Chapter Five
Amy sat on the block near Hura’s home and tried again to contact her friend. Finally, she walked to the caution tape and tried to see what was going on. Men were being handcuffed, and they were marked with burns. So, Hura had been at work.
A booming voice called out, “Amy!”
Emmers walked toward her, lifted the tape, and brought her inside. “Why are you here?”
She pointed. “Uh, my friend’s house. Hura. Is she okay?”
“She’s been taken off by the king of the shadow monsters, so either she is having a good time, or he is having a very bad one.” He smiled. “So, I have been talking to my grandmother, and she would like to meet you.”
“Why?”
He tapped her nose. “She can find a clan to sponsor you, outside of your area. If that is done, you can have a full giant courtship if you want. If you don’t want that, my grandmother would still like to ask you to accept my courtship.”
Amy stared. “What?”
“My family is super eager to meet you. Like, they made a family chat dedicated to nagging me into bringing you for a visit.”
Amy stared at him. “I am missing two friends tonight, both high-powered and shadow-related. I can’t even think about this right now.”
“Who is the other one?”
“Vaia.”
Emmers nodded and walked with her to the vehicle. He got the computer going and smiled. “Vaia is with her husband. Hura was injured, but the... oh... king of the shadow monsters came and got her, removing the sword that was in her ribs and starting the healing process.”
“Whoa. Okay. So, the ladies are having a busy night.”
“The king is Reymark’s uncle, so I am guessing that Hura definitely is.”
“Even with the chest wound?”
“That might slow him down a bit.” Emmers smiled. “The attackers have been wrapped up, and transport is taking them in for processing. Would you care to join us on break?”
“Sure. Burning out my esophagus seems like a capper to the evening.”
He grinned, showing a lot of teeth. “Meet you there in fifteen.”
She nodded and headed back toward the crowd, blushing as he lifted the tape for her. Amy darted to her car and eased away from the curb, avoiding all the onlookers as she turned and headed back into the heart of the city.
She parked in the lot and got in line at the taco truck. She didn’t even ask where they went on break. It was always the taco truck.
She had just ordered her burritos and tacos in stiff goblin, but the counter girl grinned and took her order.
She stood to one side with the others, and by the time the team pulled up, she had her goodies and lemonade in hand with extra sauce packets as she walked over to where the tables were filling up. Amy claimed her spot and watched Kairek laugh and shove Emmers toward her.
She laughed and watched the lumbering agent make his way to the table. He crouched next to her, and she set the burrito down. He touched her chin and kissed her. “Hi. Thanks for joining us.”
She looked at him with narrowed eyes. “Don’t you need to get in line?”
“Kairek is ordering for me.”
“Sure, trust the guy who already has fire coming out of every orifice.”
“He won’t do anything. We share a vehicle and have a lot of time left tonight. He won’t take the chance.”
She giggled as he sat across from her. She was halfway through her burrito before she muttered, “Perv. Sometimes a burrito is just a burrito.”
He laughed. “It is more that you are holding it so carefully with both hands.”
She paused. She looked at him. Shrugged. Kept eating.
He grinned and presented a milkshake. “You didn’t ask.”
“Nope. Is there a shop in the northern reaches somewhere where clients are constantly having their milkshakes disappear?”
He grinned. “Nothing like that. It is one of the few direct magics I could do, and I started doing it when I was a hungry teen. So, milkshakes.” He shrugged. “A lot of calories, cream, and sugar. What’s not to like?”
She smiled. “It is really good.”
He beamed.
She continued her meal and was on to the tacos when the other two arrived with their meals and his.
Emmers smiled, and she had to ask. “I never asked, why did you leave home?”
He chuckled. “There was a bit of a fight, and Grandma told me to go and cool off, so she sent me to Redbird, and here I have been. She’s offered to have me back, but I like it here.” He finished dousing a taco in hot sauce. “I like it here a lot more recently.”
She snorted, and Kairek grinned. “And you are a new dad to a ten-year-old. How are you dealing with that?”
He was glowing with happiness. “I am getting used to the idea. Our family is coming into town at the end of the month. They are very eager to meet Jerrik and Iris.”
“Has he tried to drag you into his school for show and tell?” She chuckled.
“Yes. He said you went in grade two.”
“Oh, yes. I made snow cones for everyone. You are going to have to follow that.”
“I can take my head off.”
“So can Jerrik. You may want to do fire drills outdoors. Use your energy blast to take down targets.”
He paused. “That gives me a few ideas. Thanks.”
