Chapter 34

T his would help, I told myself as I marched down the path, headed for Mina's.

I was shit out of luck on finding a Rek expert, a Rekxpert, bah dum tss, but there was someone who'd dealt with him until he was capable of taking care of himself, and even now took up for him, despite their ups and downs.

Mina called out as she spied me. Veck and Bia moved around her, herding kids and helping her weed the massive garden they'd started on the side of their home.

I smiled and waved back, wondering if it would be my turn next to hold a little one.

"What brings you all the way out here?" Mina called out.

Veck and Bia waved in greeting before quickly getting back to work.

"I was actually wondering if I could have a word with Kirch," I told her.

"He's around back, by the man pit thingy," Mina called back, grinning when Veck made a face and bent his tall from to softly correct her.

"Right. Sorry, snookywookums," she teased her enormous male, "I mean the training arena area pit thingy."

Bia laughed, patting the little back of the babe in the front carry baby carrier thing he was wearing. Kirch had not gotten his second girl but a little dude that looked so much like him they jokingly called Kirvenk Kirch Jr. He was over the moon about his mini him. Tarnk insisted the next baby would be his, and a girl.

Veck just rolled his eyes at Mina's antics, then scooped up his female to make silly growling noises that had her bursting out laughing.

The kids playing around them giggled at their parents.

I had to wonder what my future baby might be like. A mini me, I thought with a snort, with Rek's headache inducing tendencies. Lord, I'd better pray for just one at a time if that was the case. We'd be so screwed.

"Thanks!" Waving them off, though I doubted they heard me, I made my way around back.

Kirch stood with his back to me, leaning against one of several thick trees surrounding the pit thingy circle, I was sure Mina would happily call it.

He was far enough out I was glad I'd thought to tuck my pants into my boots today. Digging out prickly sticky things, like massive goathead thorns on crack, was not my idea of a good time.

Kirch mumbled something and picked up the bow beside him, then lifted it to practice his technique, I assumed.

Not wanting to startle him but not seeing an arrow notched on that bow, I called out, "Hey, Mina's bitch, you got a minute?"

Kirch's bow lowered and his head immediately whipped in my direction. "Eh, what Rek's harpy want?" he shot back, smirking when I made a face and flicked my fingers at him.

"Don't be jealous, Fuzz-zilla, I'm sure if you heckle her hard enough Mina will be your harpy," I quipped, making him chuckle.

"What does Rek's harpy want with Kirch?" he called out, setting his bow down to approach me.

"What is the one being we both have in common?" My shoulders lifted in a shrug as I stood my ground and waited for him.

Kirch paused and glanced over his shoulder, before continuing towards me.

My gaze followed his to the small but long structure he'd been standing next to. The wooden targets across the way, hanging from trees, told me it was a makeshift archery range.

"I only want a quick minute of your time," I assured him. My hand lifted and I wiggled my fingers in the direction of his warrior fun times stuff. "Then you can get back to practicing shooting things or whatever beast man bull pucky you've got going on out here."

The look Kirch gave me not only made me think of Rek, but screamed, What do you know of beast man bull bucky, female.

Geez. These guys took their warrior training so seriously. Not that I could really blame them, but the way he kept glancing over his shoulder at that structure had me glancing towards it worriedly.

"Rek being stupid?" he asked with a smirking smile.

"I'm assuming any and all stupidity, he learned with the help of his wild maned caretaker," I shot back with a sniff.

Kirch's yellow eyes glimmered as he paused a few feet from me, crossed his arms over his chest, and lifted his chin. "Kirch has Mina now. Mina won't put up with Kirch's shit," he proudly informed me. He sounded like he was reciting something his mate had told him. The guy was adorably stupid, gone over his head, for his mate.

"A fact I'm sure she appreciates," I murmured dryly.

"What Rek Jojo-hims want?" Kirch grunted out, nodding at me jerkily.

Alright. Enough stalling. Just come out with it.

"Has Rek been… acting different to you lately?"

Kirch's eyebrows winged upward.

Starting to wonder how I thought this might be helpful, I tried to purse my lips but ended up biting at the inside of my cheek worriedly instead. "He's been acting funny with me," I admitted.

It all started after that morning after with Celuk. It was like he was shaken up.

He'd actually asked me if I wanted to go hang out with Odix while he took care of something, like Odix and I were cool and chummy and not on the outs. I'd looked at him like he was crazy and would have commented about his odd suggestion but then he'd given me this weird look that bordered on guilty and I'd let it go.

