CHAPTER 20

 

Zhuii made dinner, some kind of bunny-looking creatures with giant tusks for teeth, razor sharp claws, and three tails, each tail sporting a venomous barb the male felt the need to show me, as if to explain why I should avoid the animal.

It had me warned off at tusks for teeth and sharp claws. I shuddered at the sight of those tails. Roasted over the spit he’d set up in Tokre’s hearth, covered in strange, tangy spices, a side of green mush that reminded me of salty corn mash, and a heaping helping of cooked root veggies. Those crazy critters tasted just like chicken. Okay, not just like chicken, but kinda.

Stomach full, I sat back in my chair, barely holding back a groan.

“Good?” Noyel asked, glancing up from his third helping.

“Very good,” I replied with a contented smile.

Maybe I was being naïve, letting myself be at ease with them, falling in line, literally drinking the Lo Denaii punch, but it was much easier to do so without the fate of my kitty hanging in the balance. Among other things…

They were actually kind of fun as a group, or fun to watch, I should say, the way they teased and laughed, Tokre included, now that Zhuii seemed to have shed his reservations about signing openly and Noyel could join in, keeping their new fellow mate-husband in the loop.

Gah. Mate-husband. Mate-husbands. I’d never get used to that. Never. And yet here I am.

Though our unique situation did beg the question… “So, do any of you guys, uhm… are you guys all like, married to each other now, too?”

Zhuii, his spork half way to his mouth, froze. Face scrunching up into a frown, he shook his head. “What Rosie-lindy mean? Zhuii mated to Rosie-lindy. Tokre and Noyel family. Rosie-lindy co-fused?” “

“No, I’m not confused. I just- well I guess I am- Was.” Definitely not anymore.

“Is Zhuii mated to Noyel and Tokre…?” The incredulity in the blue fluff sporting, goofy male’s gaze was enough of an answer, and enough to make me laugh. “Why Rosie laugh? What my Lindy-mine find funny?”

“Sorry. Had to ask. It just… and this all so… and your face…” I got out between hysterical giggles.

“Rosie wanted to know if we’d be mated to each other,” Noyel explained slowly, “if we wanted to mate each other, be each other’s mates, too.” The tall beast looked to me to make sure he had the right of it.

I nodded, but mumbled defensively at Noyel’s barely withheld mirth, “It’s not an unreasonable question.”

“It’s not,” the beast-healer-in-training agreed, “and it does happen in some groups, but that’s not the case with us.”

“Alright.” I shrugged. “Just curious is all.” The idea did occur to me that if they were to start lovin’ up on each other, how would I feel about it? I didn’t know. I’d never been in a situation like this before, but I wasn’t going to pretend I didn’t have a bit of a jealous streak when it came to relationships.

Picking up the pitcher of water in the middle of the table, the thing as wide as it was tall, I went to refill my cup but found myself thwarted.

Beating me to it, Tokre lifted the heavy vessel up and filled my cup all the way to the top. With a grunt and a significant look my way, the warmth in his dark eyes not lost on me, he went back to his food, happy to let everyone else around him talk while he ate his meal in peace.

“How would you all know, though? You ever tried it?” I ventured, posing the question curiously.

“Noyel just know,” Noyel said on a shrug. “Did you ever wish a female?” he shot right back.

“No,” I admitted honestly.

As if he understood my motivations, his look softened. “Rosie, Noyel only wants you-”

“Gotcha.” I cut him off, clearing my throat, my face flushing pink, to look elsewhere. So maybe I had a bit of renegade space smuggler in me too, where he was concerned.

The spoonful of vegetables Zhuii held fell to the table with a wet plop. “What you mean? Rosie mean Zhuii want to mate with No-yell?” Glancing at Noyel, who gave the surprised beast a charming grin and a teasing wink—a teasing wink he didn’t understand and ended up blinking at sharply—Zhuii looked as if I’d just asked him if he’d like me to shave all his fur off and paint him polka dotted.

“With No-yell? No-yell?”

“Aw, come on, Zhu-baby,” Noyel crooned, making silly kissy noises across the table at the big beastie, “give your new mate a kiss.”

