I glared at Veck and Bia, "You wanna pummel Tarnk for showing me an arrow too?"
Dorothy walked in and paused, raising a brow inquiringly.
"Dorothy! Save me! Kirch has lost his damn mind!"
Dorothy chuckled and patted Kirch's cheek affectionately.
"He always was a cheeky little monkey."
"Traitor," I muttered.
She busied herself about the room, acting as if it was normal to walk in on your nephew trying to beat on another male for talking to his mate.
Then again... for them... maybe this is normal...
Oh, boy.
"Are you boys being careful with her?" Dorothy asked, glancing up at my mates as she flitted about the room.
"This no sex thing is all your fault, isn't it?" I accused, crossing my arms over my chest, scowling fiercely at her.
I ignored the fact that I probably looked ridiculous with my feet dangling as Kirch kept me pinned to his chest, my back to his front.
"Mina!" Bia said blushing.
"You know, I've never seen you blush like that before," I observed distractedly.
"Oh, he's the most reserved of the men. Blushes like a tomato. Then again he's also the youngest," Dorothy said chuckling at her son's discomfort. "I love it, it’s so cute."
"I'm not cute," Bia grumbled.
"He's the youngest?" I asked eyeing him dubiously. "Is that why he talks so much better than Kirch and Veck?"
"Hey!" they all said at the same time.
I chose to ignore them.
"Oh, yes," Dorothy replied as she bustled about, checking Tarnk's wounds, cleaning his shoulder off and covering it with some type of smelly ointment. "Some of the later brides taught me things here and there, told me things and I've taught them to him too. Veck and Kirch as well. ...when and if, and I say if, they're even willing to listen. Stubborn males."
She rolled her eyes at the very idea.
Well, that explains a few things...
"Bia's the most prudish too!" She chuckled, returning me to the conversation. "He wouldn't even bathe in front of the other males when he was growing up."
I giggled at the idea of Bia being a prude.
"He doesn't want his mama to know he has sex," she said snorting at him.
"You are both evil," Bia said on a huff.
"So, if Bia's youngest... how old are Veck and Kirch?"
"Veck's older than me and Kirch isn't that far behind me," she admitted.
I looked over at Veck.
He just grinned and winked at me.
"Meanie loves Meanie's old mates."
He glanced over at Bia, "Baby ones too."
"Gee, thanks," Bia drawled sarcastically.
"Kirch not old!" Kirch growled.
"Anyways," I said changing the subject.
I don't think Tarnk's little hut could handle my mates brawling in it.
"Tarnk's wound looks like a gunshot wound... does anyone here have guns?"
"No," Veck said immediately.
"Are you sure?"
My stomach knotted with worry.
"Yes." He nodded.
My worry turned into a lead weight and settled heavily in my gut
"Then I think we have a problem. Either someone has a gun or came through the portal with one and obviously isn't afraid to use it."
Veck frowned and glanced at Tarnk.
He started talking to him rapidly in Lo denaii, Tarnk responding ever so often.
"What's he saying?" I whispered to Kirch.
"Veck wants Tarnk to show Veck where rock hit Tarnk."
"It wasn't a rock! It was a bullet! Dorothy, tell them!" I insisted.
"I've never seen a bullet wound," Dorothy said apologetically.
I wiggled out of Kirch's hold and ran to Veck.
"You can't go over there! What if the bad guy is still there?!" I said desperately.
I tugged on his arm, latching myself onto him.
"Veck careful Meanie," Veck said unconcerned.
"No!" I shouted, trying to think of a legitimate excuse why he shouldn't.
I got nothin'.
"Make Tarnk go! He already has a hole in him, what's one more, right?"
Everyone looked at me like I'd lost my mind.
"Okay! Okay! I'm sorry!" I said hurriedly, addressing a gaping Tarnk, "That was mean and stupid and insensitive, but I'm desperate here! It's too dangerous!"
"Meanie," Veck said trying to hide his amusement at me throwing Tarnk under the bus for him, "Veck careful, Meanie no worry."