I was worried.

Gopher showing up to take me to market this morning, claiming it was at Rek's suggestion, was freaking me the fuck out. He'd also informed me that if I wanted to stop off at Celuk's to see Baby, Celuk had told him he'd be home.

What was this, the babysitting Joanie club? Why was Rek orchestrating it?

He'd been so gung-ho about nobody getting dibs on the goods for so long, especially now that we were trying for a baby, it was like he was pawning me off on the others, to the point it had me freaked the hell out.

It all kept circling back to that argument with Celuk. I'd asked him about it but he refused to say a word about it

Celuk was as tightlipped about it as Rek.

The nausea I'd been experiencing of late had nothing to do with a bun in the oven.

"Rek act different how?" His brows dragged down as he eyed me.

"Something's off," I admitted. Throwing my arms up to let them fall and slap to my sides loudly, I let out a frustrated breath. "I mean, you know him, right? Has he said anything to you about what's bugging him?" Picking at my lip, a horrible habit I tried to refrain from, I muttered, "Was it because of me and Celuk?"

Kirch stared at me with a look that told me he had no idea what I was talking about.

"Rek wanted to make a baby with me, our, my, first baby. Bum-bum thwarted him. I admit I didn't exactly protest, but Rek didn't seem upset about it. Celuk met me outside when I was grabbing snow-"

"What Jo need snow for? Why Rek not get snow for his Jojo-hims?" he butt in curiously.

"Bum-bum marked me… and his bite has certain properties." I wanted to tread lightly here.

At his blank stare, I blurted, face redder than a baboon's butt, "Bum-bum bit both of us and it has funny side effects… Did Rek tell you none of this?"

"No," he grunted out shortly.

Damn. Okay. Well, fuck.

"Look, I'm only telling you this because I love Rek, and sometimes I don't know what he needs... He doesn't know how to ask for things of me, he doesn't have it in him to outright ask unless he's to the point of demands. He's upset and I want to make it right. I don't know if it's because Bum-bum's bite sent his balls swelling like cantaloupes screaming Honey-do-me, or because I didn't seek his permission before doing the wild tango with Celuk and finishing the crazy hunter's claiming of me. That's the only reason I'm blabbing my ass off to you about any of this and I'd appreciate it if you kept your trap shut."

"‘Kay," he said slowly, his gaze once more quickly darting to the archery designated area.

"Are you that desperate to get back to play shooting shit you can't listen to me for five fucking minutes, even if it's for Rek?" I snapped at him.

Kirch grinned at my fit of pique.

"What? What's so fucking funny?" I barked at him and that stupid look on his face.

"Nothing."

When my stare darkened to a glare, he cleared his throat as if to cover up a laugh, lips twitching, and admitted, "Kirch likes how much Joanie loves her Rek. Do anything for her male. Like my Meanie."

"Of course I love him! I'm over here asking your inept butt for pointers, aren't I? Well? Fill me in, Rek guru. Help me love him better!" My outburst did not go unnoticed.

To my mortified horror, the archery shelter creaked. I froze as I spied movement from within in. Specifically, I noted bright gazes peeking through several slats.

Punching Kirch in the shoulder, I growled, "What the fuck, asshole?! You could have told me we weren't alone before I started spilling private business!"

"Bum-bum bites not private business. Joanie and Rek smell like Bum-bum spit- venom," he said with a shrug and a tap to his nose. "All know. Not say, but all know. Celuk claim, too."

Kirch scowled at me as he shrugged, then rolled his shoulder. "Hit hard. Harder than my Meanie," he muttered.

With a sniff, I gave him a look. "Maybe she's holding back on you."

Kirch shook his head. "No. Rek's Joanie hits hard. Play with Celuk too much."

I didn't argue that, though it wasn't true.

"Get hit a lot by Celuk, do ya?" I taunted sweetly.

"No," Kirch grumbled quickly. "Celuk hits hard. Make Kirch arm," Kirch mimed getting a dead arm, "no want fight him. Kirch needs arms now to hold Kirch's babies. Celuk get mad enough, might rip arms off." He smirked like that was something to be proud of.

"You're talking nonsense. Celuk doesn't rip arms off," I bit out, spinning on my heel to stomp off.

"Celuk rips arms off," Kirch casually disagreed. He didn't care if I believed him one way or another.

"No, he doesn't!" I insisted.

