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6

Marron

"The human females are getting into the alcohol."

Beren falls into a chair next to me, laying one of his arms on the back of mine in a manner that might be kind if I did not know this male from working with him for more than a year now. He is keeping me close because he is warning me that he could end me in a single moment, and I will not know when it will happen.

Beren is a male who prides himself in caring for his mates and the two females under his care. This is all very good, but it is not so good for me when he looks at me like he is still uncertain whether or not he will seal me for how frequently I manage to find myself alone with his ward.

"I can see that." I shift in my seat, trying to figure out how long I will need to sit here to not be seen as rude when I get up to find somewhere else to be.

I am about to turn and tell Beren that I think Toron is calling me, but instead of getting to do that, Beren's hand moves to my shoulder, tightening in a way that has my eyes widening and my stomach dropping. Oh, I have done it now. He saw me arrive with Tori and will now tell me that Thro and I are out of jobs. Hopefully, that is all. If he tells us we need to leave the tribe as well, I will never forgive myself.

"Do you know how females act when they drink the alcohol?" Beren asks.

I shake my head, not quite sure what this could have to do with him killing me and hiding my body somewhere in the fields, but so long as it keeps me alive for a little while longer, I will take it.

"Some of the females cry, some get loud and laugh at everything, and some will get very touchy and want their hands on their males. Many of the females end up in one of those categories at some point through the night, maybe even multiple." Beren shrugs and sighs. "You do not need to worry about most of this, but you do need to know there is a good chance your female tries to woo you." His voice remains even and calm. None of this is what I expected when he grabbed my shoulder.

Wait, did he say my female?

"I do not know how your female acts when she drinks, but we will find out tonight." Beren frowns more deeply as his eyes track over to where all the females are laughing and talking.

One of the other females from the tribe fills all of their cups with the alcohol that the humans like, and Tori quickly drinks hers before looking around for me. Beren hisses and then squeezes my shoulder tight again to get my eyes back on him.

"She will attempt to arouse you. It is one of the females' main desires when they consume that liquid. She is not herself, though, and she cannot think clearly. I am telling you becauseyou must be a strong male tonight when she inevitably gets you alone."

I shift in my seat, moving my cock to the side now that it is hard from thinking about Tori trying to woo me. I have no shame about it. Beren has now called Tori mine twice, and he has even admitted that I am the male she will try to find to force her affection on when the alcohol fogs her senses.

"I can go back home now if that would be easier."

I pray to the goddess that he does not accept my offer. I want to stay here all night, preferably until Tori is fast asleep, because I can hold her in my arms. I have decided I will offer to carry her to her bed when she inevitably falls asleep, and I hope no one wishes to stop me because this might be the only time I can touch her until she decides she is ready to claim me in front of everyone.

"No, no." Beren shakes his head. "That would be wonderful for my own mind and well-being, but Nia has told me you are allowed to be near her tonight, and I am not allowed to stop you."

My body becomes rigid as I try to piece together what he is saying. My brows pull together, and my lips flatten. Have I been allowed to sit next to Tori all of this evening? Surely not. That would be tossing aside the rules in front of so many brothers and their mates.

Granted, all of the ones here to visit us are friends with Beren and his mates and are the original females who came to this tribe. They all found their mates without the mating ceremony, so they may be willing to allow me more liberties, especially since Tori has not once rebuffed my advances. No, not even my advances, since she has always been the one to approach me. Well, except for all the times I walk upon her bathing, but that is only because of the first time she called me over.

"If you were to approach her tonight, none of us would have stopped you." Beren tightens his grip on my shoulder as I try to stand. I snap my head over to him and barely stop myself from shooing him off me. "I will let you go, but I am telling you that I trust you to take care of my ward."

"That is all I want," I murmur, fearing that if I say it too loudly, everyone here will know I have wanted the fiery-haired female for so long.

Beren already knows because I repeatedly tell him that I will be his blood as soon as his ward offers me the chance. I can see now that my reminders have chipped away at his sternness. It must be why he is allowing me liberties tonight.

"I know, and you are an honorable male." Beren stands, offering me his hand to help me to my feet. "That is why I am telling you how she will act with the alcohol. She will tempt you to be very dishonorable." He steps back and glances over my body as though he is sizing me up. "You are a strong male."

I puff my chest. "I am."

"Good, now, be strong in will, and remind yourself that if she tries to mate you tonight, it is because she is not thinking clearly." Beren crosses his arms over his chest and then tilts his head toward the females. I turn to face them, and my chest deflates.

"I cannot speak to them when they are all together."

I turn back to Beren, but he has already forgotten me. He is walking toward his mates, who are more focused on one another in a more intimate way than Beren probably likes out in his front yard. I turn my attention away from them before seeing things I wish not to.

Their home is empty tonight since Jen is staying in the great hall with some of the other young females. I do not know where Tori will go. I have a feeling that is why Beren and his mates aregoing inside now, so they will be finished with their lovemaking when Tori is ready to go to sleep.

I flex my hands by my sides, forcing my claws into my fingertips so they do not look intimidating if I try to touch my mate. Not that I will do anything more than maybe cupping her face or wrapping my hand around her shoulders.