Page 27 of Homecoming

She took her pain and wrapped it around their tenuous link. “Right. I get it. I will work and consider the offers of a few other alphas here. We can all have a productive day.”

Sohar straightened. “I wanted to ask you to come with us.”

“No, thanks. I don’t want to be around a bunch of women who are fawning all over your boat.”

Loken got dressed and then just looked at Aeryn. “Please leave the link in place. I need to make sure you are safe.”

“How close to rut are you?”

He shrugged ruefully. “Pretty close. Are you sure I am not able to persuade you?”

“There was no question of persuasion. There was mention of me joining a group of unfamiliar women who want to run around on an expensive boat. I have editing of yesterday’s footage to go over.”

The adjoining door opened. “Aeryn, grab the laptop, get the chips from Orc, and take Thera with you on the yacht. I know they have Wi-Fi and a place to work. If he is inviting strange ladies, you can invite strange ladies. Yours are infinitely stranger.”

Chapter Five

Serin was standing and leaning against the doorframe with a smile. “Despite the fact that Sohar is desperately bad at courtship, he thought that having other females on board would help you relax. He just picked the wrong ones, so bring the right ones.”

When described that way, his effort was encouraging.

She looked at Sohar, and he had a deep furrow in his brow. “Isn’t that what I said?”

“No. What you said is that some tourists asked to come and strip off all over your... deck. And you said yes. And then invited me to watch.”

He blinked, and understanding filled his eyes. “Oh, dear. Oh, no.”

Loken finished getting dressed. “Come on, big guy. I will explain things as we go.”

There was comfort radiating from the temporary link. She bit her lip and watched them go.

Serin sighed. “Sohar is slow due to his nature. He’s big, and thinking fast isn’t easy for him. Before he became the island, he was a geologist, but this is his family’s burden to bear. There has to be one of his kind in the world at all times. His grandfather and father avoided it, but poor Sohar got stuck with it.” Serin smiled. “His mind is bright, but the expression is slow. It will speed up when you are linked.”

“You are confident.”

“Yes. I am an excellent matchmaker now that my body is on the way to being whole.”

“You don’t need your crutches.”

“Not technically, but I am still going to the waterfall to take what the water will part with. Go on the vessel, and have fun. Rescue that sister-in-law, maybe see if Ohno’s sister will comealong with you, or call Amby and see what she is up to. And Thera. Invite them all. Even Haravin.” Serin held up her phone. “Oh, look, you already did, and they will meet you at the dock. Well, not Haravin. Kekoa is making sure she stays on dry land for now. Each one of the ladies is bringing one alpha, so the bachelorettes will have other eye candy to ogle.”

She snorted. “So, what do I wear to taunt alphas but have fun?”

“I have just the thing. I picked up some items at Ahheel’s yesterday.” Serin returned to her room and came out with a pretty bag packed with clothing.

“Thanks. How much did you spend?”

“If you guys take video on the yacht, it is an advertising expense. So, take lots of video.” Serin smiled. “And now, get going. You don’t want to have everyone waiting for you.”

Aeryn sighed and got to work. Ten minutes later, she was washed off and dressed in two layers: a swimsuit and a wrap dress. She slipped on her heeled sandals and had her sunscreen and water bottle. It was going to be a lot of lazing in the sun today.

She saw the gathering near the dock, and her ladies were laughing together. She smiled as she took in Amby, Thera, and Ahheel all waiting for her. The mated ladies had an alpha with them, and when the launch from the yacht arrived, the twenty people got on board for their transport to the bigger vessel.

Exoval sat next to Aeryn. “Amby likes you very much.”

“Thanks. I wonder why.”

“She said that you are life and energy here. Serin is growth and harmony. Well, that is what my bonded sister said.”

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