"Why think others say he crazy?" he questioned.

"Because others are judgy assholes, and you're just being a dick," I accused, spinning on my heel to stomp off.

"Celuk maybe not rip arms off now," he offered, "has his Jo, tames him."

I soothed the savage beast? Real original.

"Bet Celuk rip arms off for him Jo," Kirch tossed out silkily.

"Should I take that bet, tell him you're bothering me, and see what happens?" I shot back.

"NO!" Kirch bellowed vehemently.

Spinning back around to face him to find several heads poking out from around the side of the archery shelter, the gotcha smirk on my face fell as I noted Rek, who claimed to have something important he was doing, amongst the throng.

Kirch grimaced as he followed my gaze to Rek. "Warrior training important," he told me between winces.

Right. So Rek told him he was making up shit to avoid me, but not the other stuff?

"Oh, stuff it, you enabling furbag!" I snarled at him, whirling around to stomp the fuck away from him.

"My Jojo, wait!" Rek called out to me.

Picking up my pace, I flipped him a little birdy over my shoulder and took off.

Spying the wood shed and an abundance of the stinky plant used to make dust of shame, I grabbed handfuls and shook the plant, sending stinky pollen stuff filling the air, and ducked inside.

Rek rushed past, shouting after me.

Soon, the rest of the gang hiding in the archery shelter followed.

I waited a half hour after the commotion had died down to slip out.

Following along the tree line, I knew if I kept going it would lead to Celuk's.

By the time I got there it was long past lunch time and heading into dinner.

Bypassing the house, I went around back.

Baby let out a trumpet of a sound to see me.

"Hi, Baby," I crooned to her softly, glancing around for her bossy daddy.

Realizing it was just the two of us, I relaxed.

Resting my arm along one of the wood railings of her pen, I rested my cheek on my arm. "Why are males so complicated, huh? Or am I just beyond irredeemably stupid and shit at dealing with them? I feel like I can't seem to do anything right," I murmured as I pet her.

"Males stupid." Celuk came up beside me, placing his arms along the rails to mimic my pose, facing me as he rested his cheek on his arm.

"How can you be so sure? I'm not exactly winning girlfriend of the year awards over here," I muttered.

"Jo needs awards?" he asked, looking dead serious.

"No! Of course not!" Giving him a warning look that dared him to just try and pull some silly stunt, I muttered, "Try and give me a gold star, buddy, see what happens."

Moving in closer, a grin tugged at his normally taciturn mug. "What happens?"

"You really don't want to know," I informed him with a sniff.

"No?" Coming up behind me, boxing me in, settling his arms over mine, gripping the railing, claws extending, he bent and began to nuzzle at my hair, then lower, until he was burying his face in my nape to inhale deeply. "What happen?" he purred.

Thinking of how weird Rek was acting and not wanting to rock the boat, I hunched my shoulders.

Celuk stilled at that.

"Rek's been acting weird," I mumbled in way of explanation. "I don't know what's wrong. He's not telling me. I have no idea how to fix it."

Celuk's body was tense, jaw clenching as he pulled away with a curt nod.

"Kirch said you rip arms off when someone pisses you off. Or that you used to… or might be provoked to. I dunno. He's weird. Whatever. Don't do that," I blurted, if only to make sure I was covering all of my bases. "Don't hurt Rek," I clarified. "I don't like it."

An unhappy sound left Celuk.

"Promise me. Promise you won't hurt him," I murmured.

"I not rip Rek's arms off for provoking… me," he grumbled finally.

"For any reason," I pressed.

Sounding like he was going to argue, Celuk let out a loud chuff, grudgingly grumbling, "Celuk won't hurt Rek for Jo."

Turning to him, I smiled up at him. "Thank you."

"Welcome," he grunted out, frowning down at me at how happy that made me.

"Why?" he grunted out after a long moment, curling his arms around my back loosely to hold me to him.

"Why what?" I was lost on this one.

"Why-" Celuk stopped as a sound echoed in the distance. With a growl, he dipped, bumped our foreheads lightly, kissed my lips, and reluctantly released me to take my hand in his. "He comes," he rumbled out ominously.

"Who comes?" I was so damn lost.

"Not Celuk," I thought I heard him say on a soft sigh under his breath.

Stomping footsteps pounded our way.

As we rounded the corner to the front of the house, I found Rek lifting his fist to pound on Celuk's door. Celuk's hand shot out in front of me, holding me back, as he barked something in beast speak at Rek.

