They’ve seen you in the race.
I get to my feet and aim for the gate, a mixture of hope and dread clashing in my stomach.And?
I will explain later. Focus on Jovie.
When Allele gets cryptic, I know the news is bad.At least give me the general idea.
You can’t do anything about it.
Her voice in my mind quiets, and I lean on the black metal fence to watch Jovie walk up, feeling turned around.
She speaks with a few women headed back to the complex and shares a laugh with them. As she approaches and the attendant lets her in, I can’t help but stare at her beautiful flesh wrapped in the skimpy ABR bikini tied with purple strings.
“Guess they were right,” she says, coming up to me. “This is a hot bod hot tub. ExceptI’monly looking atyours.”
Jovie trails a finger down my chest and over my abs. “You workout? Or is this natural?”
Prides swells in my chest. “Bit of both.”
She hums a grunt and winks at me. “Of all the women here, I am definitely the luckiest.”
Her compliment is unexpected, and it makes me suddenly self-conscious, mostly about the thinness of my swim shorts.
Jovie bites a lip and presses herself against me. “Aura, I didn’t know you carried such a big gun.”
I’m grateful for her shield. As much as I want to wreck her in front of everyone, I know it’s not something my people would appreciate. We aren’t animals. We’re supposed to be more sophisticated than every other species.
I tamp my need down. But it’s gettingharderby the minute.
I take her towel and encourage her into the pool.
“Aren’t you joining?”
“In a second,” I chuckle. “Just need to calm my heart and figure out how to get in with thisrager. I would’ve preferred armor to thispaper.”
Jovie blushes a beautiful color and walks to the edge of the large hot tub as I turn to set her towel on the table where my flimsy shoes sit.
Jovie yelps. I look back to see her gorgeous body flail into the pool.
Cora shrugs. “Oopsies. My bad.”
Jovie?
She doesn’t surface.
“She’s not a good swimmer, you brat!” I shout at Cora.
I charge to the edge, find Jovie, and dive in. I swim deep into the water toward her blurry form. The faint movement of scales circling her suddenly explains why she hasn’t surfaced.
There are too many other racers in the water for me to handle the situation the way I usually do.
Hang on, Babe.
Swimming toward him, I get myself in line with his approaching tail. The male from the river moves perfectly into my grasp. I grit my teeth and prepare for my attack.
I just need a second to give someone a new asshole.
19: Jovie
