Page 108 of Bride of Choice

The last thing I needed was that flighty male running off from me for good. Things were shit between us but at least I still got to see him around and there was the occasional attempt at conversation or sudden drop in to stick up for me.

All this time I’d spent trying to convince myself Gopher was the worst potential mate ever, and he was the closest thing to considerate and perfect that had actually shown any interest in me.

Rek was perfect for my chaotic side. It had taken me a while to realize this, and how that did not a perfect mating make. Perhaps he and I were too alike… too jaded, untrusting…

“Take drink,” Bum-bum growled down at me softly as he reached for my leg, tearing my pant leg, and cupped the gashes on my leg.

I’d just started to put the bottle to my lips when he clamped his huge mitt of a paw down over the bloodied mess I called a leg.

A choking gasp left me and I spilled as much as I guzzled down. It was awful. Worse than anything I’d ever tasted. “Who mixed paint thinner, hair spray, and ear wax?!” I wheezed.

It was beyond awful, but the effects were almost immediate.

Where pain had once been screaming at me, numbness bubbled to the fore as warmth filled my middle and spread outward.

Within moments, I was feeling so much more than alright. A soft giggle left me at the first hiccup. Loose, pliant in Bum-bum’s arms, he set me down on the ground but the cold seeping in was the last thing on my mind. I was feeling more than alright.

“Hey, that tickles.” Another giggle left me.

Bum-bum snapped something and Berkr reappeared from the brush, as if from thin air.

My hand lifted and I pointed, “Pepé! You’re a magician!”

Coming over, Berkr’s eyes widened as I lifted the empty bottle and waggled it at him. “Got any more? This stuff is great!” Frowning down at it, I muttered, “Do you think more will make me invisdible?” Blinking, I grunted, frowned. “Indivstible. Bistible. Inividits… bull.” Shit. How do you say it?

“Individsible,” Berkr grunted out, coming around to my side to gently take my hands in his and pin my arms to my chest.

“My god, Pepé. I said magician, not handsy!” Wriggling, I gave him a dirty look. “What’s the big idea?!”

“No move,” he grunted out. “No look.” Growling out Bum-bum’s Lo denaii name, he rumbling added, “Fix Jo leg.”

Flopping back, I stared up at him for a long moment.

“What?” he grunted out, when I just stared up at him unblinkingly.

“You could have at least bought me dinner first,” I said suddenly, then burst out laughing.

Berkr sighed, the sound long and low. “Hoomans not apposed drink so much shine. Meanie say not good.” He was lecturing, but not at me for once.

Bum-bum, leaned over me, facing away from me, offering me a generous view of his big ol’ linebacker booty, gave a grunt in answer as Gopher aided him with my leg.

“I can see so far up your nose, Pepé, I think I see the pink of your brain.” Another giggle left me, until I was a ridiculous mess of laughter.

Berkr wriggled his nose, then sucked air in through it, like that would somehow aid him in blocking the view.

“Why is your fur different colored?” I blurted as the thought occurred to me. I knew he was touchy about pretty much everything and I’d been warned not to pester him like that but I was on some sort of mega boosted buzz and my filter had flown out the window entirely.

Eyes narrowing, he growled down at me softly, “Why Jo mates no want her? Why Jo bad? Why picks broken males?” He followed this up with a loud harrumph in my face, but his point had already been made.

Like that paint thinner nastiness was a mood booster more than anything, I went from a giggling mess to a chin wobbling, sniffling mess.

“I don’t know!” I blurted as hot tears rolled down my cheeks.

Berkr’s midnight black eyes widened, a look of pure panic crossing his features as I started to crumple right before his disbelieving eyes.

Bum-bum’s chest started to rumble, his whole body vibrating with it as he picked up on my growing distress. Gopher’s joined in, and even Rek’s, passed out as he was, like it knew the deal and wasn’t crazy about the vibe right now.

Kirch joined the madness, holding out something and calling out excitedly. He paused for far too long at whatever sight greeted him as he pulled up on the mess that is my leg that I was effectively being blocked from seeing.

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