Indigo cackled as she followed her to a trestle table farther away from the crowd. “I couldn’t get you to come with me, and I need to talk to you before you disappear with DHT.”
Juniper bumped her shoulder as they sat down. “He hates when you call him that.”
“I know, but it’s all your fault.” Indigo poked Juniper in the side playfully. “You’re the one that had to point it out, and now it’s the only thing I can see. Especially the similarity with the one movie where his hair is darker-looking and short.”
“I know, right? That’s exactly what I thought the first time I saw him. Now, he gets all huffy when I mention it. He’s basically put the kibosh on anything Marvel, and you know how much I love my guys,” Juniper complained, keeping a grin on her face. “I thought it would get better if I gave him a new nickname, but all the ones I suggest, he shoots down.”
“I still think you somehow need to incorporate his amazing ass into it. How about Mr. FantAsstic.” Indigo wiggled her eyebrows.
“Pfttt,” Juniper snorted. “Hard pass.”
“I think it’s a suggestion that deserves a second thought but I’ll drop it for now because I have something more important I want to talk about,” Indigo said seriously. “God, it seemed like it was just the other day we were being told we had to wait a month. Then I blinked and it’s time to go.”
“I know.” Juniper leaned into her friend, wrapping an arm around Indigo’s shoulders. “What’s going on?”
Indigo let out such a huge sigh, that Juniper was surprised when she didn’t deflate.
“I—” she started, shaking her head. “I think it’s just that I didn’t expect to be sad about leaving. I mean, I’m pissed off that I made a really rad friend and she lives in space now. Why couldn’t we have met back on Earth and been friends then?”
“I’ve thought the same thing. I wish you were staying. Hell, I wish you could have found a mate here, Indy,” Juniper whispered, her nose burning at the thought of never seeing her friend again. “Are you sure you want to leave? There’s still a chance that you have a match living in one of the other cities. You haven’t even met a fraction of the miners here. I’m positive that if you stayed, we’d find the one for you.”
“That’s not it either, Junie. I’m actually relieved that none of these guys flipped my switch.” Indigo bit her lip. “I never planned on staying. Never.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
“I’m not following you,” Juniper said, confused.
“I only signed up for the Pact to get the stipend they offered,” Indigo admitted sheepishly. “I figured all that cash for thirty days of my time on some fancy spaceship—” She snorted and shrugged. “If life has taught me anything, it’s that you have to take a chance when you see one. So, I did. I took my chance.”
Juniper nodded. She understood where Indigo was coming from. As a fellow foster kid, Juniper had a lot of the same habits and issues. When you represent a dollar amount to someone, it messes with your head. You have nothing of your own. If you saw a chance at something better, you most definitely had to take it. Life wasn’t going to be handed to you. The stipend was a golden parachute to someone in their shoes. It was more than a dollar amount; it was someone’s future all tied up with a pretty, little bow.
“I thought it was going to be easy. Sign up, avoid the guy for a month, and then head home with enough money to do what I want to do.” Indigo tapped her fingernails on the table, as she looked around the room. “That’s karma, though. I tried to take the easy way, and now I’m paying for it.”
“What were your plans for the money?” Juniper asked, more than surprised at her confession. Her friend didn’t seem like someone that would try to work the system for something trivial. “Did you want to go to school? Buy a house?”
Indigo bit her lip, her expression cautious.
Juniper frowned at her friend, who looked more tired than usual. She knew Indigo had been having a hard time sleeping, but she’d started looking sickly lately. Looking her over with a closer eye, she realized her friend had also thinned out. The bouncing curves that Indigo had strutted around were still there, just smaller than they’d been before. The worry that she was sick and needed money for something serious quickly became a very real concern.
“I wanted to open up my own bakery,” Indigo said softly.
“A bakery? Like cakes and stuff?” Juniper’s mouth fell open in surprise. Then it began to water at the thought of all her favorite desserts.