He caressed my face and pulled me up to him to nuzzle my neck.
"A gun! A gun, Veck! Don't tell me to not to worry, you overgrown lummox! You could get shot!"
Bia looked at Kirch and Veck thoughtfully, "I could keep Mina's mind off of everything while you two check it out. I promised to take her to the caves the other day, I just haven't had the time."
"You do? You did? Oohhh, that's code for sex... well you aren't getting any either. Kirch doesn't want me…"
"Meanie! Kirch want-"
"And," I said loudly, talking over an irate Kirch, "I've decided that if I can't have one of you, I won't have any."
Dorothy burst out laughing.
"Meanie..." this from Veck.
"But," Bia protested.
"And if you think I'm going to ride you until the cows come home," I said poking Bia in the chest, "while these two go off all halfcocked and try to get themselves shot or worse," I growled now, motioning towards Veck and Kirch, "then you've lost your marbles!"
"Kirch no want Meanie?" Tarnk asked flabbergasted.
I growled at all of them, frustrated, eyeing Dorothy coldly as she tried to stifle her laughter, her hands cupped over her face as she snorted and giggled at us.
"Tell me it'll get better with time..." I muttered.
I looked at Dorothy pleadingly.
"I wish I could," she said merrily.
There was a loud knock on Tarnk's door and I marched passed everyone to answer it.
I straightened my shoulders and let out a big breath. I opened the door and looked up into the tall Lo denaii's surprised face and smirked a little.
"Hello," I greeted Berkr.
He looked at me and then peered into the room, then looked back at me again.
"Tarnk?" he asked a little warily.
"He's here. Come on down," I said in my best game show host voice.
I motioned for him to come in.
"Might as well finish off the madness. What's one more, right?" I muttered sarcastically.
"Berkr," Tarnk greeted as Berkr looked around wide eyed.
"Tarnk mate Meanie too?" he asked eyeing me like he was trying to figure out what was so great about little old me.
"NO!" Kirch bellowed, "Meanie's Mine!"
He stalked over to me and pulled me to him, pushing my face into his chest, snarling at Berkr and Tarnk angrily.
"Meanie say Kirch no want Meanie," Tarnk chimed in.
I pulled my face back and looked at them seriously.
"Kirch wants Meanie! Meanie's babies…" Kirch tried to explain.
"What can I say," I said over him, "he slimed me, broke my vagina, knocked me up and now he's done with my fun box." I looked at Kirch mournfully. "But it was fun while it lasted."
I stroked his cheek affectionately.
He immediately lost all the fight in him and tried to muffle his happy purr as he rolled his eyes at me.
Bia busted up laughing, Veck bellowing right along with him.
Kirch tried to hide the smile that was threatening to break out across his face.
I winked at him and that was all it took.
He grinned from ear to ear, his purr starting up again, rumbling loudly as he cupped my bottom, lifting me up to nuzzle me, chuckling into my neck when I started to squirm restlessly in his arms.
"Kirch broke Meanie's..." Berkr eyed me horrified.
Tarnk however, must have caught on to my odd sense of humor and shook his head
at me, a small smile playing at his lips.
Dorothy, who I'd forgotten about up until this point, patted Berkr on the back.
"You came here to tell Tarnk something, sweetie?" she prompted gently.
Berkr quit staring at Kirch and me and brought himself back to the present.
"Detret found Candy."
"Where is she? Is she okay?" I asked, unable to squash my concern.
...even for a bubble brained airhead like the dreaded Candy.
Someone is out there with a gun after all.
And somehow I highly doubt it's her.
She doesn't even seem like she can tie her own shoes, let alone wield a gun properly!
Berkr nodded his head 'yes' and motioned for Tarnk to follow.
He stopped when he realized we hadn't followed too.
"Candy wants Meanie."
I sighed and rested my forehead against Kirch's.
"Do I have to?" I whispered to Kirch.
He gave my rump a good squeeze and kissed my nose.
