Page 64 of 20% Stud 80% Muffin
My blood boiled at Raz’s pompous voice.Why is this jackass here? And how the hell did he know so much about Lornian culture?
Now that Raz mentioned it, I hadn’t seen the silver in Makir’s eyes since the night he’d rescued me after falling off a cliff. But I ignored whattrue matemight mean and leveled my gaze at Raz instead. “What are you doing here?”
“I am a gues-s-st of the High Commander of the Elite Protectors of Lorne.” His tail smacked the polished floor where he sat with authority, as if he believed his presence was welcome in Makir’s home. The homeI’dbuilt.
Makir whined beside me, distressed. I straightened my shoulders and turned away from Raz, cupping my hand around Makir’s neck and forcing myself to concentrate on what was important. After showing zero restraint earlier, I needed to be on my best behavior in front of Bonic and Jast.
Bonic’s jaw tightened, and his gaze snapped between Makir, Raz and me. He opened his mouth, but before he could say anything, Jast ran her hand down his whipping tail and lifted her brows in a ‘you’re not in charge here’ look.
“Makir speaks highly of you, Bonic.” I pulled out an empty chair for Makir and gestured for him to sit before taking the one beside him.I am perfectly capable of ignoring Raz and being polite.“Why don’t we all sit?”
On a deep inhale, I gathered my nerves. “Please accept my sincere apology for my inappropriate behavior with Makir. It was inexcusable.” Makir’s rigid posture relaxed beside me as I addressed my poor conduct.
Bonic ignored Raz’s snort. “Four alphas and an unmated omega…it’s to be expected.” He brushed off my apology with a wave of his hand, and the tight collar of my shirt loosened a bit.
“Four?”
“My guard, Janny, is currently doing laps in Makir’s pool.”
His brother came with a guard? I squeezed Makir’s knee, steadying myself. Though woefully unprepared for this meeting, I could work with the few things I’d learned. “I’ve heard many stories about your childhood adventures trapping bush-tailed monties.”
Makir turned toward his brother and Jast. The eagerness in his voice blunted Raz’s presence. “I hope there’s time to take you out trapping linobee. The same snaring technique we used as younglings seems to work. And, Jast, you’ll love the hot springs.”
I nodded at Jast, hoping it would appeal to her. “Is hot water okay for pregnant Lornians?” It might be enjoyable for her if she didn’t stay in too long.
A smile tipped her lips. “That sounds wonderful, Makir, and you must join us, Geo.”
Makir breathed a sigh of relief, and I thought I might have just scraped the surface of saving face after my barbaric entry.
“Makir, why don’t we make arrangements for this trip tomorrow at first sun?” Bonic said.
“That’s perfect.” Makir scraped his chair back and rose, and I followed behind him into the kitchen, a little lost. “Dinner will be just a moment longer.”
“Smells good in here, little lion.” My words were soft as I ran my hand up his tail. The mixture of mantu and fresh herbs lingered in the air, and my mouth watered. I wished we were alone so I could lean into Makir and tell him about my day wrestling hot water under the idiot mayor’s direction.
“It’s D’irk’s recipe.” Makir brushed his fingers down my throat, and a soft purr drew me closer as images of the last time we’d had D’irk’s recipe freeze-framed in my brain.
Jast sighed. “You two are the cutest. The grand omega’s sure to see a connection.”
I stole a piece of mantu from the platter Makir was preparing. “Who’s the grand omega?”
The disdain in Raz’s voice prickled every nerve under my skin. “Only the most important omega on Lorne.”
Makir shook his head at me when I opened my mouth to reply, and he placed a large platter of herbed mantu in my hands. “She’s the true ruler of Tern. My parents are the regents and for the most part she lets them rule, but the grand omega has all the power. She and Bonic split responsibility. He handles everything security related.”
What the ever-loving fuck? Makir was royalty? “Why didn’t you say anything?” I stared at him, dumbfounded. I’d thought we’d gotten closer. My stomach bottomed out as if my feet had been swept out from beneath me.
“This looks divine.” Jast took the platter from me and placed it in the middle of the concrete tabletop. Frowning at Raz, she cupped my elbow for a moment. “She communes with the goddess Sola and her wisdom is sought by all Lornians, not just omegas. One of the many gifts she has been blessed with is her ability to see true mates.”
Her genuine smile helped ease my tension as Makir dodged my questioning looks. I took a second to appreciate the differences in the first female Lornian I’d met. Jast’s fur was the color of the sky on Earth, and she was slender like Makir, about my height. Her baby bump stood prominent against her thin frame. Straight blue hair framed her face rather than Makir’s messy mane. It happened to be in a neat braid today, but a few strands had worked loose while I’d claimed him. They softened his high cheekbones. His brother favored a top knot, with the remainder shaved to a short buzz, and he wore a dark navy uniform with boots so polished they must have been spit shined.
“When is your baby”—I corrected myself—“youngling due?”
Makir placed the sliced hiscus he’d marinated alongside a fragrant oil to dredge the crusty loaves of graneth bread through.
Raz cleared his throat and punctuated it with a dramatic tail slap. “Are we going to ignore the fact that the archbuilder stormed in here, was unspeakably rude to Makir and then proceeded to”—he waved his tiny arms in frontof him—“claim Makir in the bedroom. Where we could all hear, I might add. Then, as if that weren’t enough, has the audacity to slight the high commander and his mate with an uncivilized introduction.”
Bonic began to rise, but Jast placed a hand on his arm.
