Page 59 of The Safest Place She Knows

Tamara stared,and Venka smiled. “First time thinking about your mom having morekids?”

“First timethinking about Lya having kids. She was just always there. I knowshe’s pretty young for a mom, but I think I would like havingsiblings.”

Venka laughed.“Good, because the boys plan on trying excessively. Wait. Have yougotten the sex talk?”

Tamara sighed.“I know the basics, but the alpha-omega stuff wasn’t covered.”

“I will tellyou when you are fifteen. If you meet a cousin who tries to tellyou, kick him in the shins and call for me, Noh, or Allor. I wouldsay call for your mom, but she might hurt someone.”

Tamaralaughed.

Venka nodded.“Now, let’s find you a nice bedroom, or did you want to run aroundoutside and figure out what the neighbours are looking for?”

“Can weactually run?”

Venka grinned.“We can actually run.”

“Please.”

They headedaround to the back, past the pool, near the tennis court, and thenthey ran.

Chapter Ten

Iris stepped into thehouse, found the nest, and locked the doors behind her. Why hadYmer been the first with her? She had worked with him for years,but it was a bit of a shock that her body responded so eagerly. Nowthat the hormones were fading, she felt like shit.

The team hadn’tbrought in the furnishings yet, so she settled on the floor in thecorner and buried her head in her arms. She wasn’t crying, but shewasn’t thinking fondly of her endocrine system at that moment.

When she heardthe outer door ease open, she stiffened and looked up to watch whowas coming through the doorway. It was Brexel, and he had aconcerned expression on his face.

He crouchednext to her. “Iris, why are you upset?”

She drew in asteadying breath. “It’s stupid.”

“What?”

“I wanted to bewith you first, but I went all weird and hormonal and just wantedYmer more than anything, but now that has worn off, and I feel likehell.”

She shruggedand held her knees.

“We arecharming and seductive bastards, more so than other alphas. You arealready keyed to him, so he focused on you, and your bodyresponded. He wasn’t rough, was he?”

“No. It wasquite fun.”

“Well, Ymer wasinside you to make a path. Frankly, he’s the easiest for you.”

She jolted.“What?”

Brexel laughed.“Yes. Not every dark elf is made the same. We didn’t want youuncomfortable, but I believe we should have had a discussion aboutthe particulars. With the boys around, there was never time. Plus,this has gone pretty quick.”

She swallowed.“No kidding.”

He stroked hercheek. “The team is here to set up your nest. Can we leave them toit?”

She swallowedagain and nodded.

He lifted herto carry her out of the empty nest. The door unlocked and swungopen, letting them pass the crew that stared at them in surprise.He walked down the hall and carried her into his bedroom.

He settled heron the bed and crawled in next to her. She curled up against himwithout prompting and buried her face against his chest.

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