Page 76 of The Safest Place She Knows

Tamarasnorted.

Venka looked upand smiled. “Right. Brass tacks. Lya, go for a walk or a swim orsomething.”

“Yes, ma’am.”Lya smiled and headed for the patio doors before she rememberedsomething and headed for the solarium.

She was stuckwearing her boots and grimaced as she sat down and tried to getthem off. She unzipped the boot but couldn’t get enough power inher right arm to pry it off. Allor appeared at her side and kneltto get her boots off. “It isn’t going to be terrible.”

“I know. Nohehland Venka are good people. You, too.”

He grinned.“Thanks. I have your old phone and your new one. Why did you comein here?”

“Smudge isgoing to lay soon, and I just wanted to check on her eggs.” Shesmiled. “Snowflake already did his part.”

“The incubatoris ready.”

“You use anincubator?”

“It is easieron the female not to starve herself by tending to the eggs, so onceshe lays, we rinse her off, soak her in warm water, and give her athawed frozen mouse dusted in calcium.”

“She likesthose.”

“We know. She’svoracious.”

“Well, she’seating for a lot.”

He helped herto her feet, and they walked to the enclosure, where she gasped andclutched at Allor. “She’s started to lay. I can see them under thatlog.”

He chuckled.“You really care for her.”

“She’s like alittle sister. Snowflake is her boyfriend.”

He smiled. “Howlong will you give her?”

“I will checkon her in twelve hours.”

“You will pryyourself out from under Noh?”

“Naw, he letsme use him like a hot rock.” She smiled. “I will just get up andgo.”

Allor must havethought that was the funniest thing ever. When he calmed down, helooked at her. “You are really okay with the contract?”

“Yeah. I haveknown I was headed for this for just under thirteen years. Itwasn’t official, but my recovery was astonishing. There weren’t alot of changing betas back then, so keeping up the hair colour wasmy biggest concern. Tamara happened, my body changed, my hairchanged, and I started seeing things.”

“Likewhat?”

She lookedaround the room. “This. I saw this. I saw our den all piledtogether and pasty bits of white poking out. That’s me. I am thepasty one.”

“I guessed asmuch. You have no idea how relieved Venka was when you acceptedher. I think she is more nervous than Noh.”

“After what Iexperienced, experimenting with partners to find those I amcomfortable with was important. They gave me the confidence tolearn what my body could do by its own instinct.” She shrugged. “Ihave been embarrassed, exhausted, timid, and uncomfortable, but Ihave figured myself out and expunged the memory of helplessness andpain, but I don’t go for bondage.”

“Understandable.” Allor nodded. “You don’t mind my inclusion?”

“Nope. It’s anice balance. Two boys, two girls.”

He cocked hishead. “You do know that it will be two guys and one female alphafocused on one omega, right? You will have more attention than youcan handle.”

“I thought youand Venka had sex.”

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