Alcandian Soul by Mary Wine

females.”
    “There’re a few men on Earth who could use a lot less sperm altogether.”
    Zeva chuckled. “I agree. It’s my hope that your Rinehart never fathers offspring. He has no honor.”
    Cassandra laughed. “That would be nice. But the idea of seeing him castrated is a little more in tune with my emotional state.” Her eyes lingered on the water in the bathing pool. Her skin was coated in sweat and grime. Her feet ached from the miles she’d hiked in her quest to learn the perimeter of her location. A bath sounded absolutely perfect.
    Zeva chucked in a nasty tone as she nodded agreement. Rinehart and his “human pride” attitude had managed to muck up both their lives rather severely. He was a career-hungry asshole of the worst kind. He didn’t give a damn who he used or stepped on as long as he got what he wanted.
    Cole and Dyne weren’t like him.
    Cassandra frowned as that idea skittered through her brain. Both males were right back in her thoughts and her nipples tingled, begging for some attention.
    “You need to watch this little button.” Zeva knelt next to the tub and passed her hand over another computer pad. This one had been covered by stone tile too but now it lit up. “Hair removal” was written on it.
    “Press this one and any hair under the water surface will be removed instantly.”
    “No way.” Cassandra looked at the little computer pad as a wicked image of being completely hairless from the neck down filled her mind. If there wasn’t any wax to deal with she just might have to try it.
    “Stick your arm in the water.”
    Cassandra did enjoy the fact that Zeva always proved her point. “Okay.” Shrugging out of her robe, she pushed the long sleeve of her fatigue top up and plunged her arm into the water to her elbow.
    “It’s a little like static.” Zeva’s fingers glided over the control panel to depress the glowing rectangle. A tiny zip of electricity went through the water and her arm. It tingled and was gone almost instantly. Lifting her arm, she watched the tiny blonde hairs flow right off her skin with the water.
    “Totally cool.” No more razors during beach season! Her elation dissipated in a flash as she considered summer on the shores of California. She had been surfing with her dad since he’d been able to sneak her away from her mother. Her dad carried a picture in his wallet, of her standing on a board at the tender age of four. Despair clamped on to her tired mind and drilled a hole that ached.
    The tub shimmered, just like the bed had done. “Let me guess, no scrubbing the tub around here either.”
    “It’s a chore I don’t miss.” Zeva stood up and considered her. Cassandra broke their eye contact as she picked up the robe Cole and Dyne had brought her from the floor. Leaving clothing on the floor just wasn’t in her habits, so she folded it and looked around for wherever clothing was stored.
    “Behind the chairs.”
    The silence was uncomfortable. Cassandra listened to her boots on the title and the sound was way too loud. “I’m tired, Zeva.”
    Sleep was the furthest thing from her thoughts, but being coddled by the Alcandian woman was worse than her own lousy company. Turning around, Cassandra caught a little grin twitching at Zeva’s lips.
    “No, you’re not, but I leave with one last instruction for you.”
    “And that is?”
    Zeva’s face went serious. “That heat driving you insane is not the sort of lust you encounter on your planet. It is far more intense.”
    “Excuse me?” Being at the mercy of her overactive hormones was one thing. Discovering Zeva knew what was going on made her mad.
    “It infuriated me too. Binding fever is extremely frustrating but it is also unavoidable once it has sparked between a warrior and a female.”
    “There isn’t any spark going on between me and Cole. Unless you’re talking about my temper. That is currently in full firestorm.” Cassandra crossed her arms over her chest.
    “You didn’t see