Chapter Eight #3
“Put them at the girls’ table. If they get out of line, Elida can smack them down.”
Hannah looked at Neekil. “Oh, wow. If we have kids, you are going to be a girl dad.”
He grinned. “Of course, my war companion. They have so much potential and are rarely given enough support. And if you ever see Elida in action, you will understand that in the right circumstances, they can be far more ferocious than a male.”
“How old was she when you worked with her?”
“She had just turned twenty-two when she was in hospital.” He chuckled. “She has a master’s in criminology. She likes to study.”
“I imagine her house wasn’t quiet with four girls. Wait. How old was the oldest?”
“Sixteen at the time. Miika is twenty-three now and training for the XIA.” Neekil looked like a proud uncle.
Hannah smiled.
Krys pointed out, “Don’t worry about the girls getting mobbed at the wedding. They will make their reappearance at the gala on Thursday night. Elida is singing something.”
Neekil grinned. “She is?”
Krys groaned and scrubbed her face with her hands. “Oh, shit. That was supposed to be a surprise.”
Hannah knew in that moment that she had met the other woman in Neekil’s life, and it wasn’t a bad thing.
Elida was calm, composed, and had an attitude that let Neekil know she cared but would still put him in his place.
Not bad for a woman who was more elf than human.
She looked forward to hanging out with her more often.
Elida had serious sister vibes. Hannah had always wanted a sister.
Azreen looked toward them and had to ask, “Did you mention Elida Danforth? I had forgotten all about her. Is she back in town?”
Vaia looked at him. “You know her?”
“Sure. We went to school together. You and I got married, and I left town, or we would probably be friends today.”
Vaia smiled. “You had a crush?”
“No. Definitely no. She was way more man than I was. She scared me. But she was a good friend, always ready to defend me. You remember how scrawny I was. She held back the other wealthy bullies that families had produced.”
Vaia asked, “She... scared you?”
“She could go from calm to vicious defender in a heartbeat. She knew when to strike, how to move, and where to hit. When she wanted an attacker down, it was down. She turned into a white whirl of blades and pointy ears.” He smiled. “Comforting to have as a friend, but nothing else.”
Vaia felt something deep inside her ease.
Neekil called out, “And she’s pregnant.”
Hannah muttered, “Do you think she wants everyone to know?”
“Well, it explains why she didn’t return to the XIA.” Azreen nodded. “She loved it. It was either going to be kicking ass or social work.”
Vaia blinked. “Why social work?”
“Still the chance to kick ass.” Neekil chuckled.
Azreen grinned. “Exactly.”
Vaia smiled. “I look forward to meeting her.”
Azreen nodded. “You will like her. Everyone likes her, unless they are guilty of something, in which case, they start running.”
Neekil nodded. “Yup. If she hadn’t been in recovery and physio, there would have been a lot of investigation based on what they saw on her body cam. She was a monster. It was fabulous. I was so proud.”
Azreen nodded. “Sounds like her. Wait, you said she’s pregnant? That is going to be one well-defended baby.”
Neekil looked at him. “It’s a girl.”
“Oh, shit. Well, I guess we start a girly fund for her now. Wait. Who’s the dad? Where’s the dad?” Azreen frowned.
“She said that she went to a place called the club and came out with a passenger.”
Azreen blinked. “Oh, did she mention whose club?”
“A kitsune?”
He nodded and said, “How pregnant is she?”
“Three months. That’s also when they moved back into town.”
Azreen nodded and took his phone to another room.
* * * *
Vaia blinked. “Wait. Elida Danforth? She’s one of my customers. She said something about not being able to shift now, but she had hopes for next year.”
Her phone went off, and she checked it. “Apparently, five women are cleaning out my shop with a credit card that can take the hit. One of them needs alterations.”
Hannah nodded. “That would be Elida. She said she was a tricky fit.”
Vaia nodded. “Her waist is teeny. If she’s pregnant, the alterations should just be for one dress.” Her phone beeped again. “Oh, shit. That dress. Where did Azreen go?”
* * * *
Azreen got off the call and blinked. “Of course. Figures. The moon called to the stars.”
He returned to the kitchen, where Vaia was looking at him. “I have to alter a dress today. Min wanted to, but she took a look at the detail and had an aneurysm. She’s having Elida bring it by. Is that okay?”
