JOYCE
Joyce saw stars as he thrust again and again, a slow but punishing rhythm that did not stop even as he leaned over her, his chest brushing her back, one hand underneath them to knead her breast, and he whispered.
"Now, let go. Breathe, scream… do whatever you need to do… but do. Not fight."
She sucked in an audible breath as he pulled out, then cried his name when he pushed back in hard. Again, again. He grunted, his thighs slapping against her with each powerful thrust, that rolling growl snapping in his throat. Caught between the wall of her pleasure and his power, Joyce quivered. Every muscle in her body was alight, but that wave at her core was building and building each time he reached inside her. The pleasure was so intense it was almost painful, and he still did not stop.
Groaning her name, he placed one hand between her shoulder blades, bracing to pound her against it until she cried uncontrollably with each thrust. Then he twisted the hand into her hair and slowly pulled her head back, curling over her to plunder her mouth in time with his thrusts, his breath tearing in and out of his nose. She realised he was trembling and pulled so tight he was about to snap.
"It is okay… Sung…" He stopped kissing her and straightened, the mating call erupting from his throat with every roll of his hips. His entire body trembled like he was the one who was fighting. "Sung!"
"Joyce… oh, Joyce…."
"Don't stop! I want you."
"I do not want to hurt you -"
"You won't; I want this, all of you -oh!"
He roared, slipping whatever tether he had held. Joyce could do nothing but give herself over to the storm of him as he lifted, pulled her knees off the furs, held her hips and pounded into her, roaring and calling. His breath rips out of him, and a strange, deep resonance in his chest as if two voices tore out his throat together. Joyce's skin washed in tingles as her climax approached, but this wave threatened to crest not at that bundle of nerves he played so expertly but deep inside her, a flip switched by the weight and pressure of him inside. Her body shook.
"Joyce… Joyce!" he groaned through his teeth.
"Sung!"
Then, tilting her hips again, he leaned forward, resting her belly on his broad thighs as he leaned over her again. The skin at her back prickled as it was teased by his chest. But she was so deep in pleasure that she could only cry out with his every movement. He twisted her hair around his fist and laid his mouth at her ear, his breath thundering on her skin.
"Hold on to me, love!" He put his free hand down next to hers, and she grasped it, the noises still tearing out of her with every roll of his hips. "You are mine," he snarled.
She screamed, overwhelmed as a wave of pleasure crashed through her, almost taking her out of her skin. At that exact moment, Sung latched his mouth at the point where her shoulder met her neck, biting down as he roared his climax. His teeth pierced her skin, and when she sucked in, stiffening against the pain, he growled again, holding her there, pressing hers into the furs, his teeth in her skin. As he shook and groaned his breath heaving, Joyce slumped into the furs, exhausted, sated, and lightheaded with sheer pleasure. As if it had stolen her oxygen.
His weight on her back was delicious; she wished they could lay that way forever.
Sung still panted, gasping, growls and groans breaking out of his throat as he shuddered back to sanity. He slumped but took some of his weight on his elbows, dropping her hair to curl his arm around her head. Like he was holding her safe. His breath fluttered against her cheek when he finally released her with his teeth, kissing and licking to soothe the half-moon wounds in her skin.
"You are bleeding," he said in a voice so rough and deep that it came from the rock beneath them. "I am so sorry," he moved to roll off her, but she whimpered and put her hand on his head.
"Don't, not yet," she whispered. "Stay close."
"Joyce-"
"Sung, I… I have never felt this way before," she whimpered, her voice cracking. "I…" she was embarrassed to be fighting tears, and he shushed her, kissing her neck and ear.
"I know," he murmured. "Me too," he rolled off of her, and she complained, but he only rolled to his side, then gathered her in, curling her into a ball and wrapping himself around her. She sniffed, and he shushed her, stroking his hands down her neck and kissing her wound, cheek, and hair. "You are mine now," he whispered.
"I thought I already was," she said in a quivering voice.
"Even more, now," he said, his voice thick with satisfaction. "This has nothing to do with the kingdom or mating. This is the claim. Male to female, regardless of position in the pride. It is my vow to you that wherever you are, no matter what you face, I will go with you. My body for yours, my blood for yours, my life for yours. You are mine, and I will die to protect you."
She sniffed again and lifted her head to meet his eyes that still glowed but with a soft light now. She touched his face.
"I don't have words, Sung."
