Page 62 of Victoria's Discovery

Every time she forced her heavy eyelids to open, all three guys were in a different place. First standing, then sitting on the bed like Thorn, then closer, then, before she knew it, they were sprawled out on the bed with her.

Victoria didn’t say anything. Who in their right mind would? If they wanted to cuddle her back to sleep after that nightmare, she was damn sure going to let them.

And if she woke up wrapped around one or more of them like a clingy, lusty anaconda?

Well, that was a chance she was willing to take.

Chapter 32

“Awesome! I really think it’ll help. I’ll get started on working out the details,” Victoria chirped, head bent as she tapped furiously on her tablet, making notes of everything she needed to do that day.

She and Thegan were the last ones to leave the daily meeting with Aria and all the Generals: her because she wanted to run the idea she’d had of holding group therapy sessions by Aria, and Thegan, because he needed to speak with Tirox about some of the issues those from more primitive worlds were having adjusting.

She heard Thegan stop at her side but didn’t look up from her notes until Aria called her name.

“Hmm?”

“You’re doing good, kid. Keep it up.”

Victoria simultaneously blushed brightly and smiled proudly at the compliment. Standing a little straighter, knowing but not particularly caring her expression was that of a hardcore fangirl, she half whispered, half stammered, “Th-thank you.”

Needing to get out of there before the squeal building in her chest broke free, Victoria hurried out the door only to jerk to a stop three steps later.

Eyes wide, she spun on her heels, leaving Thegan standing in the hallway staring after her in confusion, and quickly darted back inside.

“You’re pretty!”

It came out more forcefully than she’d intended, and Aria looked a little startled, but that was okay. Smiling, she nodded in satisfaction, pleased with herself, and exited again.

Rejoining Thegan, she glanced up at him and blew out a breath. “Phew. Close one. Almost took that compliment without giving it back,” she muttered, shaking her head. “Would’ve been rude as hell.”

He made a choked sound, like he was trying to swallow a laugh and only half succeeded, but nodded quickly when she eyed him and agreed, “Indeed.”

They made it five more steps before she asked, “Do you think she thought that was weird?”

He grinned down at her, pale blue eyes sparkling, and reached out to tuck a stray curl behind her ear. “Not at all. I am sure she understood you just did not wish to leave her praise unreturned.”

Heart beating a little faster at his touch and distracted by how ridiculously handsome he was, she just kind of nodded and tried to remember that kissing your friends was probably a bad idea.

Right?

“So where are you off to now?” she asked, mostly in an effort to distract herself.

He cocked a brow and smirked. “Weare off to combat training.”

“What! No, I, uh, need to do… stuff. Important stuff. That needs to be done. Like check on Snitch.”

Shaking his head, he chuckled and caught her before she could make a run for it, steering her around in the opposite direction. “Come, sweetling. Your fierce little pet is fine with Vi’kail. He is needed there to help keep the animals calm during transport to the new enclosure. And training will not be as bad as yesterday.”

“How do you know? What if I’m paired with Jas’aya again? I could’ve lost my ear with the way that woman was swinging her sword around. And my hand still hurts.”

“Mmm, does it?” he asked skeptically. “Does itreally?”

Sighing, she muttered, “No. But if it did, would you let me skip class?”

He snorted. “No. I would use the healing ring on it. You need to learn to protect yourself, my Vee.”

“Yeah, I know. I’m just no good at it, is all.”

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