A knock sounded on the door as I was mulling the potential possibilities over, lost in my own thoughts— I nearly jumped out of my skin.
Lukar went to the door. Moments later the door opened wider and Daisy and her mirror-copy, constant shadows for mates stepped in to stand behind her.
Daisy’s eyes were red and puffy and her hands shook. “Please… let me start off by saying that I am so sorry.” Her eyes filled with unshed tears and her hands shook even harder. “I feel just awful. So awful.” Her gaze darted between us, drifting over Kehl’s horns briefly, like she knew better than to stare at him too long, but then her gaze got stuck as it landed on me.
Squirming on the inside uncomfortably, my only outward reaction was to tense where I was snuggled up beside Kehl.
Yes, she was apologizing. My human side understood this. The feral part of me still wanted to rip her face off.
Daisy grunted as the male to her left nudged her gently. “Right.” She blinked. “Sorry.” Shaking her head, she licked her lips. “You just, your eyes… they’re so bright now it’s like they’re glowing.”
When my hand shot up and I brushed it along the side of my eyelid, she quickly added, “It’s pretty. I mean, with the fur and the claws and the teeth- Uh, you’re, you know- Pretty,dangerous, kinda scary, that ethereal thing, otherworldly, like Gopher’s sisters.”
I looked like one of Gopher’s sisters now? I’d met two of them aside from Elle, bumping into them with Dace, and they were strangely beautiful. Not in a traditional sense but more of anif you do me wrong I’ll tear your liver out— that kind of dangerous aura Kehl has about him in his Krampus form.
Turning to Kehl, I asked, “Do you like me better like this? Is it weird? Am I more attractive to you?”
Kehl looked my way sharply, then turned his body to face me. “My Purr-roo always bootiful to Kehl. This way, other way, all the ways. Khel has the luffs, my Purr-roo.”
Grinning, I grabbed his hand and entwined our fingers to then settle our hands in my lap as he snuggled me back up against him.
Daisy, watching the byplay, admitted, “We know he’s not like the others. Like the other Krampus, I mean. He only shifted because he was scared and he wanted to protect you. All he cared about was getting you to a healer and helping you.” Swallowing audibly, she went on, “I don’t want to fight. I’m not a fighter. This whole thing got wildly out of control. I’m sorry I insulted you, both of you. I understand if you don’t want to sell fabric to me anymore, or have anything to do with me. I have no excuse. Please… please don’t shun my family. The fault is entirely mine. ”
“Kehl will sell to you,” I called out as she turned to leave, “but I have stipulations.”
Kehl glanced down at me in surprise.
“Oh, anything,” Daisy chirped. She was squeezing her hands together so tightly her knuckles were turning a purplish blue.
“You have to wave at Dace when she greets you,” I said simply.
“No more ‘sult my Purr-roo,” Kehl grumblingly added.
“No more gossiping about us, me and mine. You don’t like me? Fine with me, just keep it behind closed doors and shut lips. I can’t stand you but you don’t see me running around running my mouth off about you to God and everyone.”
Daisy didn’t hesitate, that’s how much Kehl’s fabrics meant to her, nodding her head so vigorously she looked like a bobble head gone wild. She didn’t even seem bothered by my admitted open dislike of her but that really wasn’t a surprise to anyone, least of all her. “I can do that. I swear. Not another word!”
“Kehl sell to Daidzee,” Kehl rumbled out quietly.
“Thank you! Thank you so much! You won’t regret it,” Daisy chirped.
“Goot?” her male asked her, to more vigorous nodding.
Wrapping an arm around her, he gave her a squeeze, then released her to approach us.
Kehl tensed beside me.
In their growl-speak, the male held his arm out, hand up. “Begging your forgiveness and acceptance. Despite what our female says, the fault is ours.”
My response was automatic. “Go after my mate again and you’ll be dealing with the both of us,” I growled out.
Kehl and the male jerked their gazes my way.
“What?” I muttered, still giving Mirror-Copy Mate One a dark look.
Kehl’s rumble kicked up, so loud it made me smile. “My Purr-roo, you say the words in our words,” Kehl growled out in his native tongue.
“No, I didn’t,” I muttered in English.
