Page 51 of My Monster, My Choice

Christina is so loving withkishren. Not just our granddaughter, but with allkish, including Jaire and Anya’s. But she insists she does not want any. I know that is a lie.

She insists she does not want a real relationship with me, and I know that is a lie.

My beautiful, gorgeous mate feels lesser because she can’t havekishren, and she doesn’t want to admit it for some reason.

Something brings her shame. That is a scent I know well. Earth females have been in oppression for so long, it is a common pheromone among the species.

After dinner, Relion and I clean the kitchen while our mates retire with thekishrento the living area.

“Did you catch the look on her face when Tera mentioned the Britonians’ visit?” Relion asks under his breath.

“No,” I admit. “Because I was too busy tasting her emotions.”

“I don’t blame you,” he says.

It is a common practice for our species, but humans balk at what they consider an invasion of their privacy.

“I think she can’t havekishren.”

He stares at me.

“What is it?” I ask.

“Something just occurred to me. Tera mentioned last night that hermamanwas the last wife. But she is so young, she was younger than Tera when she married. Why was she relegated to last? Perhaps you are right. She cannot havekishrenand was forced to marry into a family to care for the already established young.”

“We grew close during the six months while you and Tera were in Pimeon,” I admit. “And she pulled away shortly after you returned. I was baffled. But now that I think back—that night people were teasing that ourkishrencould be the same age. That Tera and hermamancould be gestating together.”

“I remember,” he says. “She became quieter as the night wore on.”

I nod and we finish drying the glassware in silence.

“I don’t think Tera knows,” he says.

“It’s possible no one knows. Not since the deaths of Christina’s mates.”

As if he knows what I’m feeling, he squeezes my shoulder. “We’ll get to the bottom of this, Elex.”

ChapterNineteen

CHRISTINA

“Well, buddy, you going to come spend the night with us?” Relion asks, pulling Kenny onto his lap for a cuddle.

“Yes, Ree! Even when Telly gets too tired to play and goes to sleep, I wanna watch Gladyator Planet ‘cuz mum doesn’t let me.”

Good Lord. He loves that shoot-em-up-with-laser-guns show but gives me a headache with the volume he feels necessary to watch it at.

“Kenneth Michael, you better not be waking the neighbors with that show cranked up to blasting at their house,” I warn.

“I promise, mum. They hava sweet lil kishi anyway an’ Telly needs her sleep. Can I go sleep over?” He looks up at me and puckers.

Because I can’t resist his sweet little lips, even when he’s buttering me up, I kiss him. “Okay, but you be good and get back home before noon.”

“Okay,” he says happily. “I even shower, okay?”

“Okay,” I agree.

Relion is talking to Elex and even with their teasing each other over the stepdaddy issue, I’m glad they’re good friends. I knew it was a shock to find out about us when they returned home from their mating trial period.

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