"Neither do I," he said softly. "That is why I bit you."
And the words were so foreign, so she burst into laughter out of the realm of anything Joyce had ever thought she would hear from a man, let alone anything to make her heart swell.
Sung smiled. "I am glad you find it funny," he growled, pulling her tighter and kissing her.
When he finally pulled away, Joyce sighed so happily that she almost wept again.
***
SUNG
They did not have time to do anything except get ready for breakfast. He woke earlier than Joyce and forced himself to leave her sleeping, grumbling when she only woke as the lanterns lit. He was anxious, he realised, as he kissed her shoulder and whispered good morning. His stomach churning with nervous anticipation as they got out of bed and readied to face the day.
He wanted to warn her what might be coming and how the people might react to her chosen companions and the claiming. But she was so happy. She kissed him and told him how handsome he was before she jumped out of bed, hugged him when he got up and danced to the closet to find her clothes. She sang in the bathing room and skipped into the kitchen for a drink of water before returning to get dressed.
"You are happy this morning," he said, biting back his tension because he did not want to ruin her mood.
"I feel like I finally know what I am here to do," she said, pulling a simple cotton tunic over her head to pair with the leather leggings the women had found for her a few days earlier. Sung's brows pinched, and he stared into the closet, wondering how to tell her, but she did not let him brood. "Stop growling," she hushed him. Sung blinked. Had he growled? "The women's council warned me," she continued with one hand on his shoulder. "I know the people will take some time to get used to me and that I am doing things differently. But even Khloe said I could win if I was willing to fight for it. And she must know, right?"
"She sure does," Sung said, surprised.
He had assumed the women had not known Joyce was picking Gray, a male, as one of her companions. The poor kid was going to have one hell of a day today. The youngest appointed Ruling Advisor for ten generations and his female Patron had just been claimed. If it had been someone else's mate, someone else's Kingdom, Sung would have laughed until his sides ached. He was glad the woman had spoken to her about it, though. At least they were on board. Joyce needed them behind her.
"I am excited to start planning," Joyce said, pulling a string of necklaces the women had given her the night before over her head and twisting her hair into a braid. "And I am looking forward to feeling like I have a reason to exist."
Unable to resist the warm blush on her cheeks and sparkling eyes, Sung pulled her into his chest and kissed her soundly. "You are going to be great," he said. "But you already have a reason to exist: You are for me, I told you."
Her smile softened, and she pulled him back into another kiss, then groaned when he tried to deepen it and twisted out of his grip.
"Don't distract me. I have to get to breakfast! I am supposed to meet them there."
Sung sighed. That was right, all three of them, including the deformed male.
"Maybe… maybe you should have breakfast with me, then meet with them later. Somewhere more private?" he asked casually.
"Oh, so now you want to take my attention, now that you have got competition," she grinned. Sung almost swallowed his tongue. She had no idea. But not noticing his apprehension, she hummed as she left the room, tossing some comment over her shoulder about sticking to her promises.
Sung took a moment to buckle his pants and pray hurriedly for her before following her out reluctantly. She noticed his slow pace and asked him about it.
"I just do not want to share you," he said truthfully, conscious of not sharing his fear. But she did not seem to notice, grinning and teasing him when he suddenly remembered that he also needed… something from the bedroom.
By the time he returned with the different belt he did not need, she was waiting for him by the barred door. He grinned when he saw his vest and pants from the night before, one thrown over the sideboard, the other kicked onto the floor.
Joyce followed his gaze and blushed, but her eyes heated when they met his.
"I will need you to unbar the door," she said. "I can't lift it."
Trying not to strut, Sung hefted the wooden beam easily and set it down next to the door, but as Joyce thanked him and moved to open it, he leaned against it and looked at her pointedly.
"What?" she asked.
"What is that strange tradition they have in your world where you pay people extra for doing something that is their job?"
"Tipping?" she asked.
"Yes, tipping. I need a tip for opening the door for you and not keeping you locked here for my pleasure."
She tilted her head, and her eyes went her again. She walked up to him slowly, putting a hand to his chest, then looked at him through her lashes, a wicked smile on her face.
"Sung?" she whispered, beckoning him down to their level.
He leaned down, eyes still on hers. "Yes?"
She put her arms around his neck and leaned her lips into his ear. "Move out of the way; otherwise, I will tell Erwin and the guards you told me you are handing your balls to the women's council."
