Page 54 of Guarded By a Monster

“Oh, he really did.”

“What did you say?”

“I said I thought he’d filled that tank already.” Tears ran down my face and only squeaks escaped my lips I was laughing so hard.

We sobered when Drym and Thurl walked into the common hall where Kendal invited me to chat. She said she was going stir crazy. I felt horrible when she explained that the whole compound was on lockdown since my attack. No one in or out except for Luna and Zeus.

She waved away my concern. “Don’t worry about it. It’s no great hardship to stay locked up with Drym.” She gave me a look, clearly holding in laughter. “When my well isn’t dry.”

Drym looked at Thurl. “What does that mean?”

Thurl shrugged. “I still don’t know.”

In a conspiratorial stage whisper, I said to Kendal, “Don’t tell them.”

“Never,” she said back.

Drym furrowed his brow. “I’m not sure I appreciate all the giggling if I’m the butt of the joke,” he said, leaning closer to Kendal.

Kendal shot me a mischievous grin, but played innocent. “It’s more of an inside joke,” she said, patting Drym’s hand. Then, turning to Thurl in mock seriousness, she added, “Don’t worry, it’s nothing that impacts our security.”

Thurl arched a brow, arms folding across his broad chest. “If it did, I’m sure we’d know,” he said, his tone so serious that Kendal and I burst out laughing all over again. Thurl glanced at Drym, shrugged, and then shook his head. “Human jokes,” he murmured, as if that explained everything.

“Actually,” Kendal said, trying—and failing—to maintain a straight face, “we were discussing the importance of… uh… hydration.” She caught my eye, and we both struggled not to dissolve into hysterics once more.

Drym’s ears perked. “You’ve got to stay hydrated,” he agreed earnestly, as if offering profound wisdom. “It’s key to peak performance.”

His unwitting addition to our joke sent us into another round of guffaws and snorts.

After a bit, I managed to squeak out, “Words to live by.” I turned to Kendal. “What should we do this afternoon?”

She tapped her lip. “I’d say invite the girls over and booze it up, but I don’t think Kragen will go for that.”

I tilted my head at her. “The girls?”

“Oh!” She sat up, excited. “Virginia and Gaelynn. They’re mated to some of the Supe Sec guys. There are still so few of us, they started a club. The Society Mates Club. Don’t worry, you’ll love them. I’m sure Virginia will get you a shirt.”

“There are shirts?”

She grinned as she nodded. “Jerseys, actually. Remind me and I’ll show you mine.”

I nodded, dumbstruck by the idea that there were so few mates they’d started a club. I guess I should have known after reading the binder, but it didn’t fully register.

Kendal mused about our afternoon plans. “How about a movie marathon? Drym and I have all the streaming channels and a huge sectional that will fit both the guys. We’ll pop popcorn and just veg out.”

“That sounds amazing.”

“Okay, then it’s settled.”

She stood up and I followed her while our mates trailed behind. Kendal kept up an easy stream of conversation. I looked over my shoulder to find Thurl keeping a close eye on me and smiled as the bond lights wove and bounced between us.

“Do you have the lights, too?” I asked as we walked.

“Yes, they’re so pretty. Like stars or fireflies.”

“I think they look like embers that escaped from a wood fire.”

She stopped as she opened her front door. “Wait, what color are they?”

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