Page 13 of Night's Bride

Emily cleared her throat and smiled at Vikt. “Are you sure that would not be awkward for you and Vrel?”

“Not at all,” he replied earnestly. “Sharing body heat to keep warm is common with Ragoru. Is that not the case for humans?”

Her cheeks pinkened faintly but she nodded. “It is known to happen. I just did not realize that it was something that Ragoru were comfortable with considering how territorial you are.”

He chuffed at her comment. “We have adapted to life easily in the clan lands, which makes me wonder what our homeworld was like before it began to die and if we did not live in a similar fashion. We like our private space with our dens, but we know and trust each other. On the hunt or even function communally we will rest close together to warm each other.”

“You do not know me,” Nash pointed out, but Vikt shrugged.

“We know enough and will know you even better before there is a break in the storm,” he replied. “In any case, you are in our den, so we have already accepted you into our most private space anyway.”

“Vikt is right,” Vrel joined in. “It makes little difference at this point. We might as well be warm.”

Emily’s mouth opened and closed a few times in surprise, but in the end she assented with a tiny nod. He did not push, nor did Vrel. If she had truly insisted that the male not enter their nest they would have agreed. He suspected why she had not. The alpha was very likable. She might not be ready to accept Nash as alpha—nor had he offered to be the alpha of their triad—but it was a positive beginning, and Vikt was even more encouraged by the humble agreement of the male as he glanced toward their mate shyly.

Oh, Nash correctly read her reluctance and was putting no pressure on her, but he was definitely interested, and he did not disdain Vikt’s company nor Vrel’s. It was looking even more encouraging by the minute.

Chapter

Twelve

CHAPTER 12

“It is late,” Vikt observed with a yawn as he rose from the large cushion he was stretched out upon. “Are you ready to rest, rya?”

Emily smothered a yawn and nodded but couldn’t help an uncertain look in Nash’s direction. He didn’t meet her gaze nor move at all from where he lay staring up at the ceiling with half-closed eyes.

“I am ready,” she murmured aloud as she got to her feet.

“I am as well,” Vrel agreed as he too rose to his feet and stepped over the scattered cushions to join them.

“Nash?” Vikt prompted but the male’s gaze shifted to the hearth.

“I will follow in a moment. I wish to enjoy more of the fire before it dies down. I will be sure to bank the coals before I join you.”

A look of impatience touched Vikt’s expression, but it was so fleeting that Emily wasn’t sure if she imagined it or not. It was quite possible that Vikt just didn’t want the alpha to be alonehis first night officially as a guest in their den, especially as it seemed that Nash was as much of an outcast among Ragoru as her mates were. They clearly felt empathy and a sense of kindred spirits with the male. However Nash felt about it, it was obviously a lot for the alpha to become accustomed to. Unlike her mates, he did not have a twin to share the burden of loneliness with over the years.

“Come on,” Emily murmured as she placed her hand on Vikt’s arm, just in case he had any thought of protesting and making things awkward for the male. “Nash will find us when he is ready.”

Vikt glanced down at her, and once again she swore that she saw a hint of frustration in his gaze but was distracted when Vrel joined her at her other side and lifted her up into his arms.

“Come, little rya,” he teased. “You are so tiny that the nighttime temperatures in this den will certainly sink right into your bones.”

“I’m not that little,” she protested with a mock growl and laughed when Vrel nipped her jaw so tenderly that she didn’t even feel a sting from his teeth. She only felt the erotic shiver that came from his fangs grazing her skin.

Adjusting the grip of his lower arms under her bottom, Vrel glanced over at Vikt and tipped his head toward the hallway. Vikt appeared reluctant to leave Nash alone but he nodded and, with one last parting glance toward the alpha, followed them down the hallway.

They made their way quietly to their nest but the moment they were behind a closed door, Emily giggled as Vrel’s muzzle dove down against her neck only to drop further into her cleavage.

Emily smiled and blocked the downward path of his nose with the flat of her hand. “Do you really think we should be doing this with Nash out there?”

Vrel lifted his head and gave her a curious glance. “Would you prefer to do it with him in here?”

She balked, her face flooding with heat. “That is not what I meant.”

Vikt chuffed and nudged Vrel with his shoulder gently so that he didn’t accidentally drop her. “He knows that. He thinks he is being amusing.”

Emily bit back a smile as she gave the male in question a chastising look that he accepted with the grace of a mischievous smile proffered in return. Lowering his head, he rubbed his cheek against her lovingly before bounding energetically toward their nest.

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