Page 27 of Up In Flames
“Uh-huh,” I drawled. “So, I'm not the only one not paying attention to your mating plans.”
“Watch it, kid,” Nex said. “I get to be flippant about this. You don't.”
“All right, fair enough,” I said. “Did you want me to talk to your soon-to-be neighbors?”
“Actually, yes. Could you?”
“Sure. Anything for you, buddy.”
Nex grinned. “All right, no need to butter me up. I'm over your self-centeredness.”
“You calling me self-centered. That's hilarious.”
“It's a testament to just how self-centered you are,” he shot back. “If I think you're self-centered, you must be on a whole new level of ego.”
I burst out laughing. “Well played, Tytra.”
Nex grinned. “Seriously though, I'd appreciate you speaking to them. They always get fidgety around me. I think I scare them.”
“No, not you.” I rolled my eyes.
“I didn't say I don't understand it. I mean, their fear is rational. I'm a terrifying beast of a man with an enormous cock. But it's annoying when I'm trying to have a conversation with one of them.”
“Dear Goddess, make him stop,” Keltyr whined.
“No one can make Nex stop,” Rath said.
“Nex,” Evina stepped up to the table.
Nex straightened in his seat, a big grin spreading across his face, and asked, “Yes, my love?”
“I stand corrected,” Rath whispered to us, making us chuckle.
“Have you spoken to them yet?” Evina asked.
“Them?”
“The villagers of Fress.” She lifted a dark brow. “I need to tell my clan where the ceremony will be.”
“Ember has volunteered to speak to them on our behalf.”
“That's sweet of you, Ember, but this is Nex's responsibility,” Evina said to me.
“Yes, but Nex is a big scary beast of a man,” I said. “With an enormous—”
Nex kicked me in the shin, cutting me off.
“He's a what?” Evina scowled at me.
The men at the table snorted and laughed as Nex rolled his eyes.
“I scare them, my love,” Nex said with a shrug. “Nothing to be done. I mean, just look at me. I'm intimidating.”
“You had better do something,Nexhavaren,” Evina snapped. “Those people are going to be our neighbors. If you can't convince them to trust you, we'll never be accepted. Now, get over there and be nice!” She pointed at the table where Caleb and the other people of Fress were eating.
“Yes, sweetheart.” Nex stood up. “You're right.”
Evina instantly softened. “Thank you, Nexy.”
