"Yes," she said quickly. Too quickly. "Completely in control. The tea helped. I'm fine. Totally fine."
[You're not fine,] Puffball pointed out cheerfully. [Your arousal levels are still elevated. The bond sickness is suppressed, not cured. Give it a few hours and you'll probably try to jump them again.]
'I KNOW. But I'm not telling them that.'
"I'm so sorry!" The words burst out of her again. "I'm so, so sorry. I don't... I wasn't... that wasn't me. Well, it was me but it wasn't ME me, you know? The bond sickness and the cold and I just..."
She was backing away as she talked, hands up in a placating gesture.
Both chiefs watched her warily.
Like she was a wild animal that might attack again without warning.
