Chapter Six #3
“Kern.” Eudora smiled. “Just like you are a black wolf that bleaches his hair.”
Likon blushed. “You know about that?”
“My sense of smell is keen. Lightener is distinct, and your roots show longer than you think.”
He wrinkled his nose.
Sern was on the phone and speaking quietly. He smiled brightly and nodded. “Eudora, we have one more stop, and then we can go to Halor Denith for an evening snack.”
“On a Friday night?”
“Yes.” He smiled. “We are a small community, and we help each other. Though we are growing by the week. It is good. We feel less isolated.”
She sighed and nodded to Likon. He looked at them and shrugged. “I feel empty, but looking at you two, it’s a way better fit.”
Sern chuckled. “We haven’t gotten that far.”
“Oh, right. Now it’s you making the sex jokes.” Eudora slid into his car and settled before he spoke to Likon and patted his shoulder.
Sern entered his car and said, “Will you hold this?”
“Sure.” She took the document packet, and they drove into the night. “So, where are we going?”
“Judge Hall’s place; it’s only a few blocks away. He will sign it, stamp it, and put it in his Monday folder. Monday, when he goes to the courthouse, your paperwork goes with it, and it is filed.”
“And then it’s over?”
“Almost. You may be called to testify if Nelson doesn’t confess.”
“Since he’s a lawyer, what is the likelihood of that?”
“Well, by now, he knows I have taken you on pro bono, and I have no problem showing up daily to keep him incarcerated.”
“So, like a hobby.”
He grinned. “Yes, something like that.”
She nodded. “I could think of better hobbies.”
“So could I.” His voice went low.
She looked at him and had to ask. “Are you edging toward some kind of line?”
He glanced at her. “Don’t say edging.”
She laughed, and he reached out and took her hand. That was the point where she realized the small gesture was calming them both.
They were at the judge’s house in five minutes.
“Should I come with you?”
“Yes. The whole family is home tonight.”
“Oh. Great. I have met the den before. Well, not the kids but the adults.”
“Good. You can help me put faces to names.”
Eudora sighed and looked down at her blouse and slacks. If she had known she would be meeting Lexa, she would have dressed a little fancy. The den’s extended family were judgemental as hell and very fashion-forward.
She got out with the documents when he opened the door, and his hand took hers again. A servant, who looked a lot like Kagan, opened the door. She smiled. “This way, Mr. Copperwell.”
She sighed. That was what she had been expecting.
Sern looked at her. “Does that happen often?”
“Sure. I present as a basic beta. Their families are fussy. Getting better but still fussy,” she murmured it but didn’t drop her tone. The woman’s shoulders tensed a little.
“How long do you intend to hide yourself?”
She shrugged. “As long as I can. As I have stated, there isn’t really a use for my kind of skill set.”
“I see. I can think of a few uses.”
She glanced at him, and his eyes were glowing. “Perv.”
He grinned. “Perv esquire.”
She snorted, and they walked into a warm space, where the adults of the family were softly speaking, and they all paused when Sern walked into the room.
Judge Hall smiled and eased his mate’s feet out of his lap. “Sern, glad you have finally got it sorted out. Miss Chyris, you are well?”
“Yes. Now I get to work on the name change.”
There was a strange surge of power, and Sern said, “That’s in here as well.”
Delun looked at him. “Hand it over, and let’s go to my office. I have my seal ready.”
She turned to follow, and Delun paused, looked around, and then nodded. “You, too, Miss Chyris.”
They walked to his office, and Sern sat down with her beside him. Delun went through document after document, signing and stamping as he went along.
He read everything and paused on one page, glancing at her. He smiled slightly as he kept working, and then the stack was done, and he fed it into a scanner. “It sends to the court and to my court email, so I know what the hell I sent.”
When the documents were scanned and he confirmed the email, Delun grinned. “Did you two want to stay for dessert?”
Sern got up and shook Delun’s hand. “No, we have plans this evening, and you need to get back under your omega.”
Delun smiled and said, “I would suggest you find one of your own, but...”
Eudora looked at the judge and said, “Oh, for fucks’ sake.” She stood and let her power out.
The judge inhaled sharply, and she said, “Oh, don’t be so surprised, Judge. All the ladies at events know they are safe around me.”
His eyes were wide. “I... have heard of more of you.”
“We are all different. Different focuses, different needs.” She shrugged. “Different triggers.”
Delun looked at her and blinked. “Can you... It’s rather strong.”
She dimmed the glow by wrapping a glamour around herself. “Better?”
Delun nodded and rubbed his eyes. “So, that is...”
“My normal appearance, using the word normal loosely.”
The judge looked at Sern, and Sern grinned. “Isn’t she stunning?”
Delun looked at him, and understanding completely washed over his features. “Yes. You see her like this?”
“As often as she sees me without my own concealment.”
Eudora said, “He means all the time. The two faces are interchangeable unless I am irritated. Then I want to take a hole punch to his multi-pointed ears.”
Delun smiled. “A sensible response. Thank you for showing yourself this evening. It explains a lot.”
“Well, now that I have flashed you, I think it’s time to leave. Thank you for your help in this, Judge.”
Judge Hall smiled. “See you on Sunday.”
She nodded, and Sern guided her to the door. He called out, “Thank you for your help, Judge Hall.”
There was a low chuckle behind them as they walked out of the house of the Rose Sloth.
She looked at Sern and smiled. “Do you mind if I change for the restaurant?”
He frowned. “Do you need me to stop at your apartment?”
“No. But give me a moment.” She closed her eyes and felt her clothing sliding against her until she was wearing a simple cocktail dress where the blouse and slacks had been. “I may regret this if the evening gets cooler, but for now, I feel better.”
He stared at her and then opened the car door. “You look amazing, but then, you always do.”
She smiled and flashed a lot of thigh as she got into the car. She heard a muffled groan and grinned. This evening was going to be fun.
When they stepped out of the car at the restaurant, there was still a line. She was eased out of the car and stood against Sern for a moment. His hand touched her waist, and she looked up with a small smile.
He grinned. “Hungry?”
“A bit. Stress does it, and tonight was stressful. The hot cocoa did not cut it.”
He took her hand, and they walked toward the entrance. A gorgeous woman smiled.
Eudora waved. “Hi, Nimue.”
“Dori! You are finally dressing normally.” Nimue stepped forward to hug her. “You did say this was the clue that you were free. I am guessing that moment is now.”
“More or less. How’s the hubby?”
Nimue blushed. “Good. Very good. Come on, I have your table.”
Sern said softly, “I thought it was our table.”
Nimue got the menus and smiled. “You are a big boy, you can share.”
He chuckled as they walked into the restaurant. “I can indeed, but when it comes to Eudora, I don’t want to.”
Nimue glanced over her shoulder. “Good answer.”
They were settled at the table. Nimue touched her shoulder and said, “It is such a good colour on you.”
Eudora smiled. “I know.”
Sern smiled, and they settled in for a late-night snack.