Page 5 of Coral Rustling

Ulkna must have come to the same conclusion, or maybe it was knowledge from when he was a horse trainer, assuming that was true.“Hey, Land.Best calm down around the horses.”Ulkna smiled, keeping his tone low and soothing, perhaps to soften his reproach.“And thank you.”His attention returned to Trey.“I look forward to getting to know you.”

Land giggled, cuddling into Payson’s side.“Now I know what you meant about riding your mate.”Even if his words were ridiculous, at least he’d stopped bouncing.

With a soft sigh and slight shake of his head, Ulkna focused on the stirrups.“Please forgive the pair,” he mumbled, adjusting the length of the first one.“Payson’s an enforcer and a good guy, but he’s an acquired taste.He and his mate are...unique.”

Trey didn’t really have a way to respond, so he remained still, just watching his mate, lost in thought.The man’s scent was masculine, earthy, and delicious.He could smell the hint of reptile undertones, and he wondered what kind of animal Ulkna shared his psyche with—maybe a snake or lizard.Trey looked forward to finding out.

After fixing both stirrups, Ulkna bent and checked both the main and rear girths.He froze for a second, then slowly straightened.Wearing a concerned expression, Ulkna eased close before glancing around furtively.

Ulkna cleared his throat, then whispered so low Trey barely made out the words.“Did they geld you?”

Trey jerked his head, turning to peer at Ulkna with his left eye.For a second, he wondered why his mate would even ask that.Then...it hit him.

If Trey had been in human form, he would have laughed.As it was, he let out a horsey snort.Seeing the worry filling Ulkna’s hazel eyes, Trey shook his head, hoping he understood the negative.

Slowly, Ulkna began nodding.“Okay.”He glanced pointedly toward Trey’s equine groin area.“Well, I only asked to know if I should let our gang’s doc know for, um...to figure out...well...”Ulkna’s voice trailed off, and he shook his head.“Well, okay, then.”

Trey nickered and rubbed Ulkna’s chest with his head, hoping to reassure him.He knew he would have some explaining to do, but he didn’t mind.After all, Ulkna was his mate, and it wasn’t actually anything embarrassing.It was just a skill he’d honed for fun decades before that had come in handy while working as a trail horse.

Ulkna seemed to accept the reassurance for what it was.“Well, okay,” he repeated with a rub to Trey’s head.“Let’s get this show on the road.”With a wink, Ulkna added, “The sooner we get this ride done, the sooner we can figure out a way to actually meet.”

Bobbing his head once more, Trey agreed and resigned himself to a long,longafternoon.

Chapter Three

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Ulkna relaxed in thesaddle, enjoying the slight sway as his mate moved beneath him.A small smile teased at the corners of his lips, and he toyed with the horse’s mane, threading his fingers between the coarse strands.Considering that petting his mate in horse form was the only affection he could show the other male right then, he wanted his mate to know that he was enjoying his time with him, regardless of how it was happening.

He listened as the others carried on conversations around him, appreciating that no one seemed to expect him to join in.The wranglers pointed out interesting rock formations, caves, and petroglyphs.A number of the others asked questions, and he enjoyed listening to the answers.

How long is the canyon?Over two-hundred-seventy miles long.

How wide is the canyon?Over eighteen miles at its widest point.

How deep is the canyon?Over six thousand feet at its deepest spot.

“Did you know over twenty-two thousand people white water raft the Colorado River every year,” one of the wranglers told them, pointing at the ribbon of water below them.He grinned over his shoulder where he led the group.“You all seem like adventurous folks, so if that interests you, you’ll have to pick a date weeks, sometimes months out.”

Ulkna noticed his mate shake his head just a little, and he grinned as he leaned over his neck to murmur, “Not a fan, my mate?”

Again, the horse shook his head.

Chuckling, Ulkna muttered, “Good to know,” before straightening.

“Maybe next time we travel through this way,” Hunter stated, peering at Yuma, who was looking over his shoulder to meet his human mate’s gaze.“Would that interest you, baby?”

Yuma grinned widely.“Anything with water interests me.”

Hunter chuckled.“Right.Silly question.”

Considering Yuma shared his spirit with a penguin, itwassort of a silly question.

“I love rafting,” Reuben declared, a wide grin curving his features.

Lamar sighed deeply.“You’re going to try to talk me into it, aren’t you?”The peacock shifter did not sound excited...at all.

Reuben winked at his fastidious lover.“Awww, you don’t have to, baby.I can go without you.”

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