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Jerred needed to be brought to his senses

He waited until he was sure Jerred was gone, then pushed hi and walked to the apart for her to respond

He didn’t have to wait long

“Jerred, is that you?” she asked through the com panel

“No, I’m a friend of Jerred’s My na to keep his voice neutral and unthreatening It was hard; her presence called to him As an unmated man, he found it hard to be around wo about another man’s life mate that could drive a warrior slowly mad with lust Their culture ise to keep the women away from the unmated males Otherwise, there would be a bloodbath; she couldn’t stay here

“What do you want?” she asked, and he could hear the tension in her voice Jerred must have warned her about the men on the station At least he hadn’t coe of dark humor

“I’ve come to talk to you,” he said “You don’t have to let me in, but I do need a few ,” she said “But not for long I’ up and down the hallway It really was a shame she wouldn’t let him in Out here he was more likely to be seen If Jerred found out, he would kill him Still, a man had to die so eht death would be a mercy

“Do you know that Saurellians can only mate perh the door, feeling ridiculous

“Yes,” she said, and he could have sworn her voice held a touch of hurt Good She cared about him

“Well, you’ve probably heard that only Saurellian woht, strained intonation spoke voluhed

“Maybe you don’t realize that in the past year, several Saurellian men have found life mates who aren’t Saurellian”

Silence He took a deep breath and forged ahead “I think you ames with me,” she said “This is cruel”

“It’s the truth,” he replied slowly “Jerred probably doesn’t believe it’s possible, and the odds are certainly against it But he’s showing all of the signs of a ht bitterly I’ve watched enough of my friends and brothers find their loved ones on Saurellia

He pushed the disloyal thought out of his head The Goddess decreed which men would have mates and which would suffer alone Still, the irrational part of his mind screamed out at him to break down the door and take her

After all, if she could ht back and took a deep breath

“You need to go to the Temple,” he said shortly “They’ll be able to tell you if you’re the one for him