I wanted that for her when she picked a male—males, for that matter, considering our new homeworld’s mating habits.
Why she felt the need to keep Rek around, I’d never understand, but she’d obviously formed some kind of odd bond with the male, despite how much the two pretended otherwise. Even now, Joanie kept peeking glances at him.
“Damn,” I thought with a weary sigh. “And so it begins…”
“What?” Joanie glanced at me sharply.
“Hmm? Nothin’.” I shook my head. “Just hungry. Tired, a little sore, and hungry.” My hand tapped Tokre, catching his attention. Tokre stopped, and our party followed. “You have two options,” I told Zhuii, who signed to Tokre, “put me down or hold me properly. This lugged at her hip business is making me nauseous.”
“Here.” Zhuii set the suitcase he held down and gestured for Tokre to hand me over. Tokre did, reluctantly, taking hold of my hand as Zhuii tucked me tight to his chest, gripping the handle of Joanie’s suitcase to let the bottom drag through the snow beside him with the other.
My hand went to the small knot Noyel had affixed to my pelts late last night, hooking the part I had a habit of clutching at my collarbones through each other with a thick string of leather to tie them together so they didn’t slide around separately, going in all directions while I moved. The fingers of my other hand gave Tokre’s calloused mitt a good squeeze.
“Tired?” Zhuii asked quietly, grinning when the hand fiddling with my cape clasp snuck up to smooth over the base of one of his horns.
“Tired. Sore. Had a long night. A crazy morning.” I wiggled a little when he growled a sexy growl, knowing exactly what that meant—a bout of sexual healing from my arduous mate. Pressing my face to his rich blue fur, I sucked in a lungful of earthy, Abominable male scent. “It’s good to be home.”
“Not home yet,” Zhuii said with a frown.
“Almost,” I murmured cryptically.
“Yes. That what Zhuii say. Not home yet. Almost.”
My hand dropped from his horn to rest over my stomach. “Not home yet, but almost, just one more thing to make it complete.”
Zhuii opened his mouth to speak but Noyel beat him to it.
“She’s not speaking literally, Zhubabaloo,” Noyel snarked.
Zhuii grunted, ignoring Tokre’s mild chuckle as Noyel signed and spoke.
“What my Lindy-mine need, then? Zhuii get it, make it.”
“For my period to disappear?” I hinted, waiting for someone to catch on.
Noyel made a choked noise, while Joanie gasped.
“Agreed,” Zhuii grunted out sternly. “My Rosie Beauty give Zhuii chest hurts with woman’s times.”
“Uhm, she wasn’t hinting at hoping to go through early menopause, bruiser,” Joanie chimed in, making me laugh.
“What mental pause?” Zhuii’s face scrunched up in such a funny, perplexed look Joanie and I were beside ourselves with laughter.
“I can just imagine how that went down,” Joanie got out between cackles.
“Zhuii no think my Lindy-mine bleeding times funny. Scary.” The large male shuddered. “Tokre keep think our Lindy-mine dying. Make Zhuii worry.”
“I told you I was fine,” I reminded, shaking my head. I was laughing so hard tears were streaming down my face.
“Don’t you all have ladies around here? I mean, I thought I saw one screaming right along with the pitchfork parade.” Joanie gave each male a duh stare. “What did you think babies came about with? A poke from your magic wand and they popped up in a pumpkin patch?”
When Joanie looked to Tokre, who was too busy watching Noyel’s hand signing to answer, I told her, “He can’t hear you. He’s deaf. Noyel and Zhuii, they’re teaching me how to sign, beastie style.
Joanie nodded. “Bad ass. Good for you all. You’ll teach me, too?”
“Of course.” My heart warmed at Joansie-o’s eagerness to accept my new mates into the fold.
“Cool. And, hey, no funny business, boys, when I bleed for five days and survive,” Joanie taunted. “No digging of ditches until Cousin Joanie is good and dead, we copasetic?”
“Zhuii no cobraspectic, but understand. No bury Cousin Joanie ‘til she dies.” Literal Zhu, he nodded, grim, like she’d just given him a knight’s task.
“No worries from me,” Noyel chuckled, “I’m a healer,” he stated proudly.
Tokre looked mildly embarrassed but nodded too, ignoring Noyel’s good-natured smile at Zhuii and Tokre’s lady issue squeamishness in favor of Noyel’s hand signs.
