Slow & Steady – Introducing: Let Down Your Hare

The Slow & Steady series continues with Let Down Your Hare.

I’m so excited to announce that Let Down Your Hare (Slow & Steady book three) is my NaNoWriMo 2021 project!

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Rez the Only Runner of Two-Four-Kay

“Hey now,” Jo said, her tone kind, but firm. “Not here, Rez. Come on.”

Docile as a bunny, Rez let Jo turn her to usher her from the room.

Ryorin was blocking the threshold.

Like a crack of lightning, the atmosphere in the room shifted.

Joia made a low, disgusted sound in the back of her throat as Pyxis released a thunderous growl.

Ryorin, who had his flat gaze pinned on Jo, shifted his focus over Rez’s shoulder. Rez caught it as well, Pyx was lunging—

“Hoy, Fanboy!” Joia snapped, keeping her eyes on Ryorin. “Quit it.”

Pyx jerked to a stop, which only increased the tension.

Sure, he’d listened to Jo and had backed off, but his nostrils were fuming as his feral growls rumbled at an ultra low decibel. His shoulders had bulked up as well—his muscles priming for battle as they clicked his back carapace plates into place. And as he paced in the tiny space—pivoting after two stunted steps—his furious glare never shifted from Ryorin.

It was all pretty terrifying. In less than a second, Pyx had shed his puppy-ness and burst forth as a hellhound.

Rez was emotionally drained and teetering on another mental drop, but even she knew. Now was not the time to fuck with Pyx.

Apparently, Ryorin didn’t agree.

She watched him flick his gaze from Pyx back to her and Jo. Assessing.

For all the—

Was he actually thinking about taking Pyx on despite his rabid state?

“Don’t even think about it,” Rez snarled.

Jo followed fast on her heels, backing her up with the same ferocious protectiveness. “You do not wanna cross that line, Pompous.”

Ryorin snapped his gaze to Jo, his brow dipping. He opened his mouth, hesitated, then huffed out a dismissive scoff. “I have no quarrel with Pyxis the Restrained.” Then the smug ass just had to add, “At the moment.”

In unison, she and Jo exchanged beleaguered eye rolls.

“And when I do choose to quarrel,” Ryorin snipped, his chest puffing up. “I’m always victorious.”

“Whatever.” Jo jabbed her thumb over her shoulder, pointing at Pyx. “Fanboy checks all the Badass Boxes. Reconnaissance. Extraction. Assault artillery.”

“He kinda makes like a whole army.” Rez tossed in with a ‘you’re screwed’ shrug.

Ryorin scoffed. “Without a commanding officer?”

“Who needs one of those?” Rez shot back.

He squinted his eyes and said flatly, “An army. An army needs one of the those.”

Hell, she’d rather be dealing with Kin’s sucky mom than this shitbag. Ryorin was just so…jack-ass-holelistic…

“You got two seconds, Pompous,” Jo said, again using her thumb, pointing to Pyx over her shoulder, “before I let Fanboy off the leash.”

Ryorin heaved, then pressed his lips into a firm line.

“One,” Jo snapped.

“I’m here to parlay,” Ryorin gritted out.

“Like hell you are. Emys and Kin aren’t here.” Jo scoffed, sounding amused. “And I know Fanboy ain’t in no mood to talk.”

Rez blinked. She had no idea what those two were talking about. And it was obvious that Jo and Ryorin were picking up some past conversation that she’d missed.

Ryorin shifted, turning more toward Jo. “I’m here to parlay—”

Jo cut him off. “Repeating it ain’t gonna make it true—”

“With you!” Ryorin snapped his mouth shut, as if his harsh tone had surprised him as well.

“Bullshit.”

Jo shoved Ryorin, whose eyes shot wide open as he backpedaled out of the room.

No. Jo didn’t have super strength. Just limited bursts of speed paired with limitless intelligence.

Ryorin had backed himself outta the way because—based on his stunned expression—the conceited clown must have thought himself untouchable.

Ass.

Rez stumbled after Jo. One hand held her towel closed while Jo firmly grasped the other and pulled her forward.

As Jo stormed past Ryorin, Rez caught the look on his face. Flabbergasted. Amazed. Then, either unaware that Rez was looking or not giving a shit, his lips curled. She knew that smile.

Proprietary.

Well, that wouldn’t end well for him.

And Jo—as if proving Rez’s point—called over her shoulder. “Stay with Baby Bunny, Fanboy. Let me know if Pompous gives you any shit.”

Yeah. Ryorin might as well flay himself now and get it over with on his own terms…