filled her cheeks, making them burn as she gaped at the warrior in mortification.
Oh hell, what had she done?
“Are you all right?” one of them asked in Standard.
Her mouth opened but nothing came out. She couldn’t think, couldn’t speak.
Aline moved up to Koran and taking his arm, quickly steered him away from her.
This was not happening. No way. She had to be stuck in a nightmare. Like the ones where you dream about turning up to school naked.
It had to be. This was too humiliating to be real. She must be still tucked up in bed, fast asleep.
“Wake up, Mila,” she whispered. “Wake up, now.”
She could feel everyone staring at her. Someone spoke quietly, but she couldn’t hear what they said. Why wouldn’t she wake up?
Because you are awake, Mila. This is not a dream.
Mortification filled her as she heard her sister apologizing for her.
Koran turned back to stare at her, a frown on his face. He was probably wondering how she could be such a clumsy idiot.
“Allow me to help you stand.” Another warrior stepped forward and held out his hands to her.
Mila reached up and took them. A low growl filled the room, and the warrior froze as everyone turned to look at Koran. He appeared just as surprised as Aline spoke to him quietly.
“I’m not dreaming, am I?” she asked the kind warrior who had helped her up. He smiled slightly, amusement dancing in his eyes. “That really just happened?”
“Yes. It did.”
Mila placed her hands over her face. “Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. I’m such a stupid klutz.”
The warrior frowned. “Klutz?”
“Oh, it means clumsy. I’m always tripping over my feet.” The other warriors gathered around her. Her cheeks burned as tears formed.
With a supreme effort, she brought herself under control. She turned to the blond warrior she’d fallen on. “I’m really sorry about that.”
He grinned. “I’m certain I enjoyed it more than you did.”
Not knowing how to reply to that, she decided she needed to get away from these guys as quickly as she could. “If you’ll all come with me, I’ll show you where you’re staying.”
The warrior who had helped her up reached out and gently touched her arm. “Your face is red. Are you hurt?”
“No, I’m fine. Well, my butt is probably bruised.” She resisted the urge to rub her aching posterior.
The warriors all frowned.
“Shall we take you to a healer?” another warrior asked. He scowled, his dark eyes watching her closely.
Surrounded by a wall of freakin’ huge men, she swallowed heavily. They had to be all over seven feet tall. Their tight black pants and sleeveless vests left very little to the imagination. Bulging biceps and wide, muscular chests. She studied them, looking for an imperfection, love handles, a weak chin, squinty eyes.
Nothing. They were perfect. Although not as perfect as Koran.
“No, I’m used to having a few bruises. Nothing to worry about.”
“I am Jaxan.” The one who had helped her up held out his hand. He introduced everyone else. Mila tried her best to memorize each name. The one with the dark eyes and deep scowl was Darac. The blond one she’d landed on was Safan.
“You fall often?” Safan asked.
“Yes, I’m certain you’ll see me humiliate myself a few times while you’re here. Just try not to step on me if I fall over in front of you.”
“Someone stepped on you?” Darac thundered.
“Oh, ah, it was an accident. He was walking behind me and couldn’t move in time.”
All of the warriors just gaped at her. Why was she telling them this? Hadn’t she humiliated herself enough for one day?
“If you’ll follow me, please.” Turning, she strode away, not looking back until she got to the door.
She gasped, shocked to find them right behind her. “Um, you guys sure move quietly.”
Jaxan frowned. “That is a bad thing?”
“I guess not. Just try not to sneak up on any of the women around here.”
“They are scared of us?” Darac asked. Did the man