Chapter Four #3
Wizard laughed. “She knows. This is her outing herself, and if folks want to talk to her, they can go through me, so to speak.” She grinned. “If they can get through the company first. Devin is going to take credit for it, so he’s going to get hit first.”
Dex blinked. “What?”
“He’s tacking his name onto all my work. Don’t worry. The boss knows. We are just trying to see how far he’s gonna dig this hole.” She grinned. “Dex, do you need any songs for anything?”
Dex paused and touched her ribs. “A fantasy tavern song for EMTs. I think Emery will get a kick out of it. He’s the one who figured out I had some kind of internal bleeding. He got me here.”
She smiled. “I am already hearing it. I will stay here with you. Your guys can get some food or rest.”
Etienne cursed. “Right. Food. I will be back.”
Dex smiled as he left the room, and just before he rounded the corner, she yelled, “Atta boy!”
He paused, glared a promise at her, and disappeared.
Dex grinned at Tosh. “This is going to be fun. I have alphas to play with.”
Wizard laughed and hummed to herself as she wrote the song.
With Tosh holding her hand and Wizard humming in the corner, Dex was able to rest.
When the doctor came in to check on Dex, Wizard got up and crossed the room to hold her hand. Dr. Aquilar smiled. “You are doing well, Dex.”
“Thanks, Doc.”
“Where is my son?”
“He’s on this morning’s beverage duties.” She smiled. “Unless I am cleared for fully solid food, and then he’s going back down to get me some pancakes.”
Tosh chuckled. “She’s hitting the omega being maintained by her alphas hard.”
Wizard laughed in the corner. “Dex likes snacks. She also likes to watch alphas as they walk away.”
Dr. Aquilar raised his brows. “Well, that is encouraging. My wife and I have been hoping for grandchildren.”
Dex paused. “Oh. Right. That is the goal of the rituals, right?”
Wizard was chortling. She snorted softly. “Rituals.”
Dex muttered, “Quiet, you.”
Cackling ensued.
Tosh said, “Yes, you are definitely siblings.”
The doctor smiled. “Right. Well, there is no reason to keep you here any longer. Do you have someone who can take care of you at home?”
Wizard shot her hand into the air. “Oh! Oh! I can do it. We can do mani-pedis, and then we can get takeout, and I can teach you how to make wards.”
Dex smiled and was going to speak when Etienne came in with a box that smelled like coffee and maple syrup. He handed a box to her, one to Tosh, set one for himself, and then one went to Wizard. Wizard got the first coffee.
She chortled happily and attacked her pancakes, using her hands.
Etienne blinked. “I have a fork for you.”
Tosh was laughing. “Yeah, they are sisters.”
Dex had done what she always did and rolled up the pancake and started eating. Wizard was doing the same. She mumbled, “Thank you for pancakes.”
Etienne watched her and set her coffee on her tray. Tosh was laughing as he ate with the utensils Etienne handed him.
Wizard finished hers first, folded up the box before she went to wash her hands, then got a washcloth for Dex, and brought it to her.
Dex grinned because Tosh was already removing the last of the syrup with his tongue.
Wizard put the folded towel on the tray for final cleanup. “There you go. They got you clothes. Where are they taking you?”
Tosh paused. “We have contacted the queen. She is welcoming us to the new palace. You are welcome as well.”
“Oh. Right. Um, I have some work stuff to take care of. I also haven’t been invited, so I can’t actually find it.”
Tosh said, “You can come with us.”
“Oh. No. That is a lot of pheromones for one car.”
Etienne nodded. “Understandable. Are you closing on a heat?”
“Oh. No. I just... nope.” She shrugged. “Dex, call me if you need anything. Antonio called a meeting for this afternoon. I am either getting fired or some retribution. Looking forward to finding out which.” Wizard smiled.
Dex nodded. “Give Tosh and Etienne your numbers, so if you need to call, you can. Okay?”
“Right. You get back to playing with feet.”
“Shoes.”
“Tomato, tamatoh.” Wizard smiled. “I am glad you’re getting better.”
“Come to the ballet, and play on the stage with me.”
“Sure. As soon as the perforations are gone.”
“Weren’t you going to heal me completely?”
Wizard froze. “Well, heck. Yes. Did you want it now?”
“Maybe late tonight if we are at the palace.”
Wizard sighed. “I will be working on that video.”
“Take a break, and come heal me. Then the idea of Etienne and Tosh won’t freak me out as much.”
Tosh blinked. “Right. Please. Pretty please. I will come and feature in one of your cut scenes.”
Wizard paused and then laughed. “Wow. That’s an inducement.”
Etienne smiled. “I will offer you the use of the grand stage.”
Wizard looked at him. “You are serious?”
“Yes.”
Wizard stuck out her hand. “Deal.” Tosh grabbed her hand, and they swapped numbers. Etienne did the same.
When she had the information, she turned to Dex. They leaned in and touched foreheads. Wizard smiled. “Call me if the new palace can’t finish the fix.”
“I don’t care if they can. I want you, sissy. Now that my brothers are both protected, I can hang out with you more without reprisal.”
Wizard smiled. “Then, we will take advantage of that. I am eager to find out how fancy a breakfast it takes to make us use utensils.”
Dex laughed. “That sounds very scientific.”
“Oh, I think so. Okay. I will leave you with those two. I have to mainline caffeine before that meeting. I need to appear alert.”
Dex smiled. “Zap yourself with your own lightning.”
“Aw, that is how I learned not to masturbate in bad weather.” Wizard patted her knee. “I will leave you to it.”
Tosh smiled. “Have a good day, little sister. Thank you for coming.”
Etienne smiled. “Yes. Thank you.”
Wizard beamed, pulled herself into human form, and walked out the door, whistling softly with her gear in her satchel.
Dex smiled. “So, that is my sister-cousin. Not just for the mythical south anymore.”
Tosh chuckled and then said, “But you are feeling all right?”
“Yes.”
Dr. Aquilar came in with paperwork and wound care instructions. “Where did your sibling go?”
“She had to get to work. Big meeting.”
Tosh smiled. “She has somewhere where folks can watch her until she is completely healed.”
“Good. No baths, showering only. She should have someone on standby to make sure she is strong enough. She needs to check in with her regular physician in a week to have the stitches checked. They are dissolvable and will last two weeks.”
She nodded. “Good to know.”
They went through what she could and couldn’t do, including hot tubs and sexual activity.
Dr. Aquilar smiled. “For a few weeks. It will let the courtship progress. I am glad you have a contained pack, Dex. Makes the holidays easier. Will your sister come?”
“Um, yes. I suppose. If she is invited.”
Dr. Aquilar grinned. “Excellent. My wife is eager to have some ladies in the family.”
Dex suddenly realized she was falling toward a family. She smiled weakly. “Great. Can’t wait.”
She looked at Tosh and Etienne. They were both grinning at her discomfort. She looked at them, breathed deep, and felt the wounds. She would get through this. How bad could the new palace be?