The Scorpion's Mate (Iriduan Test Subjects, #1)

by Susan Trombley

There was no way I was going to return to Earth if he couldn’t go with me.

“I don’t think it’s fair that Nemon has to remain behind,” Joanie said from beside me, having gotten over her fear of Thrax pretty quickly.

she and Nemon imprinted

“Wherever you wish to go, I will follow.” And for him, it seemed to be that simple.

He’d once told me that Ilyan had instructed him to learn and practice human communication so I would like him. I’d responded by telling him to just be himself, and he’d said, “I don’t know who that is in the now-time, but I’m learning from you, Claire.”

Females did not suffer the same slavish devotion that males did. Because of this, mistrust and resentment built in the male population, and male Iriduans had taken to isolating females from many parts of society. Young Iriduan girls were put into nunnery-style institutions before they reached puberty. Rather than revering females because of their affliction, Iriduan males almost seemed to hate them.

I carefully set down my prey, watching her as if she were about to attack. She’d been very quick to anger lately, and just as quick to break down into leaking salt, which she called “crying.”