"Come back inside,” Kein encouraged.

“The trip was long, come sit with us by the fire."

“I'm not a crazy person," I said rolling my eyes.

“Do you want the secret out or not?"

A small laugh rumbled through them before Damien spoke.

“Tell us what secret you kept about Nu-reeh. We are all Listening to you," he said in a patronizing voice.

I didn't have to have access to the bond to know what they were thinking. There was nothing I could know about Nu-reeh. They believed whatever this secret was involved some wild paranoia I had imagined.

“She can control you," I spat out angry at their superior attitudes. "She has a chip implanted...somewhere that gives her access to your bond. The women can control the men. They can even control what you see and hear."

They stared at me for a moment looking shocked. I felt quite superior in my knowledge for just a moment and then Christof spoke gently.

“How Long have you had these thoughts?" he asked stroking my arm.

“You didn't ever tell your other friends these things. They must have weighed heavy on your mind."

They weren't upset at all. I looked at their calm faces and saw...pity. Evan told me he would draw me a nice, hot bath. He and Damien would rub me and I would feel better. Kein would play music I liked. Perhaps after the bath I could cuddle on the bed with Christof or Bane and relax more.

“You wanted to kill my tutors in the mountains," I argued shaking off their concern. "The only reason you didn't is because Nu-reeh demanded you not do it. She sucked the anger out of you. Don't you remember being murderous one moment and then having the sensation drain away a second later?"

No, they didn't remember any of that. They'd been angry, but then killing Runen had seemed like a waste of time. The decision had been theirs.

“You don't understand our code of honor, little Sister," Bane said stroking my back.

“We were raised to believe man's life is sacred. The taking of that Life is only allowed under certain circumstances. Runen and his family injured you, but they were much weaker than us. Killing them would not have been satisfying or honorable."

I was ready to snap. Here I was giving the biggest secret on the planet and they didn't believe me.

“Rue and his Brothers," I insisted, "don't you remember being furious with them and wanting to hurt them. Nu-reeh told you they had been punished already. At first you didn't care what she thought and just as quickly you agreed with her."

By the look on their faces, they didn't remember that at all. Christof started to tug me toward the cabin and I fought him.

"She admitted it to Hannah, ask her!" I pleaded. The only response was the concern on their faces as I saw them contemplating this new problem.

"NO," I shouted, “think about it. Remember how you felt and how the feelings changed. She can control you when she wants to."

"Ciara," Damien soothed, “you are too worried and it has made you imagine things. We were told this could happen. The Healers have seen other humans that become quite frantic. Relax for us. We can help you with this."