Djaromir had plenty of food to eat, but their dessert selection was almost nonexistent. They were used to eating for survival, not pleasure.
Bunch of rookies.
“Yep. I worked at a little shop before I left, and my pies were their number one seller. My own recipe, of course,” Indigo added, her voice filled with pride. “I’m not lying when I say that the only reason that place ever got busy was because of me. I can make the best damn cherry pie you’ve ever eaten.”
“I love pie.” Juniper sighed, unable to stop herself.
“Everyone loves pie, but my pie is the best.” Indigo laughed. “I wanted my own place but had no collateral to put down for the loan. I heard about the stipend from a friend who’d considered signing up, so I knew there was a guaranteed payoff in the end. The Pact was my ticket to raising the start-up so I could make pies for myself.” She made a face. “Dear lord, saying it out loud makes it sound even more stupid and selfish than it did in my head. I’m an awful, awful person.”
Juniper rubbed her Indigo’s shoulder as she slumped a bit. “You’re not an awful person. In fact, you’re one of the most not awful people I know.”
“Pfft,” her friend snorted. “Don’t lie.”
“I’m not lying. You made a bad choice but that doesn’t make you a bad person.” Juniper said firmly.
Juniper hoped her friend was actually listening. She was an amazing person, inside and out, and she needed to stop beating herself up. The guilt she was carrying was completely out of proportion considering how things ended.
“So.…you’re just going back? Just like that?” Juniper asked. “What are you going to tell the Phaetons?”
“That I couldn’t get a loan and applied under false pretenses?” Indigo suggested with a shrug. “It would probably work in my favor to add that since we were kidnapped, I should still get the money for all of the potential pain and suffering I’ve endured.”
Juniper gave her the look.
“I’m kidding. I’m kidding.” Indigo held up her hands. “I guess I’ll just tell them that I want to go home. That this was a stupid idea and I’m punching the eject button before something crazier happens.” She snorted and rolled her eyes. “I’ve taken some risks before, but this is the first time it’s gotten me almost-kidnapped—to my knowledge at least.”
Juniper gave her a strange look. “You’re so odd.”
“Don’t look at me like that. Ride share apps are super scary. I’ve known people who know people who almost get kidnapped all the time,” Indigo said. “I have my fingers crossed that I can still somehow get the stipend, but if not, I don’t even fucking care anymore. I’m just happy some space mercenary isn’t out there raping and pillaging the galaxy while wearing an Indigo suit.” She shivered. “Wowza, I just creeped myself out.”
Juniper shook her head. “Your mind goes to the strangest places.”
“Try living inside it.” Indigo smirked. “Anyhoo, the bakery I was at before I had this dumb idea in the first place will probably take me back.”
“Really? You’re going back to make pies like none of this ever happened?” she asked.
Juniper couldn’t keep the shock out of her voice. The last month had changed her on the most basic level possible. She couldn’t imagine going back. Not only to Earth but to the person she was before she met K’hor.
“Somebody’s got to make amazing pies for the masses, amirite? Plus, considering I was responsible for their number one seller, they’d probably agree to giv
e me more money too.” Indigo shrugged before giving her a sad smile. “I’m sorry, Junie. I don’t mean to be such a buzzkill, but you have to see that we were here for different reasons. You signed up looking for your other half and you found it. You even landed one of the guys in charge for fucksake. Your title is Lady Juniper. You have a title. How surreal is that? This entire mess turned out to be an ah-mazing experience for you.”
“It did, didn’t it,” she acknowledged.
“Yeah, it did. My story is different, though.” Indigo reached over to squeeze her hand. “I signed up looking for a way to finance my business and got kidnapped. The end.”
Juniper felt sad for her friend. Indigo needed someone to belong to just as much as Juniper did. She was just too damn stubborn to admit it.
“Give me a hug,” Indigo ordered, holding her arms out. “I’m going to say a quick adios to Lottie and then I’m going to crash. Tomorrow’s gonna be a doozie.”
“Get some sleep.” Juniper sniffed, squeezing her friend close.