He pretended offence and stood straight, folding his arms, barring her from the door. Then he raised one eyebrow in a challenge.
"I would like to see you try," he said, his voice rolling into a low, good-natured growl.
She tilted her head again, and Sung nearly groaned at the wicked smile on her face as she leaned into him and slid her hand down his stomach, then lower and lower. He leapt to grab her wrists, leaning forward until they were nose to nose. Then she kissed him… and kissed him.
Sung's breath sped up, and he let go of her hands to cup her face as she opened her mouth, and their tongues tangled.
But as soon as he lost her, she twisted around him to the door, singing "Thank you, husband!" and waving her shoulder at him as she darted outside.
Sung growled for real then but swung the big door open so he could fit through and followed her into whatever they would face this day.
Whatever it was, he knew she would be worth it.
SUNG
He caught her around the middle right before she reached the opening of the cave and the sunshine beyond. She shrieked when he growled and pulled her into his chest, kissing and stopping her again.
"Are you sure you do not want to stay here and have dessert instead of breakfast?" he murmured, sliding a hand down her ass and pulling her against him. Then he kissed her, and the way she leaned into him for a minute, he thought maybe she had changed her mind.
But in the end, she pulled back and sighed but shook her head. "I am excited to get started," she said softly, stroking his hair. "And I am excited to come home with you tonight," she added, wriggling her eyebrows.
Sung huffed but let her go. "Meet me for lunch then?" he said quietly, praying breakfast would be uneventful.
"Of course! Oh, and do you think now that the people have accepted me, we can lose the guards here?" she said, tipping her head towards the nearest man standing halfway across the clearing.
Sung's heart sank. She said she knew if she fought with her hands, but… she did not understand what she would face. He would speak to her at lunch. "I, uh… I do not know, Joyce…."
"Wouldn't it be nice to be outside at night… with some privacy?" she added, dropping her voice and giving him a heated look.
Sung swallowed and willed his body not to tighten at the thought. "I will talk to Erwin about the guards; maybe, regardless, let's add it to the list," he winked at her.
She laughed and leaned up to kiss him one more time. "I am going now. Are you coming?" she said.
"I will talk to the guards first, see if there have been any issues the last few days. You go have fun; I will see you at lunch."
"Okay, I will," and she trotted off towards the trail, which just happened to take her past the nearest guard.
Sung's teeth set as the man turned to look at her, waving a greeting as she passed. Sung wondered if he had noticed, but his question was answered when the man's mouth dropped open, and then he looked back at Sung. Hot rage shot through Sung's chest in a bolt so pure he almost shifted. The guard immediately dropped to one knee, his eyes to the ground, his weapon held out, away from his body and Sung.
"I am sorry, sir. I did not realise -"
"What is wrong?" Joyce said, her voice shaky. She had stopped on the trail just past the man and was standing there, looking between him and Sung.
Teeth gritted, Sung shook his head to clear it.
The man was no threat. He had smiled at her to greet her. That was all, he reminded himself as his breath began to heave and not with desire. The next nearest guard had turned when this one called out to Sung, but the man put a hand out towards him.
"She is claimed," he called hurriedly.
The other guard's eyes went wide, dropping to one knee. Sung swore as Joyce frowned, watching each of these guards kneeling in a semi-circle around the clearing before Sung.
"Sung, what is going on?" she asked, her voice troubled.
Sung groaned in his throat.
***
JOYCE
It was like when Erwin interrupted that night; they had almost… but nothing was happening now. She was just walking ahead of him. He had seemed fine. So, why did the men all act like the wrong look would send him into a rage?
Then the nearest one called to the others about her being claimed.
"Sung?" she asked. "What is going on?"
She put a hand on her shoulder and the marks on her skin. He had said they would notice. That they had known what had happened. Beyond the soreness when she woke, she had not thought about it. He had said it had nothing to do with the kingdom or being her queen. It was only for them.
So, why did the men seem shocked?
"Sung?" she called again.
"It is nothing, Joyce; go to breakfast. I will… speak with the men."
She frowned at him, but he gave her a look that was as tired as it was troubled, and she could see that he did not want to speak to her about it just then. So, she sighed and waved, then turned to walk away again. As she disappeared under the trees, she passed Erwin on his way toward the cave. He smiled and greeted her, then his eyes widened, but he covered them quickly.
