75 Women's Work

ELIA

When Reth disappeared from the market with the other men, Elia was at a loss again. Why did this keep happening? Why was he always taken from her?

She turned, uncertain where to go, and found Candace behind her, grinning.

"Where are they going?" she asked.

Candace shrugged. "That's one tradition I know nothing about it. It happens every time one of those men mates, but they don't tell us what they're doing."

"Alpha-male bullshit." The words were muttered to Elia's right and she turned. Aymora stood, arms folded, glowering in the direction the men had disappeared. "They hide off in some little cave they discovered as cubs and beat their chests and roar, and decide they're big, strong men because they keep secrets," she snorted. "They all crawl back in later looking sheepish." She waved a hand. "They do it every time one of them mates—as if they just discovered the practice, or something."