Chapter Three
Hannah couldn’t believe it. The inspection passed on the first time.
She got a text on the way out and grinned.
Everyone had scattered. Well, it was back to the list of houses that something spectral or haunt-related kept them off the market.
First, she had to get into jeans and something on her torso that could get dirty.
Neekil was getting ready for his return to four days on, and then it would be the weekend for the big party.
“This is so exciting. I have never heard of this type of modern magic.” She smiled.
Neekil watched her as she admired the inspection report. “It is a good inspection?”
“It is perfect. Nothing is going to move that house, and it is primed for defensive magic. Oh, and it’s fireproofed now.”
“It seems that the dark fae knows what she’s doing.”
“She does. I want to give her a day and a bit to recover, and then I have a list of buildings I would love to see repaired and restored. My family can do all the insulation and cladding, but having a perfect interior structure would be a wonderful starting point.”
He wrapped his arms around her and slid his hands under her shirt. She sighed and leaned back into his arms. “You already have your stab vest on. No teasing.”
Neekil chuckled. “I am looking forward to our party. I have been briefing those of my people who wish to attend. They are reinforcing the caverns as we speak.”
She looked back at him, and just before he kissed her, she whispered, “Do you think Isocar can help with that?”
He kissed her and then grinned. “If she can deal with a dozen musky dark elves, she is welcome to try.”
She went up on her toes and kissed him back. “I don’t think it will be a problem. I will text her.”
He turned her to face him. “Just one kiss for luck.”
She glanced at her watch. “You go on shift in an hour.”
He rubbed his forehead against hers. “Like I said, just one kiss.”
She sighed and nodded. He grinned and tipped her onto the bed, peeled off her jeans, and, while she was laughing, he administered the singular kiss for one full hour.
* * * *
Neekil left his mate napping as he joined his team for the shift. The guys got one look at him and started laughing. His smugness wrapped around him. “So, shall we bring order to the chaos?”
“I think that you were bringing a little chaos yourself, Neek.” Kairek chuckled.
Emmers murmured, “I don’t know why she puts up with you.”
Neekil smiled. “We have a meeting of the minds and complement each other, and then the clothes fly off. It’s a lovely partnership.”
Kairek asked, “So, when are you going to propose? I know your people don’t do it, but I have met the Lees, and they definitely do.”
Neekil shrugged and got behind the wheel; it was his turn to drive. “I have one of my cousins finishing a wedding set. I am going to propose this weekend.”
Emmers laughed. “Get down on your knees?”
“Yup. I intend to stay there as long as it takes.” He put the SUV in gear, and they headed down the drive. It was time to do their job and protect the city. He could imagine all the ways he could persuade Hannah later.
Dremian shook his head. “Dark elves. Yeesh.”
They laughed and were at the city limits when the first call came in. Time to earn their pay.
* * * *
Hannah groaned and staggered to the shower.
She was going to have to chat with Neekil about sneak attacks.
He needed to start them earlier in the day.
She wanted the throbbing to wear off before she started moving through the haunted homes.
Still being aroused was dangerous when she was trying to negotiate with the dead and downright distracting when she had to smash gremlins.
Her phone buzzed, and she checked the message.
She grinned when she saw the notice that her mother had made too much meatloaf for dinner and asked if she could come by and help out.
She picked it up and stated that she would be there in thirty minutes.
With a little effort, she showered and then pulled on cargo pants and a long-sleeved tee for her evening’s activities.
Abert met her in the kitchen. “Going out, Madame Hannah?”
“Yes. I have to do assessments on a few more houses that the mayor’s office selected for this project.”
“You will be cautious?”
“Of course. First, I have to have dinner at my parents’ house. They have been missing me, and if it isn’t a weekend, they now know about Neekil’s schedule and feel they aren’t cutting into our personal time if they have me over while he’s at work.”
“I see. Your parents will be here for the party?”
“And my siblings. And at the beginning, my nieces and nephews.”
Abert smiled. “You trust me with them?”
“I do. They are baking cookies for you.” Hannah smiled. “They want to make a good impression.”
Abert grinned. “I like your family.”
“I hope so. They are the only one I have.” She grabbed her purse and keys. “See you sometime before dawn.”
“I will keep a light on for you, Madam Hannah.”
“See you soon. At least this time I am wash and wear.”
He chuckled. “I am ready to deal with gremlin residue again.”