He shrugged. “That is your joy and passion. If the dress is for Elida, I can see the tension.”
Neekil nodded. “Yeah. She’s... complicated.”
Azreen asked, “Have you ever been to Arutrus?”
“No. Their queen was highly predatory for hot fellas like me. I steered clear.” Neekil grinned. “Why?”
“Because that is where Elida and her daughters were hiding. I just talked to King Amori, and he checked the records of the club. That is where Elida picked up the next generation. That isn’t supposed to happen.”
Neekil raised his brows. “I thought that it was definitely supposed to happen at the club. Just because I haven’t gone doesn’t mean I don’t know about it.”
“Not sex. Pregnancy. That place is enchanted to the baseboards.” Azreen looked at Vaia’s arched brow. “Or so Amori has told me.”
Vaia snorted.
A feminine voice said softly, “But the charm at the doorway numbs your memory. It keeps you from grasping the details. Neekil, have you been being nosey?”
Neekil pointed toward Azreen. “He did it.”
Vaia walked over. “Elida, I presume?”
“Yup. Congratulations on finally putting Azreen out of his misery. He was despondent when the woman who would light his days was strapped to him without either one of you having time to form an attachment.”
Azreen felt heat in his features. “We are making up for lost time.”
Vaia grinned. “What he said. So, what do you need done to this gown?”
Elida held it at her neck with one hand and then pinched in three inches of her waist on her right. “I am a little hour-glassy.”
Vaia chuckled. “I can fix you right up. Come this way. I have set up a sort of studio for myself.”
“Thank you so much. I am afraid that me and my girls bought most of your shop out. For one reason or another, we all need shifting clothing.”
Vaia linked arms with her. “It’s a good thing that that is what I sell.”
They walked off, and Azreen watched them go. “Right. That silver dress is going to turn heads.”
Neekil nodded. “I wonder if she is wearing it for the gala or the wedding? If she’s wearing it for the gala, I might want to wrap my knuckles.”
Azreen smiled. “She can take care of herself and others. It’s what she does.”
“Those four girls and their mother are hitting local society. Things are going to shift. Oh, what else did you find out from Amori?”
“Oh, her encounter that night was the night star.” Azreen looked at him.
Neekil’s jaw opened in surprise. “Wymol Ar-du? I will kick his ass.”
Hannah was laughing. “Neekil, punkin?”
“Yes, my treasure?”
“Elida is older than I am, and we have had far more than one night. So, you know this Wymol?”
Neekil paused while Krys chuckled.
Hannah looked at him. “So, what is so bad about him that he isn’t worthy of your cousin?”
Neekil opened and closed his mouth.
Krys mumbled, “He’s taller, broader, and the glyphs on his body glow white hot when he gets emotional. Dances like an angel.”
Azreen stared at her. “Really?”
“I have been doing weddings for a while. He gets invited to them when he’s in town, like your wedding, Neekil. He’s Matthias’s special guest.” Krys kept working on her spreadsheets.
Hannah laughed. “So, they will be at the same table, but will they recognize each other?”
Neekil paused and cocked his head. “Maybe not. I am trying to think of how many of the guys she used to work with will be there who can come by and dance.”
Hannah looked at him and crossed her arms, the engagement ring glinting on her finger. “If you spend more time fussing over her than me, this is going to be the shortest union in dark elf history.”
A voice came from the hallway again. “Neekil, stop being a dumbass. I am all grown up. And I know when I was young, I was all there was. A female relative of a dark elf. You have a lover and a war companion, and you are worrying over me. Fine. Worry, but deep down and at a distance. I don’t need you guarding my back anymore. She does.”
She rounded the corner, and everyone went silent. “Great dress, right?”
Vaia was cackling.
Neekil blinked. “You aren’t wearing that anywhere.”
Elida pointed. “Go and commune with nature, or go down on Hannah. Not fussy at this point.”
Krys said, “Just stay clear of Sable. There are things she doesn’t need to see.”
Hannah was hauled out, and then she yelped as Neekil flipped her over his shoulder.
Azreen looked at his old friend. “So, you grew up.” The silver tucked and pleated faithfully around her, exaggerating her figure to an astonishing degree.