Tokre, watching the exchange and catching on, shook his head, forcing a smile, and snorted.

Glancing between us uneasily, Zhuii grunted out, “Is No-yell hurt?”

“What?” Startled by the question, Noyel blinked. “Hurt? Where?”

Another uneasy look my way from Zhuii. “No-yell, just say no,” he muttered hastily through the side of his mouth.

“His feelings are hurt, Zhu,” I lied, curious what he’d do, knowing what he’d do if I’d told him it was me.

With a snarl Zhuii shot up in his seat, his chair tumbling behind him. “Zhuii didn’t pinky swaur to that!”

“Oh, but didn’t Zhuii?” Noyel stood too, not fully understanding what he was actually saying, the previous conversation and pinky promise I’d extracted from my Zhubeast unknown to him, advancing on his startled co-husband.

“Okay, enough. I’m sorry. It’s my fault. Seriously, I started, but I’ll end it.”

At this point it’s just mean.” Holding my hands up, I shook my head.

Noyel was actually getting mad at Zhuii, at the idea of him brushing off his feelings, I assumed, not any actual felt slight by Zhuii. And I’d kind, sorta- Okay, totally completely, ahem, started it all. I could add mate bickering, shit starting, instigator to my list.

“Okay, I was just kidding,” I tried to jump in, getting twin snarls for my efforts. “Fine.” I plopped back down. I refused to be a part of this.

Zhuii’s face grew stormy, thunderous. Scrubbing at his face, he made a noise, the sound somewhere between an annoyed grumble and a growl. Hands falling to his sides, his gaze lifted, surveying the room, to meet mine.

He stared at me for the longest moment, a look of unease plastered on my face, along with a smidgeon of guilt, before he let out a long, weary sigh. Marching up to Noyel, who was busy making kissy faces and crooning taunts at Zhuii, didn’t see it coming when the shorter beast reached up, gripping the fur on his chest, yanking Noyel down, to plant a big wet one right on the blue-eyed beast’s kisser.

Noyel made a garbled noise, his eyes bugging in surprise, furry arms suddenly flailing. Just as fast as it had happened, Zhuii pulled back, smirking down at the tall male when he tumbled to his ass.

Timber, I shouted in my head as jolly tormentor with the pretty blues tipped over.

Stepping back, Zhuii swiped his mouth on the back of his furry arm. Grimacing, he glanced at his smooch buddy. “No more for No-yell. No more feelings hurt.” He spat the words. “All better now. No pinky swaurs broken, Zhuii penis still stuck on Zhuii, no curses.” Lifting a hand, he shook it at Noyel’s stunned face. “No-yell want kisses? Lindy-mine or No-yell’s mama Rothy kiss No-yell’s boo-boos.” Another word spat in annoyance, though that one did make me chortle. “No-yell big Lo denaii now. Not baby.” Thumping his chest, scowling fiercely, Zhuii pressed his hand right between his thick pecs, where he spread his fingers out. “Family. Share Lindy-mine. Zhuii only Lindy-mine’s.”

Noyel made a spluttering noise. “I wasn’t- I didn’t-” His eyes bugged, shooting to mine. “Penis falling off?”

Glancing over his shoulder, giving Tokre and me a quick, mischievous grin, attempting to repeat Noyel’s teasing wink—and failing miserably because it just looked weird when he did it—he turned back to Noyel.

Tokre caught on as I burst out laughing, shaking his head as if he was used to the torture-teasing Zhuii and Noyel seemed prone to. My first mate pulled his chair out to pick me up, ignoring my surprised yelp, plopping me down in his lap.

“I’m not a little lap dog!” I barked out, to which Zhuii and Noyel glanced at each other and barked in unison.

“Oh, very funny!” I laughed anyway.

“Lindy-mine need kisses for her boo-boos?” Zhuii asked sweetly. Too sweetly.

“Rosie need Noyel to help?”

Serves my right, they’ve turned on me in unison, a mouthy, united front.

“Smartasses,” I muttered, pausing to yip back at them.

Both males burst out laughing.