Mia stared at her lover, unable to believe what she was hearing. “What? What does that mean?”
“He called it ‘softening’,” Korum said, and the expression on his face was grim. “It was apparently a way to make you more amenable to his advances. If he didn’t lie about it, you don’t experience fear as strongly as you did before... and you’re also more open to new impressions.”
Mia frowned. “I don’t understand. How would this have helped Saret?”
“Because you’re not only more open to new impressions—which explains why you’re acclimating so well—but you’re also prone to new attachments.” Korum’s mouth was tight with anger.
“New attachments?” And then it dawned her. “He thought I would fall in love with him? That’s insane!” She laughed, inviting him to share the joke.
Korum didn’t respond, an
