Page 44 of Last Resort

“Plural? How many? It seems more than two.” She narrowed her eyes at Breen.

He sighed. “There are three species represented by the wildling mark that I can think of. Predators and prey.”

“Oh. That’s unusual, isn’t it?”

“That is up to their omega. She can take on one or many.”

“So... a few isn’t an option.”

“Like many animal owners, she will have difficulty with moderation.” Myro stroked her thigh through the blanket.

“Moderation? You guys are huge,” she muttered. “One is enough, and two is nearly too much.”

Breen smirked. “Nearly. Nice save.”

She smiled. “Thanks for coming to jostle me out of my homicidal rage.”

Myro nodded. “Thank you for not acting on it. It would have been difficult to explain to the viewers.”

She wrinkled her nose. Breen laughed.

Myro asked, “Poppy, can we link with you?”

“Does that involve sex?”

“It doesn’t have to. We just want our link formed. It will help you with control if you need it.”

“What is involved? I know that once we really activate, bite marks don’t stick.”

Myro smiled. “It’s a simple braid for each of us. We coat our lock with blood and one of the others braids it. When the final lock is done, our blood binds us. After that, any biting is just for fun.”

She said, “I am pretty good at braiding hair. It has to be a straight braid?”

Myro nodded. “Yes, one lock divided into three. It doesn’t discolour the hair; it just leaves you with a permanent braid. It will not come undone.”

“It seems innocuous.”

Breen perked up. “So, you will do it?”

“Sure. I am not naïve enough to believe that we don’t match.”

They both grinned and held their hands out.

“I have to leave my cocoon?”

“Yes, it will be easier if the person being braided sits in a chair.”

“And I am going first.”

They smiled. “Yes, you are.”

She sat in the chair, and Breen went to the bathroom to get a comb while Myro ran his fingers through her hair. “Which lock do you want?”

She reached behind her left ear and said, “This one.”

Myro nodded and moved the mass of her hair over, fastening it with a clip Breen handed him.

She watched as Myro combed down the length of the lock, and then he moved to one side and handed things off to Breen. “He’s better at braiding than I am.” Myro chuckled.

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