“Mybonded mates—soon to be my husbands, though you can bet my mom and dad won’t beat the wedding. They’re certain I’m going straight to Hell in a hand basket andyou know why?”

“Becauseshe’s mated to two guys at the same time,” Charlie said.

Trinsucked in a breath.

“Two?At once?”

“That’sthe Twin Kindred for you,” Becca said. “They have to share a woman—it’sphysically impossible for them to be with only one at once. And believe me, myguys tried. It took a lot to bring the three of us together.”

“Seetwo guys and one girl—that’s not commonly done in Earth culture. Well, outsideof porn, that is,” Charlie said. “Most people call it offensive or wrong.”

“I call it love,” Becca saidsoftly. “A love deeper and truer than anything I’ve ever felt. But it took me awhile to come to that conclusion. I couldn’t get over what I’d beentaught—couldn’t give in to the love I felt for my guys until it was almost toolate. I nearly lost them because I felt so guilty I couldn’t bring myself to bewith them.”

“Butwhat if the guilt you feel is deserved?” Trin asked. “What if your actions havemade you a shame and disappointment to those you hold close?” She couldn’t helpremembering the disgust in her mother’s eyes.

“Youcan’t live your life for anyone else but you,” Becca said. “I learned that thehard way. Do I regret hurting my mom?” Her eyes grew bright with unshed tearsand she blinked rapidly. “Of course Ido. But I can’t give up the men I love—the men I’m bonded too—just to pleaseher.” She sniffed. “I hope someday she’ll accept my decision but if shedoesn’t, well, there’s not much I can do about it. I just have to let it go.”

“Youhave to let it go, too, Trin,” Charlie told her earnestly. “It’s not a badthing that you fell for Thraceand he fell for you. The Goddess put you together—you’re each other’s destiny.”

“He’sa male.” Trin looked down at her hands. “I allowed myself to fall in love witha male and to…to breed with him. It is the most wrong and unnatural thinganyone can do and I did it.”

“Didyou ever think that maybe it’s not unnaturalfor you?” Becca asked. She looked at Charlie. “She’s half Earth-girl, right?Even though she’s been raised here?”

“That’sright.” Charlie nodded.

“Yes,the seed that created me came from your planet,” Trin said, frowning. “My motherchose it because she wanted an exotic baby—one who would look different andstand out from the rest. She always expected me to live up to…” She swallowedhard. “To a very high standard. But what does that have to do with anything?”

“Ithas to do with the fact that you’re half Earth.And on our planet, a girl and a guy together is the norm,” Becca said. “Ofcourse we also have girls who go with girls and guys who go with guys but themajority of people pair off with the opposite sex.”

“Becca’sright,” Charlie said, sitting up straighter. “Maybe you couldn’t help beingattracted to a guy because of your genetic make-up!” She took Trin’s hand andlooked at her earnestly. “Wanting to be with Thrace isn’t bad, honey. It’s inyour blood—your DNA.”

Trindidn’t know what to say. She had never considered that her genes might haveplayed a roll in her love for the big Havoc. Maybe Charlie and Becca wereright. Maybe she couldn’t help fallingin love with Thrace.Maybe—

A likely excuse, sneeredthe judgmental little voice in her head which sounded a lot like the highpriestess Betina’s. As if any excuse isgood enough for the sins you committed!

“I…”Trin shook her head. “I don’t know if I believe that my blood has anything todo with it.”

“Butit must. Look, we need to take youwith us,” Becca urged gently. “Thraceis waiting on the ship with my guys and Charlie’s mate, Stavros. He still lovesyou—loves you more than ever. Please come.”

“We’lltake you back with us and you can live on the Mother Ship,” Charlie added eagerly.“We’ve got a whole group of friends you’ll love and they’ll welcome you, Trin!And nobody will look down on you forloving a male because it’s the norm for us—not the exception. You’ll finallyfit in.”

Trindrew a deep breath and for a moment, she actually allowed herself to considertheir proposal. Living in a place where males and females were equal, where sheand Thracecould be together without shame or any kind of recrimination…it sounded almosttoo good to be true.

Butas much as she wished for that beautiful dream, she knew she couldn’t have it.She didn’t deserve it.

“I’msorry but… I can’t go with you.” She shook her head regretfully. “I have tostay here and pay for my sins.”

“What—thesin of making love with the man you care about? The man you’re bonded to?” Charlie demanded.

“Lookat yourself,” Becca added. “Look what these people did to you! They strippedyou naked and scratched you all up and cut your hair…Honey, they killed your horses.”

“Iknow.” Trin felt a lump rising in her throat at the memory of Swift and Silklying dead at her feet. “I know but…but I deserved it.”

“Youdid not!” Becca said indignantly. “Nobody deserves to be treated the way thesepeople are treating you! This is abuse,pure and simple.”

Charlieleaned closer, her eyes intense.

“Comeon, Trin—forget about yourself and think about Thrace. He’s half crazy with worryfor you! In fact, Truth and Far had to practically hold him back from stormingin here and throwing you over his shoulder like a caveman.”

Trinfrowned. “What is a ‘caveman?’”

Charlieshook her head. “Never mind, you wouldn’t get it. The point is, what about Thrace?Don’t you love him?”

“Ofcourse I love him!” Trin spoke softly though she felt like she was shouting thewords. They seemed to burn her as they left her mouth. “Of course I love him,” she repeated. “I have allowed myself to love amale. To enjoy the feeling of him touching and taking me. That is the reason I cannot come with you. Because Istill love him—it proves…proves the sin is still within me.”

“Oh,Trin…” Charlie shook her head sorrowfully.

“Theseawful priestesses here have reallydone a number on your head!” Becca exclaimed. “And that’s coming from a girlwho almost got married to the church instead of letting myself love a man…or men, in my case.”

“Ionly know what I have been taught since I was an infant,” Trin whispered. “AndI cannot bring myself to ignore it.Once I thought I could but then…” She flashed on her mother’s face again—on therigid disappointment and disgust she’d seen in those dark eyes that were solike her own. “Then I realized it’s impossible.”

“Trin…”Charlie ran a hand through her blonde hair and sighed. Then she shook her head.“All right. If that’s how you want it.”

“What?”Becca looked at her friend in amazement. “You’re not just going to let her stayhere, are you? Look at her! Look what they’ve already done to her hair….herskin! If we let her stay any longer…”

“Ashard as it is, it’s got to be Trin’s decision,” Charlie said firmly. “TheGoddess said she would have to make a choice—maybe this is it.”

“She’snot in any shape to be making choices right now,” Becca argued. “She’s brainwashed. She’s got the worse case ofStockholm syndrome I’ve ever seen!”

“Idon’t know what kind of disease that is but I am completely sane,” Trin saidsoftly, addressing Becca. “And I choose to stay here of my own free will. Tocomplete the ritual. Anyway, I…” She swallowed hard. “I do not think it will bemuch longer. Tomorrow…tomorrow I have to make a sacrifice to the Goddess. Maybethen I will finally be completely cleansed.”

“Whatkind of sacrifice are we talking about?” Charlie asked, frowning.

“Imust give something I don’t wish to lose.” Trin looked down at her hands. “Afinger…or an ear. Or sometimes the high priestess says the Defiled One choosesto lose an eye.”

“Waita minute…” Becca put a hand on her arm, being careful not to touch any of theraw welts. “Are you actually telling us that tomorrow you’re going to be maimed? And you’re okay with that?”