Page 352 of Bride of Choice

Rek’s hands shook so badly he could barely hold it. I had no idea when I could honestly say I’d last seen him eat anything, and I saw that boy out here constantly.

“Eat,” Celuk told him in English, retaking his plate to hand him a piece of meat he could easily hold. Pulling his hand back at the last moment, he grumbled, “Slow.”

Rek nodded and took the offered bite sized morsel. His gaze constantly darted from the offered food to Celuk.

Gopher left to fetch water and went so far as to put a little in a mug to scoot it towards Rek.

“My Jo no like skinny males,” he grumbled at him.

Rek bared his teeth at him, looked like he wanted to say something, snarl at him, but decided better of it and weakly nodded his thanks for the mug of water. Kirch had to hold it so he could drink.

Celuk looked calm and casual as he ate little bites here and there, but he was watching Rek, handing over small bites of food the second Rek was finished with one.

Rek’s eyes began to droop, his words growing slurred. Quietly picking up a piece of meat to take a huge bite, Celuk absently began to hum.

Rek shook his fatigue off, growling at himself with the effort, but it was no use.

Kirch joined in with Celuk, until both males were singing the humming lullabies I’d heard my own males use on our sons when they were young, dead tired, and being stubborn.

Rek’s fatigue eventually won.

Celuk grumbled at Kirch not to remove Rek when Rek slumped against him and a soft snore soon started to fill the air.

“No one touch,” Celuk clipped out, leaving Rek leaned against his shoulder, even as a long string of drool started to dribble out of Rek’s slack mouth.

A soft noise had me glancing up.

Carrie, I believed her name was, the woman Rek had brought to the village, stood quietly crying off to the side, happy tears, I took it, as she watched Rek and Celuk.

Elle, one of Gopher’s sisters, stood closely behind her, patting her back comfortingly.

“Now, we go?” Elle asked.

Carrie nodded and placed her hand in Elle’s, and they turned to leave.

As if feeling eyes on them, Elle glanced up at me sharply. Carrie followed Elle’s gaze.

Seeing them holding hands, the way they were looking at each other, I wasn’t grinning just for them finding their mates, but for Joanie. If it wasn’t obvious to anyone that Rek was Joanie’s and only Joanie’s by this point, that should certainly squash any and all questions seeing Carrie mated and out of Rek’s place. My hand lifted and I tossed them a little wave.

Elle nodded sharply, a typical Lo denaii hello back. Carrie’s smile was small, uncertain, lifting up on one side more than the other. “Doogie mama,” I heard Elle telling Carrie. “Goot female. Nice. Very nice.”

One of my males came up behind me then to press my back to his front and hold me to him tight. Joanie’s disappearance had shaken everyone in the village. Many had grown particularly protective of their human mates.

It was a crazy world out there beyond the village. This was a good reminder.

“We find,” Mosoau rumbled out softly.

My hand slid over his as it settled over my heart.

“I sure hope so,” I whispered.

Chapter 45

Joanie

Cave fever has officially hit. It’s like cabin fever, but worse. Top that with a heaping helping of guilt and a surprise pregnancy and you’ve got a Joanie special.

I was shocked it’s taken this long to set in, honestly. Buu was pretty good at finding things to do to distract me, though— I was sure that helped a heap. And I don’t mean the fun kinds of distractions. I mean chores to live, plain and simple.

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