“Yup. This is the last time I will have this waist, so I thought getting it fitted would be best.”
Vaia paused and then laughed. “You are showing it off before the pregnancy takes it.”
“Yup. I have lost an inch already. This dress won’t fit in two weeks.”
Krys smiled. “Well, it fits now and looks amazing. Is that for the gala or the wedding?”
“Both. Nothing else came close to fitting.”
Vaia frowned. “There must have been something.”
“Nope. We tried everything. This was it.” She walked around and then walked back toward Vaia. “Well, I have taken enough of your time, and I didn’t mean to crash your home. It is lovely, by the way.”
Vaia smiled. “It was an honour. What was Azreen like as a kid?”
They walked upstairs, chatting.
Azreen smiled. “No one is ever hostile toward Elida. Well, no one she wasn’t arresting. The moon elves are like that. They engender goodwill. They travel frequently and move across the world. They cause goodwill like Neekil’s people cause lust.”
Krys blinked. “Oh.”
“Yes. It was good to be her friend as a child. Her presence calmed everyone. Of course, it meant that there was never any romance between us. Romancing a cool pond isn’t really a good idea.”
“The pond can’t reciprocate.”
“Correct.”
“So, what bug got up Neekil’s butt?”
Azreen said softly, “The last time he saw her, she was recovering from being shot in a multitude of places, with the young girls hanging from her. His image of her is that of someone who is weak and in danger. He will change his perception, but it will take a while. Hearing that she is pregnant is increasing his idea that she needs defending.”
Krys said, “But why threaten the star elf?”
“Because Neekil is getting hit with too much stimulation. His people seek mates, get mates, and spend the rest of their lives trying to please them. He has gotten a war companion, is marrying her in her traditions, and now has the cousin he forgot all about show up on his doorstep in a vulnerable state. He shorted out and needs to reset.”
Krys chuckled. “They are resetting near the quarry.”
“How do you know that?”
“I have motion-sensing spells all over the property. They are currently setting off several and shocking some wildlife.”
Azreen chuckled. “Good.”
Vaia and Elida came back down, and Elida had a garment bag over one arm.
Elida smiled. “Well, I have done enough damage for one day. I wish you all well and hope I haven’t been too disruptive.
Vaia, it was lovely to meet you, Azreen, it was great to see you again, and Krys, it is good to put a face to the name. See you Thursday.”
Krys smiled. “I look forward to your performance.”
“Oh, it will be interesting, that’s for certain.” Elida smiled. “Right. I will see the happy couple on Thursday. Good day to you two, and congratulations on your marriage. I see great things in store for you.”
Azreen jolted. “You do?”
“Oh, yes.” She walked away. “I always did.”
Azreen watched his friend leave, and he turned to Vaia. “That is very good news. Very good news indeed.” He walked up to her and hugged her.
“What is this for?”
“For the very great thing.”
“What?”
“We will know in two weeks. It’s how she used to refer to children.”
Vaia exhaled slowly. “Oh. Great things?”
“Yeah.”
“Why?”
“Because that is how she got her enthusiasm for being a mother past the girls, so they didn’t feel weird about it. She said she finally had great things in her life.”
Vaia smiled. “You kept in touch with her?”
“No, I watched interviews. The tiger run made it to international news.”
“Ah. So, no reason for jealousy.”
“Nope. She kept my bullies at bay when we were in primary school. Her energy and mine are like oil and water, or electricity and a frayed wire. A hug and a handshake are where we leave it, or our skin burns.”
“Oh, well, more of your skin for me, I guess.” Vaia stroked his arms and pulled them around her hips.
He looked down at her and smiled. “Elida would be sad that you were jealous.”
“Less jealous, more insecure. She’s amazing.” Vaia sighed.
He moved in close. “She is, but you are my chosen, my beloved, and my wife.”
Krys was still typing. “Maybe go remind her. You are still on your honeymoon, after all.”
Azreen laughed, lifted Vaia in his arms, and carried her off.
* * * *
Krys chuckled and realized that it was likely that there were going to be two extranaturals getting their start today. Whatever Elida exuded, it made her want to call Reynal and tackle him to the floor. Fortunately, Krys had stuff to do. She could tackle Reynal at her leisure.