Page 25 of His Human to Learn

Unfortunately, just like the first time I woke up in his arms, I can't seem to fall back asleep. Instead, I keep my eyes closed and listen as everyone else wakes for the day.

It starts with cooking ware being moved around and olack being roasted. Then there are plates being set out and food being served. Slowly but surely, more and more women wake up and filter into the dining hall.

For the most part, the great hall is filled with unmated females, but mated males are allowed inside if they have business to attend to. And this morning, quite a few of them have business in the form of coming over to where Toron's watching Marron and me sleeping to see if he needs help.

"How is your ward?"

"Is he asleep now?"

"Did you notice the marking on his neck?"

"I do not think that was one of the injuries he sustained the other day."

"Was your ward attacked a second time?"

"We will need to banish a female next, it seems."

I don't know how many brothers are behind us now, and Toron doesn't seem to be entertaining them. They're able to entertain themselves well enough.

I can't say I hate their teasing because, if anything, it makes me feel more confident that everyone here is happy that Marron and I are finally getting together. Most of them were probably there the night I got drunk and wandered off with Marron, all but begging him to go skinny dipping with me.

"Is she our blood now?" one of the males asks, his voice sounding closer than the others.

Marron tenses, and a hiss escapes his lips. My eyes open, and I look up to see what's happening. Marron's eyes are still deep black, but he's pinning a male to our right with a glare that tells him to back off. Yril holds his arms up, the sleeves of his tunic sliding down, revealing all of the scars his mate has bitten into his scales. He smiles at us and backs away.

"She has claimed you," Yril says, the corners of his eyes crinkling as he smiles. "You have been blessed."

"I have," Marron responds, relaxing back in the seat when Yril is far enough away. "Now bless me more and leave us alone."

Yril barks out a sharp laugh before turning on his heels and returning to the group behind us. At least with them back there, we can pretend they're not here. Or we can pretend until they all begin talking again.

"They slept out here all night?"

"Must have been uncomfortable."

"They should gift Kal something nice for being a good male."

"I would not have slept in a chair all night for any of you."

"You have slept in chairs to watch my mate before."

"That was different. You scared me then."

Marron lets out a frustrated sound, apparently unable to find sleep now that there's a small crowd behind us with absolutely no care about how loud they're being or how uninterested we arein their conversation. He nuzzles his face against my hair before helping to shift me to my feet. I stand in front of him, and he gives me a once-over.

"How do I look?" I ask.

"You look like you have claimed a male." Marron brushes his fingers across my chin as he says it.

He wipes at the dried blood for a few strokes before remembering the wound in his neck. He presses the same fingers against the bite, and I can see his entire body shudder in pleasure. He closes his eyes, clenching his teeth as though not to let a hiss out, and I'm sure he's coming yet again at the memory of my teeth sinking into him.

I wait until he looks back down at me before leaning in and pressing a kiss to his lips.

"I want to look like yours," I whisper against his lips in his language.

His eyes go wide, and his hands reach out for me again. As much as I'd love for him to mate me right now, we still have an audience, and we need to wait until tonight. I stand up straight, ignoring how Marron's hands have found my ass yet again.

I address the others, knowing it'll be our best bet not to have sex with each other in the middle of the dining hall. "Do any of you know where my wardens are?"

---