Page 256 of Bride of Choice

Celuk, Khri, Kirch, and Rek stood a few feet apart from each other, forming a loose circle as they snarled their chosen victors on.

Booger was on the opposite end of the arena, as it were, Gopher and Odix chatting him up with thick sacks over their backs. Odix’s gaze was glued to Rek, sky blue eyes blazing.

“Hey!” I called out, waving an arm out to wave over Booger as I walked towards Khri. “Glad I caught you both here,” I got out between sharp gulps of air. “Mal needs you. False labor, farts, real labor, she’s got shit going on,” I told Khri, speaking loud enough Booger might overhear.

Khri snapped something sharply at Booger in their native tongue that had them both taking off like a shot.

“At Dorothy’s!” I called after them.

“Jojo,” Kirch greeted, tilting his head as he watched Rek break from the loose circle and hurry over to me.

“Mina’s bitch,” I tossed back with an evil grin, knowing he’d snort through his bared teeth at me at that with no real heat behind the teeth baring.

“What happen? Where you breaths?” Rek grumbled down at me as I bent over at the waist, hands on my knees, and huffed and puffed breathlessly. “Run by self, my Joansie?” Rek was barking at me, even as he scooped me up and carried me over to a wide bench seat near the back door. Plopping us down onto it, he fussed over me and cuddled me into him.

“I’m fine,” I insisted. “Just need a minute.”

My hands slid over his, fingers entwining as he cupped my face and forced me to meet his gaze, examining me for signs I was worse off than I let on.

“Promedthis?” he grumbled.

“I prom-this,” I teased, ignoring all the eyes I felt on us as he leaned in, brushed his nose along mine, then dove in for a kiss that left me as breathless as when I’d come stumbling over here.

“Smart ass,” he mumbled against my lips, reluctant to break our liplock, even if only to let me up for air.

“Mine,” I mock rumble-purred back.

Rek pulled back with a laugh, a megawatt grin on his face.

Odix’s growl in the distance was loud, even all the way across the wide space they’d made for sparring.

Red let out a whistle and a cat call that had me snorting.

This wasn’t the time or place for lovey dovey stuff.

My happy bubble popped. It took my smile along with it. “I should go,” I murmured, wriggling my person out of his hold.

Rek grumble-muttered under his breath but complied.

Holding onto his pinky finger, I gave it a little shake to drag his attention away from Odix as they glared at each other. Gopher was looking a bit frowny faced too.

I had to remind myself that it was none of my damn business, much as I liked that peek that they still cared. I’m crazy like that.

“Walk me back?” I tried to smile but I wasn’t feeling it.

Kirch, leaning in to whatever Celuk was quietly saying to him, jerked upright and piped up, “Jojo stay.”

“Stay?” A spluttering laugh left me. “And what, learn to do warrior stuff?” And break a nail? AGAIN? I don’t think so.

Rek, standing next to me, grinned down at me at the idea. “No want stay?” he taunted.

Poking him in the side, I lifted his captured finger, taking his hand and arm with it and slung it over my shoulder, to escort him back to the spot he’d been as I leaned into him. “I could kick your ass with my eyes closed, Fuzzenstein.”

Kirch barked out a laugh at my bravado.

Releasing my male, I danced backwards. “If Mal really is in labor, I want to be there for her, Boog, and the baby.”

“What ‘bout Khri?” Celuk piped up, a twinkle in his eyes that told me he was heckling me.

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