Page 58 of Bride of Choice

It’ll be okay. It’s all going to work out how it’s supposed to. Somehow. Was that not some sort of inspirational poster or meme or something?

Aw, fuck. Who was I kidding? This is all shit. Everything is shit. All of it. Gone to shit.

That’s not to mention the fact I had nowhere to go, currently. I’d drive Dorothy crazy if I stayed here and I knew it— her sons were just so damn easy to get all worked up, it took such minimal effort! Her males were immune and found me amusing, which was its own kind of fun, I’d admit.

Staying here and turning her hair grey was so not fair to her and I owed her, big time. There was the whole Krampus-snatch hunt thing, whatever it was called. The Great Snatch-hunt. A snort of a laugh left me.

A frown beetled my brow. Was she safe if I stayed here? Would anyone I stayed with be? Or would I be painting a target on them as well, putting them in the way of unnecessary danger? Could I-

“Jo?”

My eyes popped open and I glanced towards the door.

Mr. Grumpypants stood in the doorway, typical half frown on his unsmiling mug.

“Kookypants,” I greeted. “What calls thee to my chambers? Back for more? Is verbal sparring your thing?”

The male shook his head but grinned. “Mosoau,” he corrected, pointing to himself.

Well, shit. “Oops. Sorry. You two look scarily similar from this angle,” I apologized, scrambling to sit up.

Mosoau didn’t seem to mind, shrugging his big shoulders. “Same sac,” he said simply, making me think he meant they were twins.

“Clone wars closeness in the looks department kinda fun. Cool beans, fluff daddy.” My head bobbed in a nod. “So… what’s the deal, Lucille? You beckoned thee?”

Blinking, standing there staring at me as he tried to work out all of that nonsense I’d just laid on him, he shook his head as if to slough it all off, taking a minute to gather himself before rumbling out in his deep, gravelly voice, “Find place Joad-knee stay.”

Huh. I’ll be damned. “Really?” Sitting up, I scooted back so I could start to gather my pelt and purse, surprised I’d managed to hold onto Big and Yellow, my banana colored handbag and trusted sidekick, throughout everything. I mean, I had to have, otherwise, how the hell did it make it over here? Right?

Staring at it stupidly for a full minute plus as I thoroughly questioned my sanity on that one, a rough throat clearing brought me back around.

“Is it an empty place?” I questioned. “I’m not the best house guest, as you can clearly already tell, I’m sure. With the, you know who, and their you know what in the works, is it actually safe for me to be hanging around with anyone? Is it safe for you all here?” Biting my lip, I swallowed thickly. Shit. Were they all at risk from Krampus BS due to me? For taking me in? Was ANYWHERE safe?

Someone called out from the living room area, it sounded like, and Mosoau called back. Looking to me, he assured me, “Joad-knee beed safe. Rothy beed safe. Alls safe. Joad-knee no have share hut.”

Staring down at the tips of my boots, I blurted, “Are you sure it’ll be fine?”

Mosoau gave a firm nod.

If there was one thing about Dorothy’s mates, it was that I trusted them to think of everyone’s safety. They were good guys. Most of them aided in village enforcing in some capacity. A less part of the Watchers, as I’d heard Dorothy call them.

“Okay. Well, then, when do we leave?” Slipping on the shawl from my mystery mate, I gathered my pelt into my lap. I loved rubbing this damn thing. It was like a big hug, a comfort item.

Mosoau gave a grunt as Dorothy’s voice carried in from the vicinity of their kitchen. “To be fair to her, you have to admit you had a hand in starting it,” she was saying, her voice trailing off.

Whatever Dougie grumbled had her chuffing out a huff. “It’s rude to ask things like that and you know it! What did you think was going to happen? She’s as prickly as your daddy on a good day and, frankly, my dear, it’s none of your damn business! That’s between her and her male!”

“Not butts in,” a male voice added. “Celuk find Gofur. Say hims has Lhorstavorskrhut.”

“Oh my, well, that does explain it, doesn’t it? It also complicates things,” Dorothy murmured.

“She hears!” Mosoau called out to them as my face flushed and I wondered what the hell that thing was that they said Gopher had that complicated things was. Was it an illness? Did he need help for it? So, then it wasn’t some stupid word for peeing after all.

As if to save me from the myriad of questions threatening to overtax my brain, it was Dougie to the win, muttering something very quietly to his mother that had her spluttering incredulously.

“No, she is not actually your sister! Why would you- How- How would that even be possible?” Dorothy burst out. “She was teasing you, Dougie-bear! Criminy!”

“We could go now,” I suggested to the bruiser of a beast. “Now is good.”

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