The Bridal Hunt (28 page)

I mean, it could have been a lot worse...

I cupped my hand over his and squeezed. I reached a hand up and cupped his face, stroking it tenderly.

I couldn't really say this was truly anyone's fault, except George's.

Yep, all George's.

Now I just have to keep telling myself
that
fifty or sixty million times until my gut stops clenching and the guilt goes away.

"I love you," I told him honestly
, stating the only absolute in my life at this moment, my mind a scrambled up mess.

"I love you too," he said
kissing me sweetly, his eyes softening.

I took a deep breath and smiled at him a little.

"I'll try not to beat myself up about all of this as long as you don't either."

"But, Mina, you didn't... I was the one who..."

My lips thinned.

"Deal?" I asked loudly, a sharp edge to my voice.

He leaned over the tub, water sloshing out everywhere and hugged me.

"Deal," he whispered hoarsely, burying his face in my neck, inhaling deeply.

He shuddered for a minute, his emotions getting the better of him and I held him to me, stroking his hair, murmuring to him softly.

"Bia not fit in water with Meanie," Veck teased.

I let go and gave Veck a small smile, chuckling the tiniest bit.

"How is Berkr?" I asked them all.

"Berkr live, Dorothy think. Berkr tough Lo denaii," Kirch said after a moment.

I had already told them everything that had happened and ever
ything George had admitted as they'd steered me out of the woods, further away from the body, and taken me home.

The body...
I shivered a little in the water, trying not to shudder.

"Meanie hungry?" Kirch asked.

"Thirsty?" Bia prompted.

"Meanie tired," Veck announced.

He strode towards me and scooped me up, placing my feet on the floor gently to dry me off.

His hands were gentle and thorough as he methodically dried me off with a large piece of cloth.

Once he felt I was sufficiently dry, he placed me in the middle of the bed. He motioned for Kirch and Bia to join us.

Bia crawled in from the bottom and rested his head on my lower stomach, his arms wrapping around my hips as he cuddled me.

I stroked his hair and he purred, nuzzling my belly.

Veck and Kirch each took a side, Kirch wrapping his arm over my breasts, his head on my shoulder as he kissed me sweetly.

Veck put his arm over my lower ribs, his chin resting on my head as he started to purr happily.

I felt myself relaxing, all of the tension draining from me. I basked in their protection, their love, their warmth.

"I love you," I whispered, closing my eyes.

Safe.

I feel safe with them.

So loved, so safe.

I smiled when I got three loud purrs and three 'I love you too's back.

Chapter 22

Eight months later

"I feel like I'm going to pop,"
I whined as I tried to stretch my back.

"Meanie feels good to Kirch," Kirch murmured huskily, his hands rubbing over my enormous belly, kissing wherever it thumped from one of the baby's playing Olympic gymnast in there.

I giggled and swatted his hand away.

"None of that or you might break my water," I joked.

"Meanie water not break from Kirch's cock, Kirch not read that in here."

He held up the pregnancy book one of the men had gotten a hold of.

I prefer not to think about
how
they'd gotten it. I just like to remind myself that it was to ease my fears as I creep closer and closer to impending motherhood.

"No, but if I'm far enough along, it could help send me into labor," I shot back.

"Where it say that?" Kirch argued, waving the book around.

"You know," I grumbled at him, snatching the book back,
giving his mane a teasing yank, "not everything is in a book! I liked you sooo much better when you couldn't read or talk all that well."

Kirch snorted and rolled off the bed,
teeth flashing in a predatory smile.

"Meanie likes Kirch
juuust
fine."

He winked and sauntered from the room.

I could hear his laugh as it echoed down the hall after he'd ducked when I threw a pillow at him.

"Veck!" I shouted, "Kirch is being mean to me!"

"Kirch hurt Meanie's feelings?" he shouted back after a moment.

"Yes!
I'm feeling delicate!"
I hollered back.

There was a loud thump and I grinned as Kirch yelped and then growled.

"Bad Meanie!" Kirch growled at me from the other room.

He always reverts back to his caveman talk when he's mad
, I thought with an evil grin.

I tried to roll myself over and struggled to get up off of the bed.

"Need some help, my sweet?"

Bia helped me the rest of the way up and kissed my lips, then leaned down and kissed my belly.

"How are you feeling this morning?" he asked as he followed me into the bathroom.

"Like a whale," I admitted, sighing when I
poured a pitcher of water into a basin bowl and splashed cold water on my face. It helped cool me off.

"Well, you look beautiful to me," he purred.

I elbowed him and grimaced as I pulled something in my back, a sudden sharp pain hitting me.

Youch
!

"H
ey, are you okay?" He rubbed my back a little.

I waited until the pain eased up and sighed in relief.

"Yeah, I just kinked my back or something and it’s been bugging me."

I moaned when his magical fingers soothed my sore muscles.

"Bia!" Veck shouted, "You be late!"

"Coming!" he shouted back.

