Argurma Monster (The Argurma Chronicles #2)

Chapter 26

Kneeling? Why were they kneeling? Beverly felt as if she were clearly missing something that she should know but scrambled to understand. All she had done was step through the door and they both dropped to their knees. Panic filled her as she stared at them, and having no clue whatsoever what she was supposed to do.

“Wow, umm, this is different,” Meg muttered at her side as she cast a curious glance toward the two males and began to ease her way back out the door. “Perhaps I should just give you guys some privacy.”

Beverly turned a panicked look on her, but the other woman merely smiled apologetically as she slipped out the door, leaving Beverly alone with whatever this was. Both males watched her expectantly. Lovingly even. Were they expecting her to choose... now? Panicked filled her at the thought. That was impossible!

Zoreth frowned and stood. “Beverly, is all well?”

She shook her head mutely, tears of frustration filling her eyes. She thought she would have more time to convince them that they all needed to be together. After all, they still had a few days before they reached the mothership. It wasn’t much time, but she would have done her best to convince them since she knew what she would be up against. Kaylar had warned her, in his blunt fashion. She needed to resolve matters before they arrived at the starship if she didn’t want to be housed separately from them and risk being surrounded by other potential suitors vying for her attention.

Apparently, word had reached them as well.

Talech clicked in concern and also stood. Their large bodies filled the room in front of her as they reached for her at once. Surprisingly they did not hiss or show any sign of aggression toward each other as they drew her between them.

“Tell us,” Talech rumbled. “We will destroy whatever harmed you.”

She choked back a sound that was half-laugh and half-sob. “I don’t think brute force is going to solve this problem, honey.”

A look of pleasure crossed the male’s formidable face. “You refer to me as sweet emissions from an insect... This is a term of endearment.”

She choked back another laugh and Zoreth frowned.

“I wish for an endearment. A different one. I do not wish to be referred to in terms of emissions.”

A chuckle escaped her. “All right, sweetie, you got it.”

The hard corners of his mouth curved, his glowing eyes taking on a brightness that she’d come to understand to be happiness. “I thank you, anastha.”

Anastha. Fierce one. It was a strange love word, but it fit the Argurma. She blinked, realization flooding her that it was not the first time Zoreth had called her that—she just hadn’t paid close enough attention to notice it until now. Delight coiled within her and yet she wanted to cry now that she was presented with verbal evidence of Zoreth’s love.

His happiness dimmed as she battled back another wave of tears. “Anastha?”

“Oh, I can’t do this,” she bit out brokenly. “I don’t know how I’m supposed to choose when I love both of you.”

Surprise registered on the faces of both males for only a second before delight took its place. Even Zoreth grinned broadly, his sharp teeth bared in an uncustomary real smile from the male as his mandibles purred. Talech took up the purr as well, but not until he yanked Beverly up in his arms with an ear-piercingly happy shout as Zoreth closed in quickly on the other side.

She laughed again and brushed the tears from her cheeks as she looked back and forth between the two males hugging her between them. “Wait, did I miss something important here?”

Talech brushed his mandibles against one side of her cheek, and Zoreth repeated the gesture, brushing mandibles and cheek against her hair.

“Only if you missed that we love you,” Talech rumbled.

“And we both offer you our love and devotion,” Zoreth filled in with a deep sigh. “We desire that you accept us as your mates.”

Her eyes widened, and she turned awkwardly in their arms in an attempt to look at both of them. “Wait... I can have you both as my mates?”

Zoreth hesitated, a shadow of pain and disappointment passing over his face. “Do you not desire to have us both?”

A joyous laugh burst from her as she flung her arms the best she could around both of their necks and hugged them to her. “Yes! Fuck yes! A thousand times, yes!”

Zoreth pulled back just enough to squint down at her. “Two yeses is enough. We do not wish to share you with even more males.”

Giggling with abandon, she pulled his head down and pressed her lips against his, catching him by surprise. His two tongues swept into her mouth, startling her, but her gasp soon turned into a moan as she quickly discovered just how exquisite they felt. When they finally broke apart for air, she was practically lightheaded but grinning from ear to ear.

“Two sounds perfect to me,” she agreed, and sighed lustfully again when Talech tipped her head toward him and claimed her mouth in turn.

Two would quite possibly ruin her for life—and she couldn’t wait.