“I love having support. Okay. I am off to battle meatloaf.”
He nodded. “I will clean up on aisle five as Sir Neekil says.”
Hannah paused, opened and closed her mouth, and nodded. She headed out the door to the sound of a kobold laugh-barking at her.
She got into her red SUV and headed over to her parents’ place. It was time to stock up on human hugs. The dark elf ones were great, but there was something about a mom and dad hug.
She was doing dishes an hour later when her mom said softly, “So, Hannah, when are you and Neekil going to announce an engagement?”
“Uh, Mom, if I am not going to be a bride, his people don’t have a protocol for me. War companions are usually male.”
“Ah. Well, we support you, and if things don’t go well, you always have a room with us. You are keeping your house, right?” Her mother gave her a one-armed hug.
“Yes, Mom. It has just been a few weeks. Thomas dated for a year and a half before they announced it was going further.”
“Yes, but... Thomas is older, and you are our little girl.”
She looked down at her mother. “Really?”
“Well, you were. Then you grew.”
They laughed.
“So, Hannah, what are you doing tonight?”
“Going to a few more of the houses on the list. How is the scheduling going?”
“Good. We are at capacity, but we have quite the lineup. It’s going to be a good year.”
“So, the family doesn’t have a problem if I toss some of these renos to extranaturals in the area? They have a vested interest in getting things working again.”
“It’s great. You are quite the bigshot now.”
Hannah snorted. “Yeah. I know. Especially when I wear my face without a glamour, it gets attention.”
“You are beautiful no matter what your skin looks like.”
Her dad walked in with a dessert bowl. “Still glad she found a black guy, but she always was an overachiever. She overshot the mark.”
Hannah grinned. “You know me. I like to work on theory and make it ideal in practice.”
Her dad said, “I have been thinking about that restoration specialist you met. Do you think she would work with us on fire damage?”
“Probably. I will talk to her about it. She’s dark fae, so she doesn’t do well with daylight hours for consults. Or... I don’t think she does. I know nothing about her.”
“Ah, well, ask her. I have been kicking around the idea of a restoration branch, and she could work constantly.”
“Right. So, is the family coming to the party?”
Her mother nodded. “Yes, but are things going to be safe for the kids?”
“Nothing weird until nine or so, so they can come for the games and BBQ. There will be a lot of off-duty XIA there, so it will be a very safe place to be.”
Her dad scowled. “What about the dark elves?”
“On their best behaviour with all of the ladies invited. They can shop on their own time.” Hanna grinned and finished the last dish. “And now, I have a date with a poltergeist.”
She took her leave with several hugs and headed to her evening appointment. Getting the houses back into circulation was why she was there.
Hannah hummed as she drove, moving aside to let a lit-up ambulance pass. She prayed that it wasn’t anyone she knew.
* * * *
Jennor pulled the cars apart. “Where’s the bus?”
Day-ek checked on the passenger. “You can hear it if you stop grunting. Reymark, can you find her ID?”
The driver was talking to the other team. A concrete truck had missed the light but not the car that had the green. The driver was shaken up but not too bad. The passenger had benefited from the airbags but was still not awake.
Day-ek watched the medic move across the shattered and stretched metal.
The young woman asked, “Is she awake?”
“No, not yet. Her pulse is still there,” Day-ek murmured.
The medic was moving smoothly, muttering to the unconscious woman. Day-ek stared. They had the same face. The medic and the passenger had the same face but different colouration.
The medic glanced at Jennor. “Can you do a toss?”
Jennor said, “I can.”
Instead of easing the woman to the ground, the medic set the IV lines, tucked in a bag of fluids, and cut the passenger out of the seatbelt.
She tapped her earpiece and said, “Danforth General, this is Medic Nylora Mills from the fifty-one, and I am bringing in a female, dark fae, with crush injuries on the right side and internal bleeding. IV is started. She will need blood. I am going to be there in three minutes, and give me the hallways. I am going to need them. I am taking her into surgery.”
The medic paused and then smiled. “Start the clock, we are on our way.”
She pulled the woman into her arms with the IV cradled in her lap. The medic looked to Jennor. “Hands. Give me a three-count and throw on one.”
Jennor nodded, and the medic and her burden were soon standing on his palms. “Three... two... one.” His hands lifted fast, the medic went skyward, and then magic happened.