Joyce gave him a wry smile; this claiming thing was more significant than she had realised, and kept walking. But she made a mental note to pin Sung down it that afternoon.
***
SUNG
He kept his stance as relaxed as he could until she was gone under the trees, then he turned towards the guard, who still knelt, one fist to his chest, the other pointing the spear as far from Sung as he could.
"At ease, slowly," Sung growled. The man came to his feet but kept his eyes down. "You can relax, man. I am not going to unleash on you."
The guard raised his eyes slowly, checking as they met Sung's. Sung did feel the surge of dominance rise in him when the man looked at him, but he swallowed it back. He was going to get used to this. They had mated, and he claimed her so close together. He had not recovered from one entirely before he had to deal with the other. He forced himself to meet the man's gaze and clenched his hands at his sides.
"You tell no one of this," he snarled.
"Yes, yes, of course."
"I do not want the males avoiding me; where is Erwin this morning?"
"He is, uh, on his way, Sire. I think."
Sung swore under his breath. "I am going back into the cave. As soon as he gets here, you tell him to come to find -" Then Sung heard his name on the morning breeze.
He turned to find his best friend stalking towards him, his face a thundercloud.
Sung sighed. "Good morning, Behr," Sung called as his friend started across the clearing.
Erwin shot him a look, stopped to speak with the guard, and then strode towards the cave mouth, Sung observing him as he passed him.
"You claimed her, ALREADY?" Erwin growled as their long legs ate up the ground between the entrance to the cave. "Are all the Leonine born with an impatient stick shoved up their asses, or is it just you?"
"It is a natural step forward -" Sung began.
"You are joking right now, right?" Erwin snarled. "You know, mated couples that did not claim for YEARS, Sung. Years! And some never have. Did you think this is what the people needed? The wolves? With everything else going on, you thought turning yourself into a possessive asshole was the right step forward?"
"I can control it."
"Oh really?" Erwin snorted. "How much do you want to tear my throat right now?"
"I don't!"
They reached the opening, and Erwin walked ahead, pulling the door open for Sung and mockingly bowing in front of it as Sung walked through. Erwin leaned his spear to face Sung when they entered the great room. "I just passed your wife on the trail, and our arms brushed. You can smell her on me if you want; how about now?"
That hot rage shuddered through Sung again, but he clenched his jaw and forced himself to shrug. "I will be fine," he said through his teeth.
"You are a forest fire waiting for a spark. What were you thinking?"
Sung stepped into his friend's space and glared up into his eyes, his voice low. "I was thinking that I am your king, and she is your queen, and I will not answer you about what happens with my mate in the dark of the night."
"No, you do not answer me about that, Sung," Erwin's jaw twitched. "But you will force me to put men in front of you when you are on a hair-trigger, and you will force your people to deal with yet more change, more uncertainty just so… what? So, you can find more pleasure with a human?"
"It had nothing to do with pleasure-"
Erwin rolled his eyes and snorted. Sung's hand shot out to take his friend by the shirt and pull him in close, snarling in his face, teeth bared as he growled. "What she is, is so far beyond my pleasure that if you disrespect her in that way again, I swear by the creator's mane, I will put you down, Erwin. Do not test me."
Erwin sagged immediately, letting his knees hit the stone floor when Sung let him go, hands up in surrender, eyes to the floor.
"I am sorry, Sung, I am sorry. I would never… it was not intended to disrespect your mate," Sung stood over his bowed neck, the growl rolling in his throat, letting this dominance be seen and heard. Erwin opened his hands towards him. "Breathe, brother… I am sorry."
Sung turned on his heel and began pacing the floor. Erwin did not move but glanced up at him. Sung ignored the shadow of anger that remained in his friend's eyes. Erwin had overstepped, speaking about Joyce that way, but Sung knew his judgment of the consequences was true. Sung could not fault him for that. He cursed as he paced, his friend watching him warily.
"I am sorry, too, Behr," he mumbled finally. "It was not… I did not plan to do this. But last night…." he clawed both hands through his hair and paced in the other direction. "It was as if… as if she had taken possession of my guts! She was sleeping, not even talking to me, for the creator's sake. But everything in me… I had to make her mine."
"She was already yours," Erwin said, his voice tired.
"You do not understand. It was overwhelming; the feelings inside me… I do not have words. Except to say that nothing else mattered. If she had said no, I would have accepted it."
"I should hope so!"