The pair rocked back and forth a few times, holding each other tight.
“I love ya, bitch,” Indigo whispered. Taking a deep breath, she let go. Looking over Juniper’s shoulder, she winked. “Do me a favor and make him mad every now and then. I think he’s sexier when he’s a little pissed off.”
Juniper laughed, turning around to see K’hor approaching. He was alone, the other Warlords most likely briefing their men on whatever was decided. When she looked back, Indigo had disappeared.
“Was Indy feeling all right?” K’hor asked, pulling her into the cradle of his body. “She looked…off.”
“Yeah, she’s just sad to go,” Juniper breathed. “I think we’re both surprised at how close we’ve become. I’m going to miss her a lot.”
“Oh well, I had some new information for her, but it can wait. We’ll tell her after we break our fast in the morning.” K’hor used his grip to turn her to face him.
“What is it?” Juniper asked, tapping on his shoulders excitedly. “What did you find out?”
“What we expected,” K’hor answered with a smug smile as she began to rub his chest. “The Phaetons did not like the fact that some of the brides are staying, but they’ve agreed to accept the changes. A small group is coming down tomorrow to make sure there has been no coercion on our parts and to take recorded testimonies of your intention to stay. It’s merely a formality. We also found out that a few of the brides are meeting their matches tomorrow,” K’hor rumbled under her touch, his chest vibrating at the sound he made. “I wanted to personally deliver the news to Indigo since she’s become your friend.”
Juniper was busy breathing in the scent of her mate when his words registered. “What news?”
“That her matches will be among the warriors landing on the shuttle.”
“Wait.” She blinked. “Did you say matches?”
K’hor nodded enthusiastically as if he didn’t realize the news had blindsided her.
“She’s been matched with two warriors. Ones with quite a reputation from what I’ve heard. Even on Djaromir, we’re aware who Paine and Rowe are to the Phaetons. Not only are they deadly but they are well-known for their skill and determination—”
Oh dear.
Juniper swallowed hard as panic began to fill her on Indigo’s behalf. There was no way her friend was going to be okay with being matched to one much less two men. Not even five minutes ago, Indy had been telling her that she was yelling uncle and running.
“—paired fighters. It makes sense that they entered the lottery. The council obviously can see the value of that bloodline. They’d want to ensure the next generation of those warriors. Even on the outskirts we’ve heard tales of the missions they’ve run. Those two alone could take on ten or more men.”
Each word K’hor uttered was an increase in the anxiety flooding Juniper. It wasn’t his fault he was about to make her stroke out either. He didn’t know Indigo’s story or her plan for the future.
Plans that didn’t include two dudes chosen to breed with her to create the ultimate baby warrior.
Juniper snorted at the image that thought evoked. A tiny muscled version of Indigo complete with leather diaper and rattle nunchucks popped into her head. That wouldn’t be so bad, right? She’d just have to pitch it to Indigo in a positive way.
Hey, best friend, I know you wanted to bounce and start a bakery and all but *cough cough * there’s been a slight change in plans. Not only do you have to go through another thirty days of avoiding some guy, but there’s now two of them and they don’t sound easy to shake.
“I have to admit,” K’hor continued, not realizing that Juniper was checking in and out periodically. “I’m grateful she didn’t mate with a Djaromir.”
“Wait—why?” Juniper asked, shocked that was something he would even say. He knew how close the two women had become the last month.
“There is no way I’d want to have to stand between Indy and those two Phaetons,” he replied. “No, it really is for the better that she wasn’t mated with one of my men. We would have gone to war for sure.”
“I’m going to just go—” Juniper’s words were halted when Sparx bumped into her from the side.
“Hey, now,” K’hor growled, pulling her closer into the protection his body offered.
“So sorry, Juniper,” he apologized. “This jyaga frumm batch feels like it’s stronger than usual.”
She couldn’t help but wrinkle her nose at the smell of the overly sweet juice on his breath as he spoke to them way too closely.
