THE DETYEN CURSE WAS no secret. Any encyclopedia of species would list it dispassionately alongside average height, common skin colors, and clan markings. Still, Stoan felt like he was revealing something shameful to Reina and a significant part of him did not want her to know.
He feared it was a mistake to tell her about the denya bond now, but he would not lie to her, not unless it was to save her life. Besides, her good friend was mated to a Detyen male. She had other avenues of information, or would once they returned to Nina City. Withholding information now served little purpose. The spy’s heart at his core knew that telling her these truths would open the bonds of trust.
If Stoan were lying to himself, he would say that was why he did it. In truth, he simply wanted her to know. Ev