Sung shot him a look but saw that Erwin was grinning and softened. "But she did not say no," he stopped pacing then and turned to face his friend.
"I should hope so!"
"She did not say no, Erwin. She… gave herself over to me, and it was like… it was like something inside me was satisfied. Something that has never been satisfied before."
Erwin took a deep breath, his lips thin. "I know what you mean," he finally said flatly.
Sung frowned. "The equine claims their mates?"
"No, but… there was a night I wish we did," he said. "I know the feelings you describe. I am envious that you had something you could do about it".
Sung grinned. "You talk a big game, my friend, but your heart is even more submissive to your mate than mine."
"Holly is the creator's gift to me," Erwin said with a shrug. "And when she wraps her legs around me…." He visibly shuddered, his eyes going distant momentarily, his jaw slack.
Sung growled, "I do not need to hear about that," Erwin blinked and focused on Sung again, who sighed. "I just want you to understand. I was not aiming for this. I did not plan it. I just… could not help it."
Erwin looked unimpressed but got to his feet, observing Sung. Sung turned his back and breathed so he would not resist the urge to make him submit again. This was going to be inconvenient, especially if anyone touched her and she returned to the cave with anyone else's scent on her; Sung groaned. There was no way around it; he would have to keep himself on the tightest leash. He could not afford another scandal by attacking one of his people out of sheer dominance.
"What is she doing today?" Erwin asked, yanking Sung out of his self-pity.
"Other than being very excited to meet with her cohorts and begin finding work that will probably confuse the people and threaten her place in the pride?" Sung murmured.
"Poor Gray," Erwin said, keeping his voice carefully neutral. Sung huffed. "So, I take it, you did not know about that beforehand."
"No, are you joking? I would have told her in no uncertain terms to pick a female! Why did you not talk to her?"
"She told me the women's council gave her advice. The way she spoke about it, I assumed she had told Khloe who they were and gotten approval. I am guessing no one even considered that she would pick a male."
"How will this work if she is in foal? Or unwell? Will you let him into the bed chamber when she is -?"
"Perhaps, we can discuss those slim possibilities another time?" Sung snarled through his teeth. "Right now, I need to face today."
"And poor Gray has to face you," Erwin chuckled.
"You think this is a joke?"
"No, I think you dug your bed, and now you must lay in it." They both sat, silently thinking through how having a male cohort to the queen could be disastrous. Then Erwin shook himself. "What's done is done; we cannot change it. So, we move ahead today. Today is the day to focus on. So, tell me, Sung, how bad is it?"
"I almost tore out the guard's throat," Sung said sadly. "And I can stifle it against you, but… I wanted to bite your face when you said that about touching her. If someone takes me by surprise…."
"It might be a useful excuse for getting rid of some of the wolves," Erwin said with a wicked smile. "I am sure I could trick at least a couple of them into touching her."
"Until I catch one that is innocent, or someone else gets hurt in the scuffle."
Both men grimaced.
"Perhaps it would be better if we met with the men here," Erwin said. "Just for today. Just until we are all a little more settled. It will delay us while I call the men together, but I am sure they will understand. When is she expected back?"
"Not until after lunch; I am meeting her for lunch," Sung swallowed hard. "It might be good to have you and a couple of others, just in case."
Erwin sighed. "When you asked me to be your second, I said I knew your rule would be interesting."
"Is that the word we are using now?" Sung asked dryly.
Erwin snorted. "You know, one day, we will look back on all of this and laugh."
"I hope so," Sung sighed. "I hope so."
JOYCE
They sat at the table, all eating silently. Joyce was not sure whether to laugh or cry.
From the moment she arrived at the market, excited, happy, and anticipating finally finding her feet, it had been obvious there was a problem. Talia and Khloe stood at the foot of the stage, talking in low voices; Gray stood a few feet away, alone and watching them. And everyone else stared.
Then they smelled her and saw the mark on her shoulder.
Khloe was surprised but happy. "That will make the mating much more successful," she said confidently.
Joyce had blushed. "Success has not been an issue," she said through her teeth. But when she had turned towards Gray, his face was wide with horrified shock. "What?" she asked quickly, looking behind her, but there was only interested Anima looking at them from the nearby tables and Talia and Khloe watching closely. "What is wrong?"
"You are… he… you are claimed!" Gray said in a strangled voice, then looked over his shoulder and left and right as if he was afraid.
