Page 39 of The Safest Place She Knows

“No. Our bodiesdon’t allow for it. The testosterone keeps our bodies fromovulating. There are ways to do it, but they are traumatic, and westill can’t bear it; just donate an ovum.”

Lya blinked.“Would you want to?”

“Sure, but youwould have to give me the injections for an entire month, Lya. Andput up with my temper.”

Lya twisted herlips. “That seems like the sort of thing to do on a holiday.Besides, I would have to be synched to you, so who would have asteady enough hand to jab me in the butt.”

Noh chuckled.“I would do it.”

“Oh, boy. Ahousehold event.”

Tamarachuckled. “Do groups always bond this quickly?”

Venka drovethem out to the edge of the city and through a sparse suburb beforeentering the open woods and trees. “They do when there is an omegain need at the centre. It is why my brother ended up in a pack, andmy other brother found his omega. So, my mother will be amused thatmy omega is taller than Grigori’s.”

“If you want meto race her, let me know.”

“She just hadtwins, so no.” Venka chuckled. “But, like you, she used to dance atthe Shattered Diamond.”

“I only didthat at the Halloween events in full costume.”

Venkachuckled.

They pulledinto a hidden drive and approached a house with a huge glass domein the centre of it.

Lya gasped.“Oh, wow. Nohehl, what do you do for work?”

He chuckled.“Investment banker. Venka’s a lawyer.”

Venka chuckledas she parked in front of the house. “I have been working with Nohfor most of this decade, so when he asked if I wanted to come onthis mission, I didn’t hesitate. He never steers me wrong.” Sheunbuckled and got out.

Noh unbuckledLya and himself. Venka came around to ease Lya out of the car, butNoh took her again as soon as he was around. She picked up on itimmediately. The arm. If Venka held her, her arm would be againsther, and that wouldn’t be good.

Noh carried herup the steps, and a man with cocoa skin and a smoothly shaved headgreeted them. “Aw, who is the broken princess?”

Lya looked athim. “Who is the person between me and not being carried?”

“Allor.” Hebowed and opened the door wide.

Noh walked inand entered the front room, setting her carefully down on a couch.The moment he let her go, she started slumping over. “Shit.”

Allor chuckledand helped to right her.

“Sorry. I amstill a little stoned.”

Allor laughed.“How long ago did you break your arm?”

“It was brokenfour weeks ago and then again two hours ago.”

Noh returnedfrom wherever he had been with Venka and Tamara. “This is herdaughter, Tamara, and she will be residing with us as well.”

“Wow. Younglady, how old are you?”

“I turnthirteen in eight weeks.”

“I would havesaid nearly sixteen.” Allor blinked. “Wait. Princess, how old areyou?”

“Twenty-sevenand eleven months.” She felt herself drooping toward Allor.

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