Page 407 of Bride of Choice

“Dace save my Jo? Truth?” Celuk asked Buu.

“Dace save Joalee. Kill Krampus. Come get Buu, ask Buu to ‘tect my Joalee. Ask Buu let my Joalee think Buu save from Krampus. Dace hides. No want no one know Dace not in Dace wor-eld. Scared Lo denaii come find, kill Dace for help bad hoodman that hurt Lo denaii,” Buu admitted, glancing between all parties worriedly.

“Your tail is dragging,” I thought I heard Dace mutter under her breath.

Buu glanced down at her, then at his tail. “No, it not,” he said simply, her comment going right over his head.

“She meant because you’re blabbing everything about her, her business,” I elaborated.

“Oh.” Buu let out a soft grunt. “Jes. Buu tail drags then.”

“She’s his best friend. Like Odix and Doogie. Like family,” I chimed in quietly, for Buu as much as the fact Dace had apparently been the one to come to my rescue initially. I owed her, big time.

“Dace Buu clan. Dace nowhere else go. Dace stays. Celuk protect,” Celuk announced. Walking over to step in front of Dace, me, and Buu, he crossed his arms over his chest.

Tarnk let out what sounded like a curse, and Kirch flat out snarled. “She no goot. Bad. Bad female,” Kirch growled out. “No want here.”

Mina began rubbing at her forehead like she had a headache coming on. “You don’t understand,” she said simply.

“Celuk know. Understand. Dace save my Jo, too. Buu clan. Celuk protect,” he reiterated firmly. With a glare down at Dace, he growled out softly, “Dace be on best ‘haviors.”

“Y-y-yes sir,” Dace splutteringly answered, shaking in her boots at the look Celuk leveled on her.

Maybe he looked scary or crazy to others but that look, to me, whoa, mama. It made me all warm and tingly in fun places.

Buu gave a soft sniff, followed by a grunt, no doubt picking up on my reaction.

“Believe me, I don’t want to be here either! The cave had a cave in, Buu dug me out, and practically dragged me here along with him. Then the skinny one beat up Buu,” she jerked her chin at Gopher, “and that mean looking one with fluffy hair,” she jerked her chin at Rek, “piled on. They dragged him away! I- I just came to save Buu!” Dace cut in as she frantically wiggled.

“Stop moving, blondie, if you know what’s good for ya,” I hissed down at her through the side of my mouth.

Dace wisely stilled.

“Rek hair not… fluffy,” Rek muttered, taking offense. He quieted as Buu let out a comforting warble and patted the spot his hand was still splayed out across his chest.

Kirch barked something at Celuk in Lo denaii that had Celuk nodding as he listened, to then rumble something back that had Kirch blinking, lips parting in a soft little o, to eventually nod his understanding as Celuk finished.

Kirch turned to Tarnk, and Tarnk, though reluctant, nodded.

“What the hell’s going on?” Mina asked.

“Kirch and Tarnk tell on way home,” Kirch promised her.

“Look, I dunno what the fuck’s going on or why the walking tits has seen fit to come traipsing back into our lives, but just keep her the fuck away from me and mine,” Mina barked. Shaking her head, she allowed her males to turn her around and lead her away from this wild ish. “I swear! One thing, I don’t care what- I’m gonna bury her ass!” Mina ranted.

“Someone pissed off the Meanie,” Rek mumbled, frowning as his gaze darted from Dace’s bug-eyed face to Mina’s retreating back. “No more piss off Kirch’s Meanie. She no like you.” A loud harrumph left Rek. Lower, he muttered as he turned to enter his McMansion. “Mina scary… like my Jojomine. No piss off my Jojomine… She get you…”

When Rek turned to find Buu still standing here, staring at Rek as he fidgeted in place, still cuddling me close, Rek walked back, snagged Buu by the fur on his wrist, and led him inside, making the choice for him.

“Bring Crazy Face,” Rek grumbled, pausing to wait for Buu to collect Dace and follow him in. “Leave it out… no know what happen.”

“I’m right here,” Dace squeaked indignantly.

“We knowed,” Rek informed her with a dirty look aimed right at her.

She cringed and would have cowered away if Buu wasn’t holding her up by her tied hands. “He’s scary,” Dace whispered to Buu.

“Rek not scary.” My sock monkey let out a loud snort. “Celuk scary, you hurt our Jojo, do bad things in Lo denaii village. No hear him say Kirch. Wish you not, you know.”

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