"I think we only have one volume in this house," I laughed.

"Will you be alright here by yourself for a little while? We want to make sure everything is ready."

"Yeah, yeah," I grumbled, "Unless someone rolls off with my roly poly-ness, I don't see how I'd really go anywhere."

"You're perfect," he contradicted, shutting me up with a kiss.

With one more fare well kiss he was off, hurrying after.

When I heard them hurrying off and slam the door behind them, I laughed.

Then the door slammed again as Bia hurried out too.

Can't do that once the babies get here,
I thought and chuckled.

I walked around the house, trying to straighten everything up as I went, working off my sudden burst of energy.

About an hour passed and then there was a knock at the door.

I waddled up to it and looked through the peep hole, the one I'd insisted they put on our new house's door.

Our new house,
I sighed happily.

A lot has gone on since the whole George nightmare.

Some days I have trouble with what happened.

I really struggle with it...
nightmares… guilt… the whole spiel…

…A
nd some days I don't.

I don't think you ever get over something like that.

I know I haven't.

It changes you...

It also makes you appreciate what you have that much more too and I do.

Life is precious and I have three wonderful mates to help me get through my rough patches and vice versa.

The knocking on the door sounded again and I jolted out of my musings.

I glanced at the door and admired its beautiful design, the wood carefully sha
ped and decorated the way my mates thought I'd like it.

We've been living in the home they'd built, just for me, for the last few months and I couldn't be happier.

They'd given me free reign to have it done up how I saw fit and I did, getting exactly what I wanted and then some. Within their snow beastie means, of course, let’s be realistic here.

Still, though... Woo hoo! Go me!

But enough of that.

There was another knock, this time more insistent and I could just imagine the person on the other side thinking
'answer the damn door, Mina!'

I opened the door and found Tarnk standing there, his arms full as he waited patiently for me to invite him in.

"Come on in," I said grinning at him.

Tarnk's whole face lit up as he walked into the living room.

He's really an awesome man beastie once you get to know him.

It was odd to me at first, how quiet he is. He doesn't usually say much, but when he does, I find I always enjoy myself.

He’s very entertaining.

I feel a little guilty about our little chats, but the guys don't seem to mind, not like they would if it was anyone else.

They know Tarnk was the one who truly saved the day with the arrow he shot into George's hand, stalling George from firing the gun at me.

We’ve sort of bonded over it.

I'll forever be grateful to him for it and so will they.

He's become somewhat of a permanent fixture in the house lately, popping over all the time for little things or just to simply say hello.

"You know they aren't having the party for another four hours, right?"

"Tarnk give to Meanie," he said awkwardly.

He set the two large objects down in front of me.

Hmmm… presents early? Well…
I thought happily
,
trying not to appear
too
eager,
if he insists.

"Open," he said excited
yet nervous.

I leaned down carefully and opened the first one, pulling the sack off of it that he'd covered it with.

I gasped in delight and hurried to pull off the other one.

"They're gorgeous!" I exclaimed as I studied the two wooden cradles with pictures carved in.

I ran my hands over them, admiring all the little creatures he'd etched into them and looked up at him.

I recognized some of the critters by sight, having seen them hopping or scurrying around fr
om time to time, the images very detailed and accurate.

"You made these?"

I even recognized the green and pink furred, bear-like creature that Veck had made my mating fur from, looking like it was climbing a tree in one of the designs he'd made.

They're perfect!

"For Meanie," he said nodding his head.

"Thank you, Tarnk, they really are beautiful.
Ooooh
, Could you help me put them in the nursery? I want to see how they look in there," I said excitedly.

He picked them up and followed me without another word.

I led the way down the hall, taking him right across from my bedroom and into what would soon be the babies' room.

He set them down and moved them around a little, then backed away when he was happy with how he'd set them.

I clapped my hands happily.

"I love them! I love it! They look awesome!"

"Good," Tarnk said grinning.

He looked at me for a minute, then looked away. He looked back at me again and started to say something, but stopped.

I could tell he was getting upset, seeming frustrated suddenly.

Maybe I've hurt his feelings somehow?

"What's wrong? Was it something I said? I really do like them. I don't wa..."

"No," he shook his head
adamantly, "Tarnk want to... want to..." he stuttered.

"Wants to what? What is it?"

He didn't answer, but his face flushed.

"Could you show me
, instead? Would that be better?"

He nodded his head 'yes'.

"Okay, go ahead."

He looked uncertain, but I smiled at him encouragingly.

"Go ahead," I prompted him.

He leaned down and hugged me gently, wrapping his
arms around me in a friendly embrace.

"Was that all? You could have just asked," I chuckled and returned the embrace.

He pulled back and stared at me, his deep chocolate eyes regarding me so seriously.

It seemed as if he was debating something with himself, having a little internal debate.

Tarnk growled a little in the back of his throat and put a hand on the back of my head. He clamped his lips down on mine, startling me.