Rek whipped around, muttered something at Celuk, and rushed over to us. He only had eyes for me as he bent and scooped me up in a death grip of a hug.

"Mine," he muttered. That was all he said before he started placing kisses all over my face, anywhere he could reach, making his way to my lips. "Mine," he muttered between searching kisses.

Right. Well. This was so not the way I'd imagined things would go after he hunted me down, but I couldn't say I was upset about it, not one bit.

"Hello to you, too," I mumbled in confusion, frowning worriedly.

Celuk rumbled something at Rek that had him glancing between us. With a sharp nod and one last peck of a kiss to my cheek, Rek set me on my feet and nudged me towards Celuk.

Panic hit me tenfold. "I don't- What do you want me to do? Why do you suddenly keep shoving me at other beasts like that?! Like you need to get rid of me! Then lie to me about being somewhere important and it's just fucking archery! I don't understand!" My voice came out sounding hysterical, much louder and squeakier than intended.

Celuk gave Rek a look as he bent, curled his arms around me, and laid one on me that had me struggling to recall my own name.

Once more, my claws were digging into his shoulders, body on fire with want.

Celuk barked something at Rek as he let me up for air that had him grunting in surprise. Lifting up my hand, he held it out to Rek to take, though the look on his face said he'd much rather practice his arm ripping technique on him.

Rek looked as plumb shocked as I felt. Taking my hand in his, to curl me close and wrap an arm around me, that mystified look on his face remained as he nodded at Celuk gratefully.

I finally snapped out of my shocked stupor about halfway home. "Do you want to tell me what the hell is going on?" I spluttered.

"No," Rek said simply. His grip on me tightened.

I knew pestering him wouldn't do any damn good. "Fuck!"

"Rek loves Jojomine," he said into the silence that followed.

"You lied to me," I mutteringly replied.

"Rek go to Kirch's for important things, like Jojomine did," he haltingly confessed.

"And it just so happened to take place during an archery practice, with a bunch of other males present?" I sputtered, incredulous.

"Rek find Jojo's Male Cubs peoples. Ask them what Jojomine tells them."

"I- You mean- Are you telling me that you hunted down my advice group peeps for help? On something you found important, that you don't want to tell me about?" I muttered.

"Yes," he said simply.

"And, what, you're still not gonna spill the beans about it?" Was I hearing him right?

"Not yet," he confessed.

"I don't know what to say." I really didn't.

"Rek not lie. Not be bad," he was quick to chime in.

"Lie by omission," I argued.

"Rek do what Rek say. Rek have to take care of important things. That's what Rek did. See for important things."

"That you refuse to tell me about," I grumbled.

"My Joanie will like," he purred, snuggling me close to scoop me up and nuzzle my neck.

"Will I?" I inquired curiously, doubtfully.

"Yes," he mumbled into my hair enthusiastically.

"Are you going to explain why you're trying to pawn me off on others like I need a babysitter?" I questioned.

"Not need babysitter. Need males to protect when Rek not there," he grunted out.

"It was a wont of protection kind of thing?" Huh. Maybe he was feeling uncertain leaving me to my lonesome with a potential baby on the way and my shadowy Krampus sightings? Mating instincts. I heard Dorothy mention stuff like that a time or two.

"Jo rather play with Doogie?" he teased, lips twitching.

"No, I do not want a play date with Doogie, you dick, as you well know." Frowning, I muttered, "We haven't spoken since I went supernova over Celuk's double lives fibfest. We're avoiding each other." Biting at my lip, I admitted, "I don't want to make the first move."

"Doogie not avoiding. Celuk make him leave Jo alone," Rek happily tattled.

"Say what?" I found that hard to believe.

Rek nodded as he toted me along, content to cart me wherever like a sack of flour. "Doogie want say sorry but Celuk say give time. Jo hurt. Doogie no want to. Celuk make him," he stressed.

"And Dorothy just coming around recently?" I interjected.

Rek snorted at that. "Rothy not afraid of Celuk. Celuk ‘spects Rothy. She ‘spects Celuk. Say to him, ‘nough time. Give Jo back."

"You sure do know a lot of shit I don't," I muttered.

Rek shrugged his wide shoulders. "My Jojo no ask, Rek no tell."

"You should tell me everything," I informed him primly, my face puckered into a sourpuss.

Rek grinned down at me at that. "Soon," he promised, to a grumpy face from me that made him laugh like a maniac.