Chapter Six #2
“Now, let’s meet Borwyn and get you registered for the free-running. I think you will simply enjoy the freedom to be yourself for a while.” Nelwyn smiled as they slowly walked toward the hotel.
“Why do you want me in the free-running?”
“A few reasons. The first is that you used to do it, so you will probably have competency, and the exercise will do you good. The second is that Borwyn and I will participate and keep an eye out for you, so you are assured of additional safety.”
“Why do I think there is one more?”
He chuckled. “We want to watch you run.”
“Ah. There it is.” She snorted. “I don’t think it will be an even start.”
He grinned. “We will wait.”
“I don’t think that anyone else will be running with bodyguards.”
“Well, that is their problem. I am guessing you know this island well?”
“Yup.”
“Will you lead us?”
“That seems like cheating.”
“You are that confident?”
“Yes. I made so many of the paths that people use every day and cut so many more that no one knows about. Even your shoulders could probably make it through.”
He chuckled as they approached Borwyn. “Any questions for me?”
“Why finance?”
“Money is easy. Predicting markets is easy, and it put me in a class with a lot of social functions where I could possibly find my mate. You weren’t where I thought you would be.”
“Under your nose?”
He smiled. “Precisely. I had an image of meeting you across a crowded space, and then you bumped into me at the office, and my beast told me that was way better.”
“Why?”
“Because I knew who you were, and through HR, I could learn everything about you. Andros in HR is also one of us, and he was keen to help.”
She snorted. “His ears always looked a little pointy.”
He laughed, and they were standing next to Borwyn. She extended her hand. “Hello. I am Moira Barnes.”
“Borwyn Breckal. I own a garage and like to work with my hands.” He took her hand carefully and just held it for a moment.
“Pleased to meet you?”
He smiled. “We will wait until it isn’t a question.” He bowed and kissed her cheek. “You feel so very right.” It was a soft whisper against her skin.
Moira swallowed, and Nelwyn chuckled. “We have time. Now let’s get you registered for the race.”
“She’s entering the race?” Borwyn asked.
“Look up Mimi Barnes for island runner,”
Borwyn lifted his phone and blinked. “Oh, yeah. Let’s get her registered.”
She knew he was seeing her all brown and muscled with her medals around her neck.
She snorted and walked with Nelwyn to get herself on the roster to basically sprint through the woods and up trees on all fours if needed. She had no idea how her new body would react to it. She could only try.
She filled out her information and scanned her chip for the entry fee. Ohno was manning the registration desk and stared. “Mimi?”
“Yeah. The city changes you. How are Dorian and Amby?”
“Great. Holy... can I touch your ear?”
“No. Don’t be weird.” She grimaced.
Ohno grinned and then said, “Okay, Wednesday morning at six, all competitors are going to be given the instructions here in the square. There are one hundred spots with eighty taken. Four heats of participants will be released based on registration number.”
Nelwyn chuckled. “Isn’t that just something. Either you are with us, or you are with us. We are numbers seventy-eight and seventy-nine.”
“How are you at climbing trees?”
He chuckled. “You will find out.”
“Uh-huh. I am not sure how I will manage. I am really out of practice.”
Borwyn chuckled. “We’ve got you. Don’t worry.”
“Excuse me.”
Moira turned and saw someone from the royal household. “Dinner time?”
“Yes, ma’am. You and your companions are invited, as well as Mickey.”
“She’s around here somewhere.”
“I have to retrieve the others, so please make your way to the palace.”
“Sure.” She turned to Ohno. “Anything else?”
“Here is your race packet. See you Wednesday.”
She took it, and Nelwyn extended his hand for it. “I have pockets.”
She looked at the loose vest he was wearing and shrugged. “Okay.”
He took it and slid it into a pocket that wasn’t there.
“Nice trick.”
“Isn’t it?” He smiled. “Shall we?” He held his hand out, palm up.
Moira put her fingers against his, and Borwyn chuckled before he said, “We met the king and court this afternoon. This might surprise them.”
“What?”
“You. Us. I mean, Narro will laugh his ass off.” Borwyn chuckled.
Moira smiled. “He has other elves to laugh at.”
“What? Who?”
“Rache and her two. Xeti and Terus,” Moira murmured as they walked through the centre of the village and headed to the pathway that led to the palace.
Alphas and betas stopped and stared, but many just grinned and shook their heads. They had seen it before. Others whipped their phones out.
Moira blinked. “It is hard to get used to that.”
Nelwyn chuckled. “As long as you are next to me, I don’t care who is taking what photo.”
“Hm. I just moved out here. I am not moving anywhere else for a very long time.”
Borwyn said, “That’s fine. I can open a boat repair shop.”
