Page 75 of The Anointed's Paladin

“I don’t think—” I started, but Nidori fluttered over and started trying to pull my wing open. “Nidori, really? We can do this later.”

“Kaine, he’s not cooperating,” she said, pulling hard. I sighed, and Kaine sat up, a grin slowly blooming on his face.

“I can help with that.” Kaine whispered something in Nidori’s ear. She nodded.

“Guys. I’mnotdoing this right now,” I said, trying to get up.

Kaine grabbed me and pulled me back down to the bed. I twisted, about to put my full strength into standing when Nidori zoomed to my stomach and started tickling me.

Shit. I was very ticklish and collapsed into a heap, trying to twist away, but she moved to the side, darting in and out of reach.

“Not. Fair,” I wheezed as Kaine wrenched my wing open and slid between two of my long metacarpals.

“Ha,” he said, settling in triumphantly. “Plenty of room, Nidori.”

I managed to bat Nidori away and tried to shake him off, but he clung on, weighing down my wing.

“It’s nice here,” he said, jamming himself further inside.

“I’m glad you’re enjoying yourself,” I said flatly, giving up and sitting down.

“Good.” Nidori landed on the bed. “Then, it’s decided. I’ll be sleeping there, no matter what.”

“No,” I said. “There’s no way I’d be able to sleep like that.”

Kaine climbed out, and I snapped my wing back, closing it with a click.

“I’m sure he’ll come round,” he said, giving Nidori a wink.

“I can sleep on one side, and you can go on the other!” she said brightly.

“Um, I’m right here, guys,” I said.

“Hush, darling, the adults are talking,” said Kaine, and Nidori burst into fits of giggles.

I stood, ready for breakfast. And to get some space from these two.

Nidori followed soon after.

“Look!” Kaine called. “Wine!” He walked out of the back room triumphantly, clutching a bottle in each hand.

“We’re about to leave,” I pointed out.

“We’ll have to take it with us.”

“Will you be carrying it?” I asked.

He laughed. “What are all those muscles for, if we don’t make use of them?” he asked, coming over and squeezing my bicep. He bit his lower lip and squeezed again.

“I’m not a pack mule,” I grumbled.

“Look, we’ll drink them in the morning. Then, you only have to carry them overnight.”

“So, it’s true.” Nidori wrinkled her nose. “You reallydoenjoy drinking rotten fruit.”

“The term you’re looking for isfermented, dear.”

He undid my pack, slipping the bottles inside.

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