Page 84 of Heir

She was silent for a moment. “Uh-oh.”

“I take it you know what’s happened?”

“I can guess.”

“So you do get your period?”

“Well . . . vampires only get their periods every few years. Much like shifters who only go into heat or estrus every few years, vampires are the same.”

“Wait, so you get pregnant on your period?”

She made a noise of agreement. “It is the only time a vampire is fertile.”

“Sooooo . . . that sends the vampire males into—”

“A psychotic, horny frenzy.”

I laughed at her candidness. It was refreshing.

Her laugh was more like a bird’s titter. “How do you cope with the bleeding?”

“Like the other four billion women, or whatever, on the planet. With wine, chocolate, a heating pad, Advil, and pimple patches.”

“And estrus? How do you deal with that?”

“I mean, I just deal with it. I’ve been ovulating and menstruating since I was twelve. I’m kind of just used to it. It’s crampy once in a while, but not as bad as when I have my period.” My eyes went wide. “Wait, does that mean Zandren’s going to go batshit bananas when I ovulate?”

“Oh! That’s right, you have three mates. Have you mate-bonded with all of them?”

“I’ve mate-bonded with none of them. I met them like two days ago and things have been rather busy since then. I’m also not in the habit of committing myself to a complete stranger—let alone three—for eternity. Trust issues and all.”

“How is Drak?” she asked.

“Psychotic. Feral. A pompous ass with boundary issues who keeps looking at me like a piece of meat he either wants to eat or fuck. If he gets out of his restraints and gets to me, what will happen?”

“He will try to tear off your clothes and mate with you.”

“Like rape me?”

“No. There is still a level of humanity within him, though it’s very thin. He will just become relentless. When you looked at him, did you not feel different too?”

Now it was my turn to be quiet.

“You did, didn’t you? That’s how it doesn’t turn into rape. It’s like he casts a spell on you and you will willingly submit—and enjoy it. And want more of it. You’ll want it nearly as badly as he does. You’ll let him take you.”

Heat pooled in my belly and, if I’m being honest, between my legs.

“After I . . . let him take me, will his desire end?”

“Umm … more like it will become an unbearable, all-consuming need for both of you. You’ll want to lock yourselves in a bedroom for the whole time and not leave for anything. It’s actually …” she sighed, “It’s actually really wonderful.”

“You mean this is going to happen for all five to seven days every month? Look, I love sex as much as the next sexually liberated woman, but that’s ridiculous.”

“You bleed every month?”

“Yes?” She was missing the point. I didn’t want to be locked up and boned to within an inch of my life once a month for nearly a week. Even if I did enjoy it. And if the same thing was going to happen with Zandren, then that was a large chunk of my life devoted to non-stop magical feral fucking.

“Is that typical for demons?” she asked. “To bleed monthly?”

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