“So you just let them think she was dying?” Joanie gaped at Noyel, who had the decency to look a pinch sheepish.
“I told them… eventually,” he admitted, ignoring my glower.
Joanie burst out laughing and pointed at Noyel. “I like you. Oh my god, I just- I like you!”
“Evil, after your own heart,” I mocked.
Noyel blinked, glancing from me to Joanie. “I’m not that bad.”
“He is,” I assured her.
Joanie eyed the male, making her way towards him. Noyel paused as she stepped up to him, but slowly held his arm out to her.
“Manners. Another plus.” Joanie took his arm, tossing me a look over her shoulder. “So tell me, Noyel, is it?”
“Yes. Noil, like boil.”
“Oh, ick, mental picture. But enough about that, let’s get to the good part. Do you have any single siblings, Sir Dr. Mr. Noyel?”
Noyel burst out laughing and looked down at my tenacious cousin. His smile widened when she flipped her static cling infused hair with a saucy snap of her wrist, her lipstick smeared smile bright and hopeful. “Mama is going to have a field day with you. And probably kill me for saying this but… I, uh, may have a few.”
Joanie’s next words came out purred. “Purrrrfect.”
My hand slid over my eyes and I mumbled under my breath.
Zhuii made a hissing noise. “Why my Lindy-mine want the ground open up and swallow her? Stop that.”
A small giggle bubbled in my chest. Before I knew it I was a mess, choking with laughter as he glowered down at me.
Joanie turned to us then. “What’s the matter, big blue? She told you she meant she wanted a bun in the oven and you’re not ready yet?”
Zhuii grunted, blinking as his head jerked up. “Bun in the oven? What that do with a hole swallowing my Lindy?”
“What?” Joanie frowned up at the male. “You all have the weirdest conversations, I swear,” she muttered under her breath, shaking her head. She didn’t ask questions, just accepted the weirdness for what it was. “I meant a baby, blue magoo. She was trying to hint to you all, who are just not made for hinting, obviously, that she’d like, for whatever ungodly reason, to carry one of you all’s furry demon spawn.”
“A baby…?”
“Joanie,” I barked at her, glaring at her for breaking my sweet Zhu. The poor male looked poleaxed.
Tokre let out a pleased sound, turning to press his face into my nape, nuzzling the spot. His wild purr tickled my skin, making me giggle.
“Ah, quit it,” I got out between squeaking laughs. “Quit it, you!”
Tokre pulled back, his happy hum thrumming to life. With a quick glance at our guest and a few signs at Noyel and Zhuii I recognized meant he wanted to fish for dinner, he planted a quick kiss to my lips and rushed off. Tokre got into provider mode, comfortable enough with Noyel and Zhuii he entrusted them with my safety. Yet another reason for my heart to get all soft and gooey on them.
Everyone continued on, everyone but Zhuii.
Clutching me in his arms, my wild beast stood there, staring off into space.
“Zhuii?” My hand went to his cheek, where he closed his eyes, a choked purr in his throat, and nuzzled my palm.
“Lindy-mine want baby from Zhuii?” Blue eyelids popped open, warm, orange swirling pools of inky black blazing into mine. “No mind Zhuii different.”
“No. I don’t mind that you’re different. I love it.
And I’d be blessed to have your baby, any of yours. All of yours?” I asked hopefully.
Zhuii swallowed hard, lifting me up higher so he could nuzzle my chest, then lower. “Zhuii want many Zhuii-Tokre babies.”
“Zhuii.”
Nuzzling my belly, the big bad beast peeked up at me. “Guess No-yell babies, too.”
“You’re such a brat.”
“Lindy-mine likes her brat Zhuiibeast,” he teased, his voice muffled into my stomach. “Brat No-yell, too.”
Gripping his horn, I tugged his face to mine. “Yes, I do.”
A wild purr rumbled his chest as our lips met.
“We should get going,” I whispered, when we finally managed to break apart.
“In minute,” Zhuii muttered, licking his kiss swollen lips. “Zhuii need to put baby in Lindy-mine first.” The purr that followed that bold statement had me gaping up at him.
“I didn’t mean right this minute!”
My big beast grinned, cheeky yet charming. “Why we be waiting?”
