“Lindy-mine?” Zhuii asked softly, surprised to find me in a different state than he’d left me. “No cry.” He rushed in, Noyel and Tokre vying to squeeze in next. Taking the books from my arms, he shoved the volumes at Noyel, who caught them with a yelp, stumbling back, his annoyed look welcome to my hungry eyes. “Zhuii save the doors,” my Zhubeast-husband assured me.
“Thank you.” I laughed as he enfolded me in his arms, scooping me up to hug me tight.
The beast’s gaze slid to the books and back to me. “Those make my Lindy-mine sad?”
“They remind me of Joanie. She- We buddy read those ones. We used to read books like that together a lot, kinda like a book club, but only cool kids allowed,” I said on a laugh, repeating Joanie’s favorite quote. That and, first rule of book club, fuck all the rules.
Glancing at Tokre and Noyel, smiling tremulously, I told them, “I really miss her. And I, ah, missed you two, too.”
Noyel stood there in dumbfounded shock, surprised to hear something like that from me, but Tokre, seeing my smile, came over to join in, wrapping an arm around me, the other around Zhuii. Turning my gaze to my main mate, I lifted up to plant a long smooch on his lips that had Zhuii teasing us with a mock, annoyed grumble he knew would make me laugh.
Setting down the books gently as he watched us, Noyel approached. “Me, too?” he said simply, standing back to wait. I could see it, the fear of rejection behind those smiling eyes.
“Bring it in, Not-Neal,” I teased, wiggling an arm free to motion him over.
“It’s not No-yell,” he said on a snort, his eyes crinkling, he smiled so wide. Closing the distance, he brought his arms around me, ignoring Tokre’s disgruntled grumbles, real ones, as Noyel squeezed in for a decent hug.
Noyel swiped his index finger along my eyes discreetly, purring when I grabbed his hand, turning his palm, and planted a tiny buss of a kiss to it. “Thank you,” I murmured, going for broke on this mate harem business.
When in Rome! Apparently, this Rome was full of beasts and you nabbed up the good ones and hoped for the best—why choose?!
“Lindy-mine?” Zhuii said after a long moment.
“Yeah?”
“Lindy-mine have any book in Zhuii’s room. Zhuii’s room Lindy’s room.”
“Are you serious?” I whispered, my eyes widening as I peeked around the room.
“Like Zhuii room?” he asked with amusement.
“It’s your own personal library. You weren’t kidding when you said you had a lot of books.”
“But Lindy mine like it?”
“Zhubaby, I love it. It’s my new favorite.”
“More than cuzzi tub?”
“Uhm…” Spotting my reads with Joanie, I nodded. Those memories were priceless. To actually be able to read those books again and feel close to her, if only briefly? It meant the world to me. I gave a nod. “Definitely.”
“It Lindy-mine’s, then,” he said with finality.
My jaw dropped and I squirmed from their embrace. Dropping to my feet, I gave each shelf a long look and squealed, spinning around and dancing in place. Throwing my arms out as Tokre watched me with a perplexed look on his face and Noyel smiled but shook his head, Zhuii grinned from ear to ear.
“My Lindy-mine happy?” Zhuii chuckled.
“Happy?” I squee-ed, doing another deranged little happy dance. “You just gave this bitch a library!! I am beyond happy!” Zhuii’s arms opened, contemplating my next move before I’d made it. He’d guessed right, a happy hum rumbling his chest as I flew at him, still squealing and squee-ing. He let out a deep belly laugh as he caught me, scooping me up.
Noyel picked up one of the books, holding it up to Tokre to shake it at him. Gesturing with his other hand, he told Tokre, “We’re getting showed up by a male whose head barely comes to our shoulders.” He flicked the book in his hand, flapping it at Zhuii, then Tokre with a Can you believe this guy? look on his face. “You and I, friend, we need to step up our game.”
Tokre nodded, and I gasped.
“Hey! You can do the hand-speaking with Tokre!”
Noyel shrugged, modest. “I got bored and he’s not so bad, once I know what he’s saying.” At the answering grin spreading across my face, he glanced down at his toes, suddenly shy. Clearing his throat, my beast healer gave another shrug. “It was pretty easy, actually, and we had a lot of free time.”
“Noyel?”
“Yeah?” His gaze darted up to meet mine.
“I missed you, too.”
Noyel’s smile was sweet, blindingly so. “Good,” was all he said, proving himself the more Han Solo, I know, type of my mates.
