He nodded, because what she said was true. There was no guarantee. “Bran, Gil, and I make harming you and Crow much more difficult.”
“That’s true,” she admitted, recalling how she and Zul had met. She said nothing about how, throughout history, women on Earth had needed protection from the very men who were supposed to protect and cherish them. She’d met several mated females in her years on Uribern, both full-blooded Uribs and hybrids, and all appeared to be doted upon by their mates. She clapped her hands together. “Well, I’d best get to work.”
Before she could dash off, Zul said, “Elska’adir, you do know that I would protect you with my life?”
Although frustrated by her mates’ inclination to, figuratively, wrap her in cotton wool and bubble wrap to keep her safe, Ursula realized she had some repairing to do. She’d hurt Zul’s feelings. She wrapped her arms around the hulking berserker and laid her cheek against him. “I do, Zul. And do not think for one moment that I am ungrateful?—”
“I do not want yourgratitude,” he growled.
She tilted her head back. “You have it nonetheless. And you have my love, too.”
Both of Zul’s hearts stuttered. “Your love?”
She pressed a kiss to his chest, for her lips could reach no higher, then smiled. “Yes, Zul, my love. You have earned my trust and affection. Youfitwith Bran and Gil. And I find it terribly difficult to resist you.”
He sighed and ran a hand down the silky length of her hair. “We are mates. You should not resist me.”
She patted him. “Until Bran and Gil return, I must.”
Zul sighed again, knowing she spoke truly. He took her small hand in his big paw and lifted it. He turned it over and pressed his mouth to her palm. After kissing her palm, he said, “And I am a male of honor. But once we have performed the Rites of First Taste and First Union together, I will take great pleasure in fucking you” —his words made her shiver— “and you will receive great pleasure when I fuck you.”
The musk of her arousal floated up to his nose. Zul put his arms around her and held her against his body, hoping Bran and Gil would return home soon before his fraying control snapped.
Chapter 15
The mayor and sheriff relented, and Ursula agreed to hold her festival within the village, much to the unvoiced relief of the Fangrys castrati. She soon discovered that organizing a community event was different from organizing a dedicated conference or party for a single organization. There were additional considerations to handle, including coordinating with other merchants on the streets that would be closed for the festival. Those entrepreneurs were, of course, busy running their businesses, and many were disinclined to speak directly to the Fangrys Prima, demanding instead to deal directly with the new Third of the Fangrys Triad.
That annoyed Ursula to no end. After wasting time and energy complaining, she changed strategy and sought and received introductions to the matriarchs of those business owners’ families. She spoke with the wives of mated merchants and the mothers of unmated merchants. Most of the females were intrigued by her proposition to assist in the organization of the festival and delighted by the honor and prestige of helping the Prima of Fangrys.
The village ladies threw themselves into the project with an infectious enthusiasm that spread throughout the region andinto neighboring provinces, including Omari. Ursula’s former coworker and the Omari Prima called her.
“Carmen, it’s wonderful to hear from you! How are you?” Ursula greeted her friend, another human-Urib hybrid bride.
“Hola, chica! I heard about your festival and wanted to let you know that the boys and I will be coming,” Carmen replied.
“I assume ‘the boys’ includes your triad as well as the kids?”
“Of course!” Carmen laughed. “You know I never go anywhere without those big lugs.” She paused, then asked, “How are you getting along?”
“It’s been… weird.”
“Weird how?”
“Well…” Ursula chewed on her bottom lip for a moment before launching into the story of meeting Zul and him being accepted as the new Third in her mated triad.
“Well, you know my men will just have to meet him!” Carmen giggled. “And I’d like to take a gander at him, too.”
“Carmen!”
The other woman’s delighted laugh chimed like bells. “I’m married, not dead!”
Ursula chuckled, glad of her friend’s mirth. “Oh, and let me tell you what else I’ve been doing.”
“Stirring up trouble?”
Ursula gasped with fake offense then laughed. “Of course. You know I can’t resist causing trouble.”
“That’s my girl! Strike one for women’s liberation!”