“I think you’ve had enough to drink.” K’hor shuffled until she was out of the way and he was moving Sparx to a table. “Come, Tiny. Once we get him settled, we need to address what will be happening tomorrow.” When Juniper began to protest, he gave her a look. “I know you want to talk to Indy, but right now we have duties we must fulfill. Let her have a peaceful night’s rest and we will speak to her first thing tomorrow. If you tell her of this now, all that will accomplish would be keeping her awake, anticipating what is to come. Wasn’t it you that said she’d been having a hard time sleeping lately?”
Juniper’s mouth flattened. She hated when he was right.
“Fine,” Juniper grumped, “but I don’t like it.”
“I know, Tiny.” K’hor leaned close, dropping a kiss on her neck. “That’s why I’ll make it up to you later.”
“You better.” She hissed when he nipped the sensitive skin.
K’hor chuckled as he pressed his mouth to hers in a kiss. “Let’s get this taken care of. I have the need to please my mate.”
Epilogue
One year later…
Juniper tried not to cry as she stared at what K’hor had made for her.
Emphasis on tried.
“I l-l-looooove it,” she bawled, unable to help her hormonal self. “I love it s-s-so muuuch.”
“Shhhh,” K’hor rumbled as he pulled her into a hug. Patting her back, he let her cry for a few moments. “Tiny?”
“Wha?” Juniper mumbled as her tears eased, rubbing her face against his tunic.
“Have you taken a nap yet today?”
When she avoided his gaze, K’hor let out a sigh. Pulling her over to the present he’d made, he sat down in the rocking chair with Juniper in his lap. Adjusting her so she was comfortably draped over him, he rubbed the large curve of her belly.
“Dracur said you need to take naps, Juniper.”
Crossing her arms, Juniper scowled at the mention of what she needed to be doing. She knew exactly what she needed. She was just so fucking pregnant she couldn’t get comfortable enough to do it.
“I know, K’hor,” she snapped. “Do you think I don’t know how exhausted I look right now. You think I don’t know how crazy I’ve been acting lately? I can’t get comfortable. No matter how hard I try, it doesn’t happen. I’ve laid on every pillow we have in this damn cave and none of them are helping me. You’d think a pillow would know how to do its job but no
ooooooo… I’ve spent so much time resting without actually resting that it’s starting to make me coo-coo for Cocoa Puffs.”
K’hor rocked them, continuing to rub her belly while she vented.
“Plus, I’m starving,” she carried on. “Every time I go to eat, I only get a couple of bites down before I feel full. Well, guess what? I’m not full! Your babies are just squishing my organs and making me feel like I’m full, when in fact I’m fucking starving!”
The minute Juniper mentioned eating, K’hor had reached into the pocket of his tunic and pulled out a bag of jerky. Handing her a stick, he wisely kept his mouth shut when she tore into it with a growl.
Pausing her vent, Juniper glared at him as she felt the meat give way to her angry chewing. The more she chewed the calmer she became. As she ate, K’hor continued his massage.
The little bit of food combined with his hands still stroking her hips were as effective as a tranquilizer dart.
It wasn’t long before she’d relaxed in his hold, curled in his arms like a tame kitten instead of the lioness she’d been moments earlier.
“Tiny?” K’hor’s hand stopped massaging and was now feeling around her hip and side. “Are you naked underneath this dress?”
“That’s another thing I’m blaming on you.” Juniper wiggled on his lap at the reminder she was indeed naked under her dress. “I had to stop wearing underwear.”
“Why?” he asked even as he looked intrigued at the prospect of her without drawers on.
Fighting the horniness that had coursed through her body most of the day, Juniper smacked the hand that had dropped to the edge of her muumuu.
“Because it was cutting into my belly, that’s why. So, now I’m wearing this tent,” she said, gesturing to the floral monstrosity she was wearing, “and nothing else and the cold air keeps chilling my lady bits!”
Miners of Djaromir: K'hor Page 17