“Also, his birthday is the fifth of next month. He wants a new bicycle, but in light of his new developments, what can he do and keep his head on if he hits the ground at speed?”
Kairek paused. “I will do drills with him to recall his head. Normally, it is a more advanced skill, but he’s coming along really well.”
Neekil said, “Perhaps you could show some small magics that your energy class can do.”
Kairek grinned. “Maybe we should all go. It would certainly make an impression.”
Amy heard another car arrive, and a very excited Hannah approached them. She slid into place across from Neekil. “There has been an offer on the Grunwald mansion.”
Amy blinked. “Hi, Hannah.”
Hannah winced. “Sorry. Hi, Amy. But this is huge. Matthias has authorized the sale now that your people are hanging out in the silver mine.”
“Well, we can relocate Sable.”
“They have offered to keep her if she wants to remain. It will mean they have a live-in dark elf, but they don’t seem to mind.”
Neekil frowned. “The purchaser knows what happened there?”
“Absolutely. They aren’t fazed. Apparently, there is a dragonborn who wants to set up house in Redbird and start his family.”
Amy clamped a hand over her mouth as she snickered. She straightened her features. “Well, at least she’s going to stay in town.”
Neekil frowned. “Who?”
“Vaia. She’s the dragonborn’s wife, but he hasn’t been seen in over a decade.” Amy sighed. “She’s also the friend I went to the Night Faire with. She was attacked when she left me for the night.”
Emmers frowned. “They didn’t come after you?”
“Nope. Just the shadow born. Vaia and her assistant’s roommate, Hura.”
Neekil blinked. “Oh. So, there is the link.”
Amy looked to Hannah. “If they don’t pop for that one, do you have a backup manor?”
Hannah grinned. “Of course. I may need help getting any spectral occupants out, but Imara and Jennel are always willing to help me smash gremlins and explode poltergeists. Neekil, too, if he’s off shift. He likes the cleanup. He’s thorough.” Hannah’s eyes were glittering.
Neekil took her hand and kissed the engagement ring that gleamed on her hand.
Hannah looked flustered and then rallied. “Right. We need to do wedding planning as well.”
He grinned. “Is your family excited?”
“Absolutely. They never thought you would get down on your knees, and I never had the nerve to tell them it’s your favourite place to be.”
He laughed and guided her up and around the table, settling her on his lap. Their kiss was sweet, and then it got hot. Amy blushed and looked away.
Emmers was looking at her with heat in his eyes.
“Dude, you are still firmly in the friendzone.”
He sighed.
“What? I am not going to get involved with you if you are forced to dump me because of family.”
He growled and leaned back.
“Don’t pout. It isn’t attractive in anyone over four.” Amy finished her food and sipped at her milkshake. “Eat your dinner. You have bad guys to catch. We don’t want you feeling delicate.”
He glared but bit into his meal, his fangs extended.
She looked at Kairek. “He looks perturbed.”
“Oh, he is. He’s waiting until you meet his grandmother. She has the right to approve you, and once that happens, buckle up. There won’t be much that can stop him.”
“Uh, why would that be?”
“Because you have told him that the only thing standing between you two being together is your banning from your society. So, he is single-minded, and he’s working to get you that acceptance. It won’t take much. He’s shown me the emails from his grandmother. She’s exceptionally keen to meet you.”
“How can you know that?”
Kairek grinned. “She sent me a text, and then we video chatted.”
“Oh. Wow.”
“Yeah. She’s really focused on finding Emmers a nice girl to settle down with, and barring that, a slightly less nice girl will do. She said if he keeps holding out, she will take anyone who can just get pregnant and prove it was him. That will be close enough.”
“Funny how that could happen.” She smirked.
“Yeah, hilarious. I regret nothing other than not making an effort to contact Iris right away. I guess I never thought a woman like her would fall for a headless asshole like me.”
“Many a woman has engaged in many a stupider choice.” She smiled.
He shrugged and smiled. “So, what do your people do for courtship?”
“Well, for starters, the young ladies stand up at her coming-of-age ceremony, and they let out their mating call. Any interested young men come forward.”
Kairek grinned. “How many lined up for you?”
“Oh, not one. I stood there, and everyone just stared. I was still only human at the time, and no one wanted to get near me. My mother told me to leave that afternoon.”
“Oh. Shit.”
“Yeah, no young woman in our community had ever called with no response. I set a record.” She sipped at the last of the milkshake. “So, that followed with years of blissful solitude until I offered to help Hannah out, and I met the fuzz for balls over there.”
Hannah’s voice was husky. “It was very much appreciated.”