Page 92 of Aria's Desire

When he met her gaze again, she smiled through her own tears. “Be safe, Kiddo.” She gave him a mock glare, adding, “And stop selling penis jewelry.”

He snorted, but murmured obediently, “As you say, damsa.”

She might have believed him… if it weren't for the mischievous grin.

“Brat. Go, find some trouble to get into. But… not too much.”

At that, he rolled his eyes. “Yes,Mother.”

He said it playfully, but it immediately sent a hard pang of longing through her heart.

Hiding it with a smile, she stood and watched as he and Vehar took off.

Standing, she picked her bag back up, drew in a deep breath, and quickly wiped her eyes then headed for the courtyard.

She missed the look her men shared behind her back.

Chapter 44

Almost the second they touched down in the arena, Aria and her men were waylaid and pulled in different directions. She had time to blow a kiss to each of them before Spar and Victoria all but dragged her bodily away.

What commenced when they had her cornered in their usual meeting room could only be described as an interrogation. They got details from her she was sure she hadn’t planned to share.

Spar was cackling evilly by the time Aria finished catching them up. “Damn girl! You took them on a merry chase! Good for you.”

Victoria cleared her throat delicately and grinned like a cheshire cat at Spar. “I win. Pay up!”

Spar’s expression twisted into a grimace. Grumbling sourly, she pulled a wad of… feathers out of her pocket.

“The hell?”

Victoria gave her a somewhat guilty look and confessed, “We had a bet going to see if you’d accept them while y'all were away. I said you would. Spar thought you’d hold out until y’all got back.”

Putting that little tidbit aside for a second, Aria asked, “And the feathers?”

“Huh? Oh! Snitch likes them.”

“Right.” Shaking her head, she watched as Vee put them carefully in her pocket. As she did, she pulled her loose shirt taut across her stomach. Aria felt her eyes pop open wide. “Jesus, are you supposed to be that big? This soon?”

Victoria looked up at her then followed her gaze back to her stomach. Cupping it tenderly, she gave a wry smile. “I don't know if you noticed… but all my guys are huge.”

Aria pursed her lips, still taken aback that her small friend looked like she was smuggling a volleyball under her skin, but…

“Valid point. You're okay, though? You've checked in with Lilac or Cloud? This”—she waved at Vee’s stomach—“is normal? Healthy?”

“Yep! Healthy as a horse and progressing perfectly,” she grinned proudly.

Aria let out a breath of relief. “Good.” Eyeing Spar, she asked, “And you? Have you joined the pregnant lady brigade?”

Something flickered in the woman’s eyes, but it was gone before Aria could decipher it, hidden behind a droll expression. “Ha ha. No! Besides, I gotta find a man I can stand to be around for more than three days before crotch goblins are a possibility.”

Snorting, Aria shook her head. “Alright, back to business. What fires need putting out, and what crises will I be bombarded with the second I leave this room?”

Vee and Spar looked at each other, exchanged shrugs, and turned back to her. “Nothing.”

Aria blinked. “What do you mean nothing?”

Vee shrugged again. “I mean there's been no fires, literal or figurative. And there aren't any crises to solve.”

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