“Hey, you two, quit sucking face and get those buns moving! I’m cold and your mate dude said he’d make me biscuits. Biscuits! Fresh! Homemade!”
Zhuii groaned, sighing, and started walking.
“Can Zhuii-”
“No.” I shook my head.
“Not even-”
“No. I don’t care how annoying she can get.” Patting his cheek, I snuggled back down into his arms. “She’s family, Zhu.”
“Family,” the big beast grumbled.
“Family,” I affirmed.
“Zhuii no mind having family,” he said thoughtfully.
“Me neither,” I agreed.
“No fucking in the snow!” Joanie bellowed. “Your balls might freeze off, blue balls.”
Zhuii scowled, his jaw jutting, chin lifting as his eyes narrowed. He grunted, admitting, “Maybe Zhuii mind a little.”
My mate carried my snort-giggling behind home, shaking his head, a tiny smile on his lips, my laugher echoing after us.
CHAPTER 25
Six Months Later
Joanie shocked everyone when she chose alternate housing to bunking down with us. My males were glad of it, that was for sure. I got the impression she sometimes felt like she was imposing, intruding on our cozy little foursome, no matter how much I said otherwise.
I didn’t see her much during the week, but we always sought each other out during the big bonfires and any chance we got. We were both just so busy, but we made time. If she needed me, Joanie knew where to find me.
She didn’t seem all too keen to tell me exactly where or who she was playing house with, though I could guess. Honestly, I didn’t ask.
Rek was noticeably absent, choosing to steer clear of me, of which I was grateful for.
“Noyel!” a deep voice bellowed from the main chamber.
Dusting my hands on the apron I’d fashioned, setting the thick stack of towels I was using as potholders aside next to the fresh bread I’d just pulled from the oven, I stepped into the hall, following the sound of Noyel’s father’s voice.
Griever, the gruffest of Dorothy’s mates, grunted a hello upon spotting me. “Rosie,” he greeted. “My Noyel home? We go hunt. Rothy want her males take babies. All her babies.”
This was the big trip, the one where they went farthest out, looking for stray Undesirables. This was the big guys’ trip all the other males wanted in on. All but Tokre, who didn’t stray far from me or his fishing spot, and Noyel, who couldn’t care less about a hunting trip.
My blue-eyed lover liked fluffy beds and his woman at his side every night, a fact that Zhuii liked to complain about, waking up to find he’d been petting Noyel’s head on the top of my back, squeezing it in where he could, and not some fur draped part of my body.
“He’s not in right now, but I’ll be sure to let him know.”
The male turned to the leave but stopped. “There more?” Griever asked, noting my hesitancy.
“Well, see, Noyel doesn’t want to go… but I know someone who does. He’s got a crazy sense of smell, and he’s a great tracker?” Zhuii’s sniffer was insane. The nutty beast had timed my period down to an art, informing my males, much to my embarrassment, the difference in my scent, noting the shift in my hormones. Tokre hung around the house during that time, like he just couldn’t shake the worry, and Noyel grew scarce for the week.
My Zhubeast had also once found a hairpin Tokre had whittled for me. I’d lost it during a festival, freaking out when I couldn’t find it. My Beast Prince had sniffed it out, hunting it down to present it to me proudly.
“Who?” the older male’s deep voice rumbled.
“Zhuii.”
“Zhuii?” His face scrunched up in disbelief.
“Yeah.” And at his look, I added, “Your other new son.”
“New udder son?”
“Yeah! Your other new son,” I fairly shouted, improvising as I went, “you know, now that Tokre and Zhuii are a part of your family now, as much as I am.”
The male made a noise like he was going to nix the idea, but I kept on. “You trust Zhuii to be in a family group with your son, your Dorothy’s favorite, yet you won’t even consider taking him on a trip he’s wanted to go on more than anything?” My hand went to my chest and I feigned a gasp.
The male’s eyes unerringly went to my apron covered belly and he gulped.
Blinking rapidly, like I might cry, I made sure my voice wobbled, sniffling audibly. “She said to take all of your babies, didn’t she? I mean, if you don’t count Zhuii and Tokre as family… Oh! Then what does that make me?”