"What is wrong? What are you looking for?" She asked him quietly.
"Where is Sung?" He hissed back, still scanning over her shoulder and his own.
"He is back at the cave talking to Erwin last I saw… why?"
Gray raked a hand through his hair. "Does he… know you are meeting with me?"
"Yes, of course. Why?"
"I just imagine he is not happy about it."
"He was fine with it!" she had insisted, but a little dropped when she started to think about the morning so far. Had Sung been fine? About the cohorts? The breakfast? Not entirely. She frowned.
Gray gave a knowing look. "Did he talk to you … about picking a male for your cohorts?"
"No, why?" Gray's lips twisted. "What is it? she asked, confused.
"Many would not be comfortable with me being near you in the ways an advisor needs to be at… at certain times when you are female and mated to the king, and you are now claimed!" he groaned.
And just like that, the crowd's response last night, Sung's apparent nerves this morning, and now the way they were all standing here looking like a bomb was about to drop made sense.
She had done the wrong thing again. "Why doesn't anyone tell me these things?" Joyce hissed, her hands in fists. "How am I supposed to-to do anything here if you all have these stinking rules and you don't tell me about them!"
"It is like asking a lion to warn you about his claws," Khloe quietly said beside her. "He would never think to; they are simply there. It would shock him to find out you were unaware".
Joyce whirled. "You are fucking kidding me, right?"
Khloe blinked, and Talia stepped in, whispering. "Perhaps, this conversation would be better had in private?"
"No! I will not be. I will not allow you to be chased from our breakfast. We will sit here, eat, and they will see you, all of you!" she insisted when Gray raised a finger and opened his mouth. "You are my advisor, Gray. Come sit next to me at the table, and Khloe, you sit on his other side, so the others see that too," she growled.
She did not give them a chance to argue, just stalked up the stairs and to her seat, pulling out the chair and dropping into it, scowling. She knew she was pouting, being a child. But… she wanted to drop her head in her hands and cry. Or stand up and scream.
Why did they keep letting her walk into these blunders?
When will this suspicion and isolation stop? Would it? Or would she forever be the weak human queen, always under Sung's wing?
The idea made her sick to her stomach so that she could barely eat. So as the three of them sat there, picking at their food and barely even looking at each other, she felt sicker and sicker until she finally turned to Talia. "Where would we go for a private conversation?" she asked.
Talia thought for a moment. "We can go to my home if you like. It is not large, but it is closer than Khloe's, and there are enough chairs, I think."
"Thank you. I would like to see your home," Joyce said, trying not to sound ungrateful. She turned to Gray and Khloe. "Take whatever food you want; we are going to Talia's house." Gray looked relieved, and Khloe nodded approval. Then she leaned into Gray, who looked alarmed and scanned the market again. "And if anyone says a word to you, you tell me!" she snapped.
He nodded, but his eyes just looked even more hunted. Joyce groaned with frustration and got out of her seat.
Talia's house was a tree. One of the enormous trees that's a couple of minutes walk from the market. Joyce was confused when she stopped along the path next to it and looked around. Perhaps there was a small path to her home or something? But Talia just walked around the trunk of the massive tree to their right. An arched door on the back side of it reminded Joyce of the door into the cave. Except this one was made from the bark of a much rougher and much darker brown than that on the tree. But just like in the cave, it looked like it had grown there.
"I am… honoured, Joyce," Talia said with a slight bow, "that you are entering my home."
"Don't be silly," Joyce laughed. "I am just -"
"Do you wish us to speak up when you offend, Joyce?" Khloe piped up quietly from behind her. She turned. "Yes, of course."
"Then know that denying is disrespectful when an Anima tells you they are honoured. It denies both your value and what they believe you bring to them. Do you wish to do this to your friend?"
"No!" Joyce whirled. "Talia, I am sorry. I just meant… I do not think I am better than you or needing… me coming to your home is an honour for me!"
Talia's face lit up. "Thank you!" she breathed.
Joyce froze with her mouth open momentarily; all her frustration and aggravation about understanding the people she was living with rushed in until she wanted to scream. Still, she swallowed it back, closed her mouth, and nodded her acceptance of the compliment, then glanced at Khloe, who nodded and winked like she knew what Joyce had done.
Joyce took a deep breath and followed Talia into the home. As soon as she stepped inside, her frustration was forgotten.
It was incredible.