"Kirch save Meanie from Candy's love," he purred, shocking me with his teasing.
So out of place for my typically taciturn mate.
"That is not even funny!" I gave him a couple of good slaps on the chest, laughing despite myself.
Chapter 18
Candy was by the pits where we have our weekly bonfires, glancing around nervously as she gripped a fur over her shoulders.
"Willy!" Candy squealed when she saw me in Kirch's arms.
I winced as her voice grated on my nerves and slammed into my poor eardrums.
She ran up to me, but stopped when she got a few feet away from me, wide eyed as Kirch walked up with me in his arms.
"Kirch, you can put me down now."
He didn't.
He adjusted me more comfortably on him and gave Candy an annoyed expression.
"Meanie is Kirch's mate," he said haughtily, mimicking me perfectly.
Candy blinked at him.
"Huh?"
"Candy has Tarnk. Meanie is Kirch's."
He looked to me for affirmation, his eyes dancing mischievously as he gave me a serious expression.
Kirch is a terrible actor by the way.
Bia and Veck were chuckling, at my expense, of course, from somewhere behind me.
Totally going to get them back for this later, I thought as Kirch laid it on extra thick.
"Oh, my god, now you're just being an ass! Put me down, you baboon!"
He set me down and tried to kiss me.
I harrumphed at him and avoided his lips, rolling my eyes at him.
"I don't even sound like that," I said haughtily, shutting up when it occurred to me that I sounded exactly like he had moments ago.
"Willy?" Candy asked confused.
"Ignore him. He has issues." I waved my hand around in his general direction.
"Oh, Willy, it's been so terrible," Candy said on a wail.
I put my hands up to stall her from flinging herself at me.
"What did he look like?" I asked cutting the crap.
"What did who look like?" she asked with watery bambi eyes.
"The shooter. Did you see what they looked like? A he or a she? One or more?"
"Shooter?" she asked stupidly, face pinching up tight.
"Yeah, you know. Whoever it was that shot your mate."
"My mate?"
"Tarnk... your mate... remember?" I asked slowly, beginning to wonder if she had ever done drugs in her life.
"Oh... he died," she said distractedly, almost casually, using her fingers to comb her hair.
"No, he didn't."
"He did. I saw. It was terrible," she said rubbing at her eyes.
She looked up at me and fresh tears were starting to track down her cheeks.
Did she just... no... but it could have been....
"Did you just poke yourself in the eyes?" I blurted.
"No! Pfft! Why would I do that?" she asked laughing weakly, face scrunching up again.
"You okay? You're acting awfully funny."
"I'm much better now that... Ack! He's alive!" she screeched, bug-eyed, "Don't let him touch me!"
"Candy, no!" I grunted as she jumped on me and climbed all over me, pulling at my dark brown locks with her claw like fake nails, acting like a damn howler monkey as she shrieked, squeaked and squealed at Tarnk as he slowly approached us.
Veck growled at her and plucked her off of me.
"Meanie has babies. Careful, Candy."
He set her on her feet and she immediately cowered away from him, stumbling back.
Kirch and Bia flanked me, their hands going to cup my tummy protectively.
"Babies? OH, MY GOD! You actually had sex with one of them!"
"Three of them, actually," I said dryly as I glared at her, placing my hands over theirs.
Veck came up behind me and pulled me into the warmth and comfort of his strong, solid chest.
He motioned for Tarnk to collect his mate.
"No! I don't want him! Don't you touch me, you vile creature!" she spat.
Tarnk backed up from Candy reluctantly, hurt brimming in his large brown eyes over her very loud, very public rejection.
"You said that's why you wanted to come here. To be a mate to one of the Lo denaii."
"I changed my mind. I could never let myself be with one of them," she clipped disgustedly, shuddering in revulsion as she stared at them.
"You should have thought about that before you let Tarnk claim you," I barked at her, putting my hands on my hips as I pursed my lips in equal parts irritation and anger.
"I want to go home now," she said pouting, crossing her arms over her chest, tapping her heeled boot on the ground impatiently.
