled down before me.

“It’s creepy when you do that,” I said, laying my hand on top of his, which was caressing my knee.

“I have a way to rid you of your mensuration, but it will be one hour of absolute torture, and it will dislodge the IUD you have in place. Not that it will help you any longer now that you are part faun.”

Did I want to know how he knew I had an IUD in place?

Internally, I shook my head.Nope, no, I didn’t.

“What will I do for contraception after?”

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