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The dark black-gold Hmrain nodded. “Yes, Lady. They will be able to choose among those criteria.”

“Neat. Where? When?”

He gestured to a building off to the left, where the ladies had been directed.

Riley grinned. “Cool.” She started off in that direction until Rath picked her up and held her with her feet still moving.

Nova was laughing, and Riley looked up at Rath. “I promised I would be there.”

“Yes, but you can wait for our hosts.”

“Even if I don’t want to?”

“Yes.”

She stopped and muttered, “You can put me down. I won’t sprint off.”

He pressed his lips to her ear and murmured, “Nope. You have shifty eyes.”

Nova was laughing wildly as Heboren supported her.

Riley was carried to the meeting room, and Nova was right behind her.

What appeared to be an older tiger-marked male was keeping things calm. Sam was hiding behind him.

Riley said, “Sam? Sit rep?”

“Young leopard guy got grabby, wolf guy took offense, and they tugged at my arms. Hot stripey guy came to my rescue.”

Nova chuckled. “Na’ith, the female likes your colouration.”

Riley noticed that Nova was speaking English and winced. “Oops.”

Pixie was hiding behind a very elegant Anubis-looking male. She looked all the way up. “Oh. Hi.”

His eyes crinkled in amusement. “Hello, little Terran.”

His English was flawless.

“Lord Kra’then. This is Pixie.”

Pixie stared up at him and waved. “Pleased to meet you.”

Riley noted that she hadn’t moved from his side at all. Not even stepping back.

Sam was enamoured with Na’ith. The other ladies were slowly moving toward the males that they were drawn to.

Riley sighed, and her mind was at ease.

Sam was talking to the male she had chosen, and his body language was very protective.

Pixie’s male had taken one of her hands and was leading her to a corner of the open space that seemed to be a meeting hall or something.

Heboren chuckled, lifted his wrist, and made a call.

Five minutes later, two magistrates with contract tablets arrived, and Pixie and her male were at one, and Sam and hers were at another.

Nova sniffled. “I am so happy for Na’ith. He had a crush on Lily, but she was meant for Nebel, and she and her Hmrain are doing well together. Why were they pulling at Sam?”