"Where have you been?" I asked, my curiosity piquing.
"I was lost."
"Yeah, but where? How did you eat? Where did you sleep?"
"I don't remember. I just want to go, like now!" she squeaked angrily.
"Why are you in such a rush to leave?"
Nothing was adding up and she was acting strange. She was being antsy and kept glancing around at the woods, too agitated.
"Are you going to help me or not?" she demanded.
"Not," I said turning my back on her to leave.
"If you aren't going to help me, then you have to take me with you!" she screeched, grabbing my arm to halt me.
I stared at her, lips pursed, eyes narrowed, not saying a word until she released me.
"Why?"
She didn't answer and I noticed her hands were shaking.
"Candy want go home?" Detret asked as he approached her slowly.
"Oh, yes! Can you take me?" she asked Detret sweetly, batting her lashes at him.
Detret looked unhappy, but nodded his head.
"Let's go, now!" she said grabbing his arm to tug him along.
Tarnk stalked off angrily, growling at anyone who greeted him or even dared to look in his direction.
Poor guy…
"We can't let her go yet," I told Veck, tugging at him, "there are too many gaps in her story and I just know she's hiding something."
"Candy broken. No help Meanie," Veck told me as he watched Detret leave.
I thought about that.
I highly doubt Candy would be willing to tell me any more… honestly… but still…
Ugh! Talk about frustrating.
"You're probably right, but it doesn't make any sense. She didn't even look like she'd been lost in the woods."
"Maybe she was hiding in the caves," Bia said thoughtfully.
"Maybe…" I’m feeling way too strongly about the whole thing to agree.
"Meanie worry too much," Kirch chided as he held his hand out to me.
He didn’t say it in a mean way, more concerned than anything.
Once again, my answer is a big fat maybe.
I took his hand and held mine out to Bia, who took it in his.
Maybe they're right. Maybe I am worrying too much...
&
nbsp; It just seemed so odd though... and there is no doubt about it, she was definitely up to something....
God, just listen to me! Maybe I am being a little too paranoid.
I tried to relax as we started walking home.
Tomorrow, I promised myself, I'll worry about it tomorrow.
We strolled along, hand in hand, the weather much colder today than it had been since I'd come here.
Veck swooped in behind me and scooped me up, running off with me as Bia and Kirch grumbled at him from behind us, irritated at being swindled.
I wrapped my arms around his neck and waved at Kirch and Bia from over his shoulder as they cursed and grumbled at Veck. I couldn’t help giggling at their antics.
It's kinda hot having three males playing keep away with me, fighting for my attention.
Trying to outdo each other in everything.
I shivered excitedly at the idea, my core throbbing to life with sexual heat as I mentally replayed some of our more exuberant experiences.
Veck leaned down and inhaled deeply at my neck.
He growled and gripped me tighter.
"Soon, wife, soon," he crooned, licking the shell of my ear.
"Run faster!" I urged him on, tugging a little on his hair.
****
We made it back in record time.
Veck didn't even give me a chance to get my clothes off. He just yanked my pants down, bent me over the table, stuffed one of my furs under my stomach and thrust into me.
I gripped the table hard, my breath catching, turning into an ecstatic moan as he gripped my hips and pleasured me with his hard ruthless pace.
"Meanie," he groaned, "Veck's Meanie."
He yanked my dress over my head, pausing only long enough to let me get it off.
He reached around and grabbed my breasts, squeezing them in tandem as he tunneled harshly into my sheath.
"Kirch stupid mate," he babbled, "Veck want Meanie forever."
"All yours, husband," I purred, thrusting back against him.
"Wife!" he said on a shout as I tightened my inner muscled around him, clamping down on him tightly, setting him off, his cock throbbing as he pulsed inside of me.
My body was still humming with unspent passion, but I didn't mind. The idea that I'd made him so restless, so hot for me, that he couldn't hold it back anymore, that I'd made him loose it, made me feel very proud of myself, very pleased.
The Bridal Hunt Page 16
