Donovan reacted to our exile in a very different way. Instead of grasping so tightly to whatever he values the way the rest of us do, he grasps on to nothing at all. He moves through life, carried by the force of his whims and sense of humor. It boggles my mind.

We’re nearly done when a woman walks into the courtyard. She’s tall and built like a tank, and she’s wearing a muscle T-shirt and basketball shorts. It takes me a few moments to recognize her. Sonya, the self-appointed bodyguard to Donovan’s Bride, Mabel. No one was happy that she tagged along that first night, but she’s kept her head down and hasn’t caused trouble since, so her presence is tolerated. That doesn’t explain why she’s here.

Donovan gives an easy grin when he sees her. “You’re late.”

“Sorry. Mabel lost track of time talking with Rae. She’s not feeling well, and they had some suggestions. And then they got to talking and…you know how it goes.”

Is she blushing?

I exchange a look with Ezekiel. He doesn’t seem inclined to jump in, so I clear my throat. “Is she sick?” If she is, that will complicate things, especially if it’s serious. Mabel is one of our Brides. Her health and safety are paramount to maintaining the Bridal peace.

Sonya opens her mouth, but it’s Donovan who answers breezily. “Just menstruation stuff. She has nasty monthlies, and I thought Rae might have some suggestions to help.”

“Jesus, there’s more than one of them right now?” This from Cohen, low enough that I don’t think he intended me to hear it.

I’ll focus on that later. I frown at Donovan. “Since when do you know a single fucking thing about periods?”

“Since my Bride has one.”

I guess technically, my Bride has one as well. I haven’t seen evidence of it yet, but I’ve also spent most of the past three weeks avoiding her. Not that it matters one way or another. I learned enough to be helpful to Shiloh when she was feeling like garbage because of her body’s cycle. But Donovan has never been particularly close to any of the menstruating people in our group. “You sent her to Rae, though?”

Rae is the doctor Harlow brought into the compound after Eli took a bullet for Abel. And then they…never left. Not that I’m complaining. It’s useful having a doctor around, and best I can tell, Rae is brilliant. I think I heard Harlow say that they were a prodigy back in the day. I don’t understand how someone used to be a prodigy, but having a doctor on the compound has already come in handy.

Even if they are a giant pain in the ass with an attitude problem.

Really, Rae fits right in.