The male’s eyes slowly widened, his huge hands thrusting out to wave, his head slowly shaking. “Ah… no cry. Sh-sh. No cry, Noyel Rosie. Ah, you Zhuii be my baby, too. Be my baby. You no cry. I take. I take. Rothy happy, Rosie Zhuii happy.” He was starting to grow frantic, eyes darting about wildly like he was afraid he might get caught upsetting the tiny little female his wife favored.
Sniffling louder, drawing my apron up to my face to hide the grin on my lips, I peeked up at him from the material. “You mean it?”
“Yes!”
“And Noyel can stay with me?” My hand went to my belly. “In case I need him?”
“Yes!” The male nodded so hard and fast it looked like it hurt.
“Really?”
“Yes! Yes!”
“Lindy-mine?” Zhuii called. Tokre’s double knock sounded on the wall, signaling they’d entered from the new back door Zhuii’d built.
“In here!” I called. Picking up my ankle length skirt, my feet covered in the special, doubly thick socks Zhuii had boasted about, I ran to the sound of that voice.
Skidding down the hall, I grinned like a lunatic when I spotted them.
“Why my Lindy-mine running?” Zhuii grumbled. Meeting me halfway, he scooped me up, one armed, so his free hand could rub the slight swell of my stomach. Nuzzling my cheek, he purred.
The boys insisted there were only two babies, but I was secretly hoping for three. It was the scents, Zhuii explained, that made the father of either baby hard to tell. “One smell like Zhuii and Tokre, one like Zhuii and Noyel,” my big Zhubeast had explained, though he didn’t look like he understood it, either. No one seemed to understand it. Not even Dorothy or her healer mate could explain it. There were possibilities, more of theories than anything—we’d just have to wait until the babies were born to see.
Tokre tapped Zhuii’s shoulder, demanding his turn, purring when Zhuii handed me over. Giving my fishermate a purr rattling kiss, I hugged him and pulled back.
“I have news,” I announced, right as Zhuii gave a long sniff. Watching me while I signed, Tokre copied Zhuii’s action and sniffed, a low rumble disrupting his purr.
“Zhuii smell ‘nother male,” my blue topped mate-husband grumbled.
“It’s one of Noyel’s daddies,” I soothed. “Guess what?”
“What?”
“He said he wants to take you on the hunt
this year!”
Tokre almost rammed into Zhuii, the male stopped so suddenly.
“What?”
“Yeah,” I cheered, “isn’t that great?!”
Zhuii shook his head. He just couldn’t believe it.
“Really,” I nodded, “he said he wanted to take his sons, all of them, which means you, too.”
“Him here?” Zhuii asked.
“Yup. The living room.”
Zhuii was running down the hall before I could get out another word.
As Tokre and I approached, I’d signed what all had gone on, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, to which Tokre told me, signing singlehandedly, Rosie just made Zhuii happiest male.
“Happier than you?” I teased, signing and speaking.
Never, he swore, a tiny growl welling in his chest.
“Later,” I purred, pressing a quick kiss to his lips before we joined Zhuii and Griever in the living room.
“Zhuii go?” I heard Zhuii’s deep voice rumble out tentatively. My poor Zhubeast just couldn’t believe it.
“Griever want Zhuii go. Zhuii son now,” the male responded gruffly.
When we walked into the room, I cracked up at the sight of Noyel’s father bellowing, alarmed as Zhuii picked him up with a happy whoop, smashing him against him in a suffocating hug, and spun him around.
“What’s all this about?” Noyel asked as he set his bag down just inside by the front door, a slow grin lighting his face as he stepped up next to us.
Tokre set me down so Noyel could put his arm over my shoulder, taking my hand as Noyel’s hand found my tummy, where he gently rubbed the spot.
“Zhuii just agreed to go to the big hunt with your daddy,” I explained.
“Really?” Noyel’s furry eyebrows shot up. “Does this mean I don’t have to?”
“Yep,” I said succinctly.
Those furry caterpillars smothering his face dipped low. “This was all your doing,” Noyel guessed.
“Yep, again,” I murmured with a cheeky grin.
“Miracle worker,” he praised enthusiastically, his mood instantly lightening.
“What can I say?” Grinning, I picked up one of the wooden sporks set out for dinner on the table, popping the end of it into my mouth to bite down around it, telling them around it, “I love it when a plan comes together.”
Bride of Glass Page 43
