Page 30 of Argurma Monster

If it even came to pass. Though he clearly processed Beverly’s feelings for the other male, he was unable to calculate whether she had come to love him as well. Or what the probability was that she would accept them both as her mates.

They needed to make their first night reunited together as close to perfection as possible. It could take everything he had to secure his mate.

Zoreth rearranged the pillows, testing them for softness before placing the best ones in the center where she would lay between them. Unless she only lay there to humor them. It was possible that she might wish to lie in another spot. His gaze roamed over the bed disconcertedly as he tried to calculate the likelihood of where she might prefer to sleep, all the while feeling Talech’s amused gaze boring into him. Zoreth glanced over at him in annoyance.

The very least he could do was help.

Talech appeared to be unaware of his obligations. The male sat on the other side of the room, his arms crossed over his chest and his spinal limbs relaxed in a manner that suggested that he lacked any concerns. Even the small smile that teased the corners of his mouth contained so little anxiety that Zoreth was forced to marvel at it.

“You worry too much,” Talech rumbled, and Zoreth shot him a hot glare.

“And you do not concern yourself enough,” he replied with a bite to his voice. Straightening, he swept his arm around the room in frustration. “Do you not process that we risk everything if she does not choose? If we arrive unmated, the mother-house will separate her from us to give equal opportunity to allthe males who might wish to court her. We have little time to convince her to set aside her fear and agree.”

Talech’s shoulders lifted as he shrugged, the gesture causing his upper spinal limbs to bob faintly. “If she does not say yes then we have done a poor job of being the males she wants and needs. The room makes no difference. The mother-house makes no difference. Just us.”

Zoreth’s eyes narrowed, but in the next moment he sighed, and the tension drained from him. Talech’s observation was sound.

“My heart will not know how to go on without her. She is all that truly brings me joy,” Zoreth rasped morosely, his eyes falling upon the bed.

“Then we give our hearts to her and let her do what she will. She will either keep them or crush them.”

With those words, Talech turned away, his gaze fastening entirely on the door. Zoreth was not fooled. Though the male spoke pragmatically and had been quick to make a second sound observation, he recognized that the soft growl that accompanied Talech’s words that revealed the male’s emotional distress. Zoreth was also forced to recognize that his own anxious behavior was adding to that distress.

In the end, he had to acknowledge that Talech was correct. They could only offer their love and hope it was enough. Still, that did not stop him from eagerly turning toward the door as it opened to admit a very whole and healthy Beverly inside. Clean of the dust and grime of the planet from her recent bath, she wore nothing but a simple, thick robe that was crafted from the replicator but in his mind, she never looked more beautiful. His mate’s cautious smile lit something within him and threatened to destroy his systems.

In her own fashion, she processed that the time had come to settle things between them and was experiencing an equally nervous reaction.

Surprise filled her face in the next moment when Talech dropped to his knees before her. Taking the other male’s actions in, Zoreth slowly sank to his knees as well. They had no heads of her enemies to offer her as trophies to prove their dedication and love for her. All they had was themselves.

He prayed to the gods that it would be enough.

Chapter 26

Kneeling? Why were they kneeling? Beverly felt as if she were clearly missing something that she should know but scrambled to understand. All she had done was step through the door and they both dropped to their knees. Panic filled her as she stared at them, and having no clue whatsoever what she was supposed to do.

“Wow, umm, this is different,” Meg muttered at her side as she cast a curious glance toward the two males and began to ease her way back out the door. “Perhaps I should just give you guys some privacy.”

Beverly turned a panicked look on her, but the other woman merely smiled apologetically as she slipped out the door, leaving Beverly alone with whateverthiswas. Both males watched her expectantly. Lovingly even. Were they expecting her to choose... now? Panicked filled her at the thought. That was impossible!

Zoreth frowned and stood. “Beverly, is all well?”

She shook her head mutely, tears of frustration filling her eyes. She thought she would have more time to convince them that they all needed to be together. After all, they still had a few days before they reached the mothership. It wasn’t much time, but she would have done her best to convince them since she knew what she would be up against. Kaylar had warned her, in his blunt fashion. She needed to resolve matters before they arrived at the starship if she didn’t want to be housed separately from them and risk being surrounded by other potential suitors vying for her attention.

Apparently, word had reached them as well.

Talech clicked in concern and also stood. Their large bodies filled the room in front of her as they reached for her at once.Surprisingly they did not hiss or show any sign of aggression toward each other as they drew her between them.

“Tell us,” Talech rumbled. “We will destroy whatever harmed you.”

She choked back a sound that was half-laugh and half-sob. “I don’t think brute force is going to solve this problem, honey.”

A look of pleasure crossed the male’s formidable face. “You refer to me as sweet emissions from an insect... This is a term of endearment.”

She choked back another laugh and Zoreth frowned.

“I wish for an endearment. A different one. I do not wish to be referred to in terms of emissions.”

A chuckle escaped her. “All right, sweetie, you got it.”

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