Shattered Bonds {continued)

Wendy could tell from the young [alien]’s expression that she still did not understand. She frowned, her mouth working from side to side as she tried to find other words that might help explain it.

“It means . . .” Wendy started, and then trailed off, thinking about for a moment again before continuing. “It’s a word people use when they don’t approve of something that someone else does,” she explained. “But that doesn’t mean that everyone believes that way.”

Even as she offered that explanation, she was reminded of what had precipitated the entire discussion in the first place. She tried to ignore the renewed tingling in her cheeks and stomach.

Shanta considered this for a long moment.

“Everyone in your village does not behave the same way?”

“There are a lot of us here,” Wendy replied. “And not everyone thinks the same way about some things.”

She knew that it sounded hopelessly vague, but felt that was the best she could without going into specifics—and that was something that she definitely did not want to do.

The young [alien} was silent for a long time before she spoke again.

“It must be very confusing.”

“Yes,” Wendy agreed, chuckling softly. “It can be.”

“I don’t think I would like it,” Shanta announced. “Our way is better.”

Wendy opened her mouth to protest, and then closed it slowly without saying a word. The circumstances and two societies were completely different. If Shanta wanted to believe that hers was better, then there was probably no harm in that. It was not as if the [aliens] were likely to mount up some kind of religious crusade against the humans.

We already have people like Xei Ling for that . . .

“It just might be,” Wendy agreed, giving Shanta a gracious smile. Silently, she prayed that the young [alien] would drop the matter.

Her wish appeared to have been granted until Shanta spoke again.

“Will you restrain your mate the next time you Bond with him then?”

Wendy tried not to groan aloud with frustration.

“Probably not,” she said.

That seemed to comfort the young [alien] somehow.

It was the truth. While it had made for an entertaining start to their long night of passion, Wendy saw no reason to use the same technique again the next time they were together in bed. She conceded to herself, though, that if David suggested it, she would probably not refuse.

Assuming that there is a next time . . .

“But you will Bond with him again?”

“I hope so,” Wendy replied. “But it’s also up to him.”

“But you are the female,” Shanta said.

Wendy looked down at the young [alien].

Is she confused? Or scolding me?

“Yes,” Wendy agreed. There was slight hesitation in her tone.

“Then he must comply.”

Wendy tried not to react. “It’s a little different among us—among humans,” she offered. “Both . . . mates need to agree to it.”

“Is that not more complicated?”

“It can be,” Wendy agreed. “But it can also prevent . . . problems.”

She really did not want to have to explain the concept of rape to the young [alien]. She did not know if the [aliens] even had a word for it. If it had ever happened among them, they had never spoken of it in Wendy’s presence.