Giving Zhuii a long, measured look, a flash of envy rushing those pretty blues as he watched us, he gestured as he spoke, for Tokre, telling Zhuii. “Eh, what the heck. You keep her in libraries, and I’ll just take all the leftover happies that come my way.”
“And here I thought you’d missed me.”
In a teasing mood, Noyel shrugged, though everyone knew he was full of shit. “Tokre kept me busy.”
Tokre snorted, gesturing back at Noyel, then Zhuii, pulling a face.
Noyel’s jaw dropped and he snickered. “Look who’s talking. I snore? You hog the blankets.”
Watching the pair spar like an old married couple, until Tokre threw his hands up and marched up to Zhuii, who easily handed me over, to collect me. Holding me to him securely with one arm, not a single sign of his previous injuries, no limp or pained grimace, not even a healing wound visible, the hair already grown back, signing as he stomped to the doorway.
“He say Noyel whiny baby, and now him got only thing he needs,” Zhuii translated with a grin, happily following Tokre out as he headed down the hall and towards the main room.
“I do not snore!” Noyel insisted, sounding very much like his mother.
“He say you do, loud, like Noyel face broken!” Zhuii laughed harder. He was enjoying this way too much.
“I- Hey, wait up!”
“Don’t forget my books, Not-Neal!” I called after him, grinning when he cursed soundly, in English and then beast-speak.
“Should’ve just told her how much I missed her,” I heard him snarling, the sound of books dropping as he tried to carry them all but kept dropping one here or there in his haste, music to my ears.
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.
CHAPTER 21
Several weeks passed, and we all fell into a real actual routine. The guys went in shifts, taking turns hanging around Tokre’s pad until Zhuii had an emergency exit completed for our den—as he liked to call it.
No one was willing to give up their home but Noyel, who split his time working, sleeping anywhere and everywhere, as he proved not only to be a loud snorer, but a fall asleep just about anywhere, even at the dinner table type.
The bed wasn’t made to accommodate three giants for males. Noyel opted to sleep on the floor until our sleeping situation improved. Feeling bad, I’d had Zhuii help me put a pallet bed together for him. It wasn’t the most comfortable thing, but it was better than nothing.
The tall beastie and I’d still yet to have any real time alone, but things have been pretty hectic around here lately.
I’d also been surprisingly unencumbered in the poke-me department. Tokre was a cuddle monster, snuggling ‘til sun up to hop up and start on breakfast for everyone, and then he was off, fishing or collecting supplies to weave his baskets. A bit at a time, I was joining the other females, at Dorothy’s urging. I didn’t talk much with them, because awkward didn’t even begin to describe it, but I wa
s trying. Lunch was eaten with the other women, a big group picnic type deal. Zhuii, preoccupied with fixing his den, would come collect me when the work day was done, whatever small creatures he’d trapped that was to serve as supper that night thrown over his shoulder, ready to be skinned.
By the time we’d all eaten and washed up I was no better than Noyel, who’d been taking the brunt of the healer duties when one of his fathers that practiced healing had started to assign him tougher duties. Noyel loved it, but we were both feeling the strain.
I was trying to make this work, yet finding myself growing frustrated. He had his own hut, and slept there sometimes when he couldn’t tolerate the pallet bed. We’d yet to go to it. It just kept getting put off.
Oi. One second I wanted to get the hell away from the lot of them, and now I’m bitching Noyel hasn’t shown me his bachelor pad? Or his man meat…
“I don’t have to make sense,” I growled out under my breath, taking my anger out on the dark blue eggplant tasting, corn looking, husk covered shell of what Zhuii called squishy plant. He was just making up names for me, I knew. They didn’t assign names for everything. That was a humans thing, he’d admitted. Dorothy’d pretty much said as much before, as well.
When the humans gave things a name, they went with it. When I asked how they told stuff apart he just shrugged. “Food. We eat it.”
“What did that squish ever do to you?”
Face scrunched up in a snarl, teeth gritted, I squealed in surprise. The only thing keeping me from tumbling was Noyel’s hands bracing my shoulders when I nearly jumped out of my skin.
“You startled me!”
Noyel chuckled. “Sorry.” He wasn’t sorry one stinkin’ bit.
Hunched over my basket, partially peeled stalk in hand, I sighed grumpily. “Zhuii makes this look so much easier than it is.”
Plopping down behind me, his thick legs brushing mine as they settled along either side of me, his arms came around me, gently taking hold of the stubborn, stupid- “I hate shucking,” I muttered, shoulders slumping, making him laugh.
Bride of Glass Page 38
