Jayne would cut his testicles off to protect her sexy baby.”
Talyn let out a tired sigh. “I’m going to be ninety and you’re still going to call me that, aren’t you?”
Jayne patted his cheek lovingly. When she spoke, it was in the high-pitched tone reserved for mothers talking to small children or pet animals. “Yes, I will, my sexy baby.” She glanced around the gym. “I have to say, this is a nice place. When you first called, I was worried about having space for my team. But I can see that there’s plenty of room, even for Qory.” She turned back to Felicia. “I know he’s huge, but I wanted someone who would intimidate Andarion males and make them rethink any stupid ideas they might have where you’re concerned.”
“I would say you succeeded admirably.”
Jayne winked at Talyn’s comment. “It was a tall order, and yes, you walked right into that one. As Hadrian says, my family motto is ‘anything worth doing is worth overdoing.’ And Morra’s orders are to stay with Felicia even when you go potty. It’s why I have a female in the mix. Until we get this resolved, they are your shadows, night and day. They will give you privacy inside the condo when Talyn is in residence. Only. When he’s gone, Morra will be your new bed buddy. We’re not going to take any chances.”
“Don’t worry,” Morra said with a bright smile. “I don’t take up much room and I don’t move when I sleep. My people nest in trees or off mountains. Once you fall out of your bunk or off your shelf, you learn not to be a restless sleeper.”
“Shelf?”
“Canopies on the side of mountains. Phrixus is a very dangerous place with a lot of deadly creatures. It’s why our races are lethal. We had to be, to survive. And it’s also why the Naglfari cowards took to the seas to live. They couldn’t cut it on Phrixian land.”
Felicia frowned at the unfamiliar term. “Naglfari?”
“They’re the pasty repugnant semisentient creatures that most know as Phrixian. They’re more human in appearance than the Schvardans. And my race is even more xenophobic than they are.”
Deciding to change the topic away from something that was obviously an emotional trigger for Morra, Felicia inclined her head to them all. “I can’t thank you enough for agreeing to this. While I don’t relish the thought of being shadowed, I don’t want Talyn distracted by unnecessary worries for my safety. And honestly, I’ve been really skittish since the attack.”
“She’s been completely housebound,” Talyn added, “which isn’t her nature.”
“Well, part of that is I didn’t want to leave you while you’ve been recovering, either.” Felicia gestured at the training gloves. “And as we’ve seen, I can’t exactly turn my back on you lest I find you into something you shouldn’t be.” She glanced to Jayne. “While I show Qorach and Morra where to bunk, would you please make sure Talyn stands down from training? I want the gloves stowed and his gorgeous bottom attached to a seat of some kind.”
Jayne gave her a sharp military salute. “Yes, ma’am.”
“Thank you.” Felicia led the other two to the guest rooms she’d set up for them. She showed Qorach to his first, and then Morra.
As she started to leave, Morra stopped her. “Okay, so here’s my question that I didn’t want to ask in front of Jayne, who would have taken my head for it. But… why haven’t you chained that luscious piece of male to your bed? Holy gods, Felicia! If I had unrestricted access to that, I’d never walk straight again.”
Felicia laughed. “It’s not easy. I have to admit, I do get frequent spontaneous urges to straddle him.”
Sucking her breath in sharply, Morra shook her hand in a gesture of supreme appreciation. “The fact you can restrain yourself at all amazes me.” She let out a low whistle. “I’m not normally attracted to other species, but dang… you a lucky female to have full access to that body.”
“Should I be worried?”
Morra laughed. “No. If I was going to make a move on him, I wouldn’t be telling you I’m lusting for him. What am I? Nuts? Besides, Qory’s the only male I’d ever trust at my back.”
“Oh. I didn’t even consider that. Would you like to be in the same room?”
“Nuh-uh. That’s not what I meant. I love and adore him, but we’re family. He’s my best friend, brother, and drinking bud. Not my boyfriend or lover. Told you… I like