She asked as they walked, “But you own a garage, why would you move?”
He shrugged. “Because this is where you need to be.”
Nelwyn nudged her hand. “And I can work from home and make a permanent link to my office or home when necessary.”
“But you are a financier.”
“So? The data comes in the same way.”
“Oh. Right.” She was confused.
“You didn’t think I could follow you here?”
“I just wanted to feel safe. Feel like I was home again. I needed to see family and show them this.” She nodded and glanced down. “They reacted better than I thought they would, to my face.”
Nelwyn frowned. “What do you think they will think in the long term?”
“My gran will be happy if I am happy. My mom will be delighted that you are both alphas with actual jobs and not taking up surfing as a career path.”
Nelwyn chuckled. “We are a little denser than normal alphas. We would sink.”
Borwyn added, “We can swim, but it takes more effort.”
“Oh, right. Well, as long as you can hold your breath, it should be okay.”
Nelwyn chuckled again. “Not a problem.”
They walked up to the new palace, and Rache and Eden were already there with their elves, and Narro and the very pregnant Haravin were talking to the ladies.
Moira smiled. “Right. They know each other.”
“Yes, Xeti and Terus own a dance club, and Krossos is just... Krossos.”
“Is he not part of a pair?”
Borwyn smiled. “No, he has always been on his own. He’s calm and patient.”
“Good. If he isn’t in a hurry for a family, he’s a winner all around.”
The man looked up and smiled at them as they approached. He said softly, “I can wait.”
“Oh, right. Big ears are functional.”
He grinned. Eden chuckled and turned from her discussion on dance. “Moira, this is Krossos. Krossos, this is the lady who helped us get away.”
Krossos extended his hand, and Moira extended hers for a handshake, but he caught her fingers and pressed his forehead to her knuckles. “Thank you for bringing her here.”
“She needed to get safe and do it fast. This was the move.” She smiled. “And Syar used to babysit me, so when I called, he answered.”
Kekoa walked out as she said that. “Mimi?”
She sighed and looked at him. “Your Majesty?”
“You look...”
“Taller? Paler? Like, I need to spend some time in the sun?”
Kekoa walked up to her and hugged her. “Always sarcastic.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.” She hugged back, and he smelled like sunlight. There was another pheromone trace in the air. “Uh, my alphas are here, and they are off-gassing or something.”
He chuckled and leaned back. “You are taller.”
“There you go.”
“Are you staying?”
“I want to. I rented a shop and am staying at Grandma’s place.”
“A shop?”
“Dressmaking is an obsession since I got taller.”
“Oh, you made the dress Hara was wearing.”
“Yeah.”
“She says she wants to live, die, and rot in it.”
Haravin looked over. “I do. I really do.” She ran her hands down her body, and all the males in the area stared. It was a lot of curves to cover. “I need more.”
Rache chuckled. “And that is how you got into this position.”
Eden was smiling softly, but her eyes were blank.
Kekoa smiled and said, “Well, we should get in for dinner.”
He took Haravin’s hand, and Narro followed them in. Krossos and Eden, Rache and her companions, and then finally Moira and the Wyns.
Nelwyn asked, “Why did we go last?”
“Because out of all the ladies, I can take a hit.”
He paused and then nodded as they settled at the small table nearest the door.
The food arrived, and when she took a look at it, Mimi got up and said, “Wash your hands. I will be right back.”
She walked into the kitchen and got replacement trays. The housekeeper hissed. “What are you doing?”
She spoke in the language of Wonder. Moira said in the same language, “You gave us food for herbivores, and I can bet that all of those guys eat meat. In fact, I am counting on it.”
There was a laugh from Borwyn, and Moira blinked. “And they understand the language of the islands as well. Now, excuse me. One would have thought you had gained better manners since you tried to paddle my ass for stealing some pineapple.”
Moira returned to her table and swapped out the foods, returning the bland starches to the kitchen. The housekeeper stared at her and hissed. “Moira Barnes?”
“I know. I have grown. Now, none of the different meals based on placement. If I ask, King Kekoa will swap with me. Do remember that.”
The housekeeper smiled weakly. “Is your grandmother here?”
“No, but I can call her. Do you want me to call her?”
“No, miss. That will not be necessary.”
“Good.” Moira said softly, “You do know that if you hadn’t messed with the birds, the king would already have his heir? I know it, and you know it, and all of Emerald knows it.”
The housekeeper flinched, and she nodded. “It has spread there?”
“Oh, yes. Syar is not one to pull punches. He and the cats told me all about it.”
“Oh. You don’t address him by his honorific?”
“As he put it, he changed my diapers. That wrecked formality for life.”
“What?”