Terus grinned. “Fine, but I want to hold her when we are on the pathways.”
“I am not a ball to be handed off.”
Xeti kissed her head. “Of course not, but being able to hold you will soothe something.”
“I don’t want to know what it’s soothing. I have been plastered against you and sweating all night.”
Terus sighed, “Yeah.”
They climbed the rock face without any kind of strain. Rache kept the urge to web herself to safety quiet as Xeti held her carefully against his chest, his soft feet moving silently. Terus rustled slightly.
They got on the pathway, and Terus made a clicking sound. Xeti sighed, kissed her sweetly, and handed her down to Terus. He caught her and rubbed his cheek against hers. He thrummed against her, and she eyed his chest warily. “What is that sound?”
“Happy scorpion who wants to dance with you.”
“He has danced with me.”
Terus chuckled. “He wants to dance with you a little more... fully.”
“I draw the line at tail.”
He laughed, and they continued to walk toward the village.
“So, you two have gone invisible?”
“Yes.”
“Does that include me?”
Terus paused. “It does now.”
“Good. I got a weird look from a drunk.”
Xeti looked at him, and there was a lot of growling and clicking. She saw the rental house and said, “Well, that’s my stop. You two old ladies can bicker elsewhere.”
Terus paused. “Old ladies?”
“Well, all the chittering and clicking sounds like elderly ladies looking over produce.”
Xeti paused and grinned, shrinking down to his dark elf shape. Terus did the same. They took her by the hands and walked her to the rental house. The lights glowed inside, so Eden must have been there. She saw a shadow moving between her and the light, and she said, “Uh, can you come in with me, ready to punch something?”
“Why?”
“Because I think Eden is still at the palace, and that means that there shouldn’t be anyone in the house.”
Terus nodded. “I will go in first. No one needs to see Krossos naked who isn’t mated to him.”
They walked to the house, and Terus eased around the back side of the house. Xeti stayed with her and said, “Stay here.”
Xeti went through the front of the house, and thuds started happening with a few startled shouts.
Rache was about to go in, but a hand gripped her arm. She turned and gasped. “Cain!”
Eden’s brother looked at her with fury. “Where is she? She owes me for that baby.”
Rache pulled herself forward, put her hand over his mouth and nose, and she webbed the hell out of him.
He fell back, clawing at his face, his eyes wide. Rache stood over him as suffocation hit, and he thrashed on the ground. Xeti arrived at her side and flipped Cain to his belly, holding his hands together. “Would you do the honours?”
