Page 90 of In Her Own Rite

“I, uh… I’m not feeling well,” I say, looking up to meet his eyes.

“You won’t be feeling well in the ring if you don’t train today.”

“Let her have a break, man,” Quinn says beside me. “She’s been killing it lately.”

“She has a break. Every day,afterwe leave the gym.” He crosses his arms in front of him and gives me a look. “When you’re in here, I need you training. Anything less is gonna get you killed. And you don’t have the excuse of being tired from healing anymore, either. You finished with Gabe’s chest days ago.”

I look at him for a long moment, then glance over at Quinn and back. I’m not going to be able to train properly until I work this out.

“I’m on my period.” The lie comes out quickly, and I see from the slight twitch in his face that it has the desired effect. “I’m really sorry. I think I need some painkillers and a new pad to get my head back in the game. I can’t focus when I’m worried about... leaking.”

“I… uh. Okay,” he says, his posture stiffening.

“I have something in my bag,” Quinn offers.

“No, it’s okay.” I climb to my feet, thinking quickly. “I have something specific I need to get at the house for this. But it’s… complicated.” I look at Seb, trying desperately to think of anything period-related that would take at least an hour. Nothing.

“It… takes a while,” I say, gesturing vaguely. “The… insertion… Blood…”

Seb raises his hands, making a face. “I’m good without details. Yeah, whatever. We can just end early today and head back to the house together.”

“No,” I say, and glance at Quinn, who’s looking at me incredulously from the mat.

Insertion?, she mouths, and I give her a look.

“You wanted to stay here and talk to Seb for a bit, right?” I ask her. “About the… FMA combinations. My next step in training.”

I stare at her, pleading with her to help me, and I see the moment it registers on her face that I’m trying to be alone at the house. Or, specifically, alone with Gabe.

“Right,” she says, nodding slowly. “Yes. Yeah, I do. And I think it’ll take at least… an hour?”

“If not two,” I say, nodding.

“Right. Two. Two hours.”

“What? What FMA combinations?” Seb looks between the two of us.

“Quinn will explain,” I say, rushing for the door, where my gym bag is resting underneath the hook for my coat. “I have to go, I’m practically about to bleed through my pants. I’ll see you later, at the house.”

Thank you, I mouth to Quinn, and she shrugs, bewildered. Then I grab my coat and bag, and start for the shore.

I run down the cobblestone streets of Halluk’s town center, still wet with the melt of last week’s snow. The sun is out this morning, and the stones below my feet gleam in the light.

An hour, maybe two. That’s enough time to try, at least.

When I getto the house, Gabe is in the kitchen, stirring something at the stove while leaning on one crutch. I take a breath, and my wolf registers the scent: apple, cinnamon, cardamom, and ginger.

“Hey,” I say, dropping my gym bag before the kitchen island. “It’s just us here, right?”

He looks up from the stove. His dark brown hair, thick and loosely curly, is damp with the steam of whatever he’s making. Apple sauce, I think.

“Yeah. I think Maren is working in a cafe somewhere, and the others were with you at the gym. Why?”

“I know this is crazy, but I can’t stop thinking about what happened the other day. I don’t think I’m gonna be able to let it go unless we just try.”

He turns back to look at the pot. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Yes, you do. Of all of us in thefika,youdo.” I walk towards him, unbuttoning my coat. “I know Saga taught you more Fakari history than the rest of us got as kids. Iknowyou had the same thought as I did after what happened. We’re thinking the same thing.”

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