hit him like a physical blow. Fresh tears tracked through the dirt on his cheeks. He nodded frantical

Cora's hands. His tone left no room for argument. "No matter what, you k

against her palms. She swallowed the lump in her

n though you signed a private contract, you must go to the Tribal Healer for official

ways been fragile. You spent a night in the freezing wasteland. Dr. D

. If a healer examined her, the triplets would be exposed i

concern. "Arthur is right. You suffered a massive 'trauma' before I fou

alking about the emotional and physical trauma of

estly, I feel great. We don'

de. His voice was gentle but brokered no argument. "Be good. We aren't taking chances with

em leave with a relieved smile. His daughter had a stron

ward the clinic, the whispers started a

rs caught the

s defect. Can't beli

. She thinks she can act like a proper fe

ave of pure, suffocating killing intent exploded from his body, sweeping down the

the air was sucked from their lungs. They clamped their hands

re them. They're just cowards hiding

w, lethal rumble. "If anyone in this settlement disrespects you again, I will rip the

cabin draped in dried vines. The pungent, bitter

oots. An older, stern-faced female owl-mutant wearing a necklace of animal bones wa

rom her fingers and clattered onto the table. He

A bouncy female rabbit-mutant sprinted out. It was Niamh,

tackled Cora into a bone-crushing hug. "Y

a genuine smile brea

ing, terrifying man standing next to her friend

erself to step forward, her eyes dartin

band, Dax. My contracted partner. My dad

and pointed to a wooden cot covered in a clean animal skin. "Lie down. I'll u

nst her ribs like a trapped bird. Her brain spun wildly,

hest, glaring at Dr. Clarke like a guard dog ready to rip her throat o

h. She held her palm a few inches above Cora's stomach. She close