Page 25 of Healing His Mate

Cloh-ee frowns at this. “Aw, man! I was hoping for some juicy deets.”

I stare at her, trying to understand her words. “You are hungry?”

She giggles, the sound light and lilting. “No.”

We take our seats at the table, and I fill her in on the memory that came to me earlier.

“The armbands! Yes, I have one of my own!”

“This is a weaponyouuse?” I ask, surprised. I cannot envision this tiny creature hurting axuguttfly without shedding a tear.

She smiles brightly. “Thank you. People underestimating me really adds to the overall satisfaction of landing a blade in my target. Whether it’s the rotten wood in Varrek’s training room, or the throat of my enemy.”

Just when I think I know Cloh-ee, she reveals another delightful layer of herself I was not expecting. I can see why the old Nalba enjoyed her company.

“What other weapons have I created?” I ask. “Was I working on any before my head injury? Does Varrek request the design and I create it based on his specifications? Or do I plan the entire design myself?” I do not know what the immediate needs of the clan are in terms of inventions that will make their lives easier, but I do know Varrek is the kind of male who will constantly fret over his people’s safety, and if there was a battle recently––which apparently there was––he must want to replenish that stockpile.

“I’m like, ninety-nine percent certain you made them yourself without any input or oversight from Varrek.”

Yes, that sounds like me. “Do we need more after the battle?”

“I think we’re okay for now,” she says. “I know Bzzsil Chi had more weapons on his ship that the guys were able to steal before Niro torched it.”

“Nee-roh?”

“Oh yeah, that’s Kate’s mate. He’s a dragon. Erm, draxilio, actually.”

Draxilio? Those mythical creatures that would shift into massive-winged creatures with spikes down their backs and fire in their lungs? “This is a human? Mated to a . . . draxilio?” I cannot picture it. They are terrifying, monstrous beings.

“Yep!” Cloh-ee exclaims cheerfully, failing to notice the concern in my tone. “They live in Niro’s caves not far from here. Sometimes they stay at the house they built here in the village, but mostly they’re at the caves. And she’s pregnant!”

That gets me to my feet. “Your human friend is carrying a fire-breathing draxilio inside her stomach?”

“Nalba, calm down,” she says, lifting her arms as if I am a fearful little creature in the forest about to flee. “It’s half-draxilio, half-human, and Kate’s fine. Kaiva checks on her regularly, and Niro dotes on her. He and Bruvix are even good friends now.”

Bruvix? Good friends?

These words do not make sense together. But I suppose if a constantly scowling, miserable male like Bruvix is to become anyone’s friend, it is fitting it is with the deadliest known creature in the galaxy.

The world is so different from how I remember it. Thinking about the enormous pile of information I do not know, I plop down on my stool with a sigh. Then my frustration from a lack of release when Waldric left me covered in syrup resurfaces. “Tell me, Cloh-ee. What do you do when you wish to orgasm without Varrek?”

“Without Varrek? Do you mean masturbation?” Blood rushes to her cheeks at the word.

“Yes.”

“Well, I’m not comfortable showing you, but I could explain ho––”

“Cloh-ee,” I say, laughing hard now. “I do not need instructions on how to pleasure myself. I was wondering more if there was anything you use when you do.”

“Oh! Like, toys?”

Now she understands. “Yes.”

Cloh-ee’s shoulders drop and she looks visibly relieved. “Truthfully, I haven’t felt the urge for solo play since I got here. Varrek and I have sex three or four times a–” She pauses, giving me an awkward smile. “Sorry, is that weird?”

“Of course not. I have no remaining interest in Varrek. Please speak freely.”

“Okay cool. So anyway, I’m not opposed to it, and I’m sure Varrek would love to watch, or even join in, but I haven’t lately. Plus, it’s not like my vibrator is here, so that takes some of the fun out of it.”

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