I jerked against Christof hard and Evan leaned down and scooped me up. We started for the cabin and I struggled with him.

“The Administrators know." I said.

“You all at least remember when they threatened you all they would ‘Make you act the correct way’ when they caught Evan and me in the woods? Didn't you wonder about that comment?"

Kein sighed behind me and he remembered the comment. He feared I had spoken to the Administrators that day without permission. He had worried the other men would demand punishment for me, which Damien's family would have refused. Now he understood why I spoke when I wasn't supposed to.

“This strange fascination has gone on a long time," Christof said sadly. "We should have paid more attention, Brothers."

They didn't believe me, instead they thought I was delusional. Damien and his Brothers recognized the illness. They'd seen it in Warriors who were forced to go too long without food and water. The confusion and strange beliefs would fade once they had access to what they needed. My family had never seen this in a healthy person. No one was sure what to do.

I did panic when I thought they might tell Nu-reeh, so I begged then not to do that. As a compromise I told them I would discuss with them whenever my ‘delusion’ struck. But, they didn't need to tell...

“She will kill me," I begged them. "Please, don't tell her."

We had made it back to the cabin and the men stood outside for a moment .

“If it gets worse," Damien warned, “you are to tell us. No more secrets about what you are thinking. I don't want to have to ask you these things to find out."

I nodded and promised to tell them. That seemed to satisfy Damien, but not Christof.

Inside the men drew a warm bath and we all stepped into it. Damien and Evan rubbed me in the water and Christof interrogated me. My friend wanted every thought in my head. We sat in the sunken tub talking until it cooled and then got out.

They tried to pull me to the bed to relax more and I refused. I kept insisting I wasn't crazy and I did not need to rest. In a way, they relented.

In front of the fire, Christof continued his questions as Kein plucked out relaxing melodies on a small stringed instrument. Evan held me and ran a brush soothingly through my hair. Bane and Damien pulled a meal together, quietly watching the interrogation. Christof's questions didn't end until the meal was ready.

The meal the men had made was quite good. I had the feeling I was the only one enjoying it, though. The men ate in silence focusing on an intense internal conversation.

I'd been very honest with Christof and nothing else I had said seemed off. They didn't understand why I had this one strange obsession. I wondered how Long they'd consider the idea until something proved it to them.

Christof and I enjoyed the Earth fruit again after Lunch. I told him how these things grew at home and he enjoyed the story. As we ate I told him about farms on Earth. He seemed to find it interesting.

We had sex again in the early evening. They excited me in the ways they were familiar with and it worked much better than this morning. I orgasmed only once, which they found odd, but after the fiasco earlier it was enough for me.

Just like this morning I was wiped off in the bed and instructed to stay put for a little while. Kein pulled a blanket over my naked body so I would be comfortable. The men redressed as I lay there. I napped listening to them puttering around in the main room. I woke to the clatter of talons.

Nu-reeh stood at the end of the bed when I opened my eyes. I yelped and fell off the pillows my hips were precariously balanced on.

“Stay still," she ordered gruffly.

Bane crawled beside me and situated my hips back into position. He stayed beside me and I drew comfort from his presence. My fingers sought his and I held his hand tightly. I felt safe and protected with him near.