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“Yes,” Griff said a all you bastards too busy to scheht”

“Why would we seek to impair your physical state before such an ih spluttered in protest

“I know you wouldn’t” Griff bumped John’s shoulder with his own affectionately “But trust rooover down the aisle”

Hugh glared at Chase “I told you he’d spot your scheme, and find a way to avoid it”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Chase said, with great dignity “And in any case, it was your idea in the first place”

“So you do not truly require these items, oath-brother? This was just a diversionary tactic?” John dropped the box he’d been unsuccessfully trying to fold, a wave of relief sweeping over him “I must admit, that makes much more sense I could not believe that even hu uselessly tiny portions of foodstuffs to guests as gifts, after the end of a meal”

Griff’s mouth quirked up “Ah, no, actually that is a real tradition And I do genuinely need these Hayley saw the they were too expensive So I thought I’d surprise her Which means I really do need help”

“Tempted as I am to leave you to deal with the consequences of your too-clever scheme, Connie would never let me live it dow

n if I abandoned these half-finished She’s taking her role as Matron of Honor rather seriously” Chase let out a long-suffering sigh, picking up another box “The things we do for our mates”

“The things you poor sods do for yourhis chair back from the table “This just makes me hope even o get a drink”

Yes, whined John’s inner huood at it No one would mind if ent and enjoyed ourselves

With the ease of long practice, John suppressed his inner hued creature that shared his soul, he was a sea dragon He was above such selfish, hedonistic instincts

He lifted his chin “I cannot abandon o if you feel so moved, but I shall stay until the bitter end”

Hugh looked hard at hiroan “For someone who claims to be honor-bound to only tell the truth, you are suspiciously good atpeople No wonder the weather does what you tell it to do”

“I do not manipulate either water or people,” John said, truthfully “I simply speak It is up to the listener to decide what to do in response”

“I should have ainst your more-noble-than-thou attitude by now” Despite his surly words, Hugh picked up another flower and started to weave it into the next box “You’re a bloody bad influence, you know that?”