Chapter Four #2
Vaia put her hand on Hura’s shoulder. “She didn’t run into something violent. She described him as timid. He was so careful. She said it was like being in warm water. She was disappointed but fine when she came to the manor and drove home.”
Hura frowned. “How did she get there?”
“Rideshare. She was wearing his shirt and nothing else. Her costume was wadded in her hands. I promised her I would send the shirt back to her date.”
Hura asked hoarsely, “Who was it?”
Krys said, “Hura, no. You are not going to go interrogate him.”
Hura looked at her with her eyes glowing red. “Why not? If he knows anything, I want to know.”
Kremoyn was casual. “Do you still have the shirt? I will deliver it and be right back.”
Vaia nodded. “Yes. I didn’t have time to call the courier. You aren’t going to do anything untoward, are you?”
“No. Just gathering some intel on a man who would let a woman like that leave his bed on her own.” Kremoryn kissed Hura’s cheek. “Hura had to crawl away, and she still fought me when I pulled her back in.”
Hura looked at him. “Really? Now?”
“There is always time to sing your praises, lovely.”
Vaia blinked. “Right. Well, Kremoyn’s technique notwithstanding, you know where the shirt belongs?”
He chuckled. “Hunting is the most fun part of being a monster, little girl.”
“It sounds so sleazy when you say it like that.” She pulled the shirt out of her purse and handed it over. “Hura, control your monster.”
Hura smiled weakly. “I will need some lingerie, lube, and two energy drinks.”
Vaia groaned and covered her face.
Kremoryn sniffed the shirt, nodded, and said, “I will be right back.”
He disappeared, and Hura sighed. “He really does have a good heart. I have felt it.” She grimaced. “He wrapped my hand around it.”
Azreen said with a slight smile, “Are you sure it was his heart?”
“Yeah, I knew where his cock was. We sorted that first.”
They all chuckled, and when a new presence walked into the room, Matthias was there with Leo at his side. “Where is my goddaughter?”
Elida said softly, “She’s still in surgery. Do you want me to list her injuries?”
“The agent on the scene outlined them for me. She’s here to update all concerned persons.”
They stepped in, and Miika walked in with her team members.
She nodded to her mom. “This morning, there was an emergency call where a woman calmly outlined her location and that she had been shot four times. She was on the side of the road, hazards on, and still conscious when the ambulance arrived. She created a projection of her attacker, and we ran the images through our database. We have the suspect in custody, and she is admitting to it, high and low.”
Matthias asked softly, “What was the motivation?”
“The young lady in question has been stalking Abel-ur. She wants to be his mate, but he hasn’t looked at her.
So, she saw Bella leaving the chief’s house wearing nothing but a shirt, and she took action.
She followed her to the Grunwald mansion and then caught up with her at a light, sending six shots into the car.
Four made contact. She then drove away, confident that it had worked.
Miss Leto stayed calm and was able to tell us who had attacked her.
The paramedics want to buy her a donut as soon as she is out of danger. ”
Elida frowned. “She was shot by an orc chief’s stalker?”
Miika nodded. “She’s in custody, and a hearing is being set. The charges will wait until Iscorabella’s survival is determined and the extent of her injuries is known.”
“Thank you, Agent. Your information has been very helpful.”
Miika nodded to her mom, and Elida followed her out. When they were clear, Miika said, “It was bad, Mom. At least one lung was punctured, and she was holding her hand to it so she could talk to us. Blood everywhere. She was so fucking calm!” Miika shuddered, and Elida hugged her.
“It’s okay, baby. Our top surgeon is working on her, and aside from the bullet damage, she started in great shape.”
“We talked to the chief, and he just about passed out. He had no idea that he was still being stalked. Just warning you because he may show up here.”
Elida nodded and stroked her daughter’s cheek. “You want a call when she wakes up?”
“Please. There are a few details we are missing.”
“Okay. I will let you know when she’s awake and lucid. We use the good drugs here.”
Miika laughed. “I remember. That was a helluva night. When I saw her, I remembered what you looked like when you shifted, and it all rushed back. Time for more therapy.”
Elida kissed her cheek. “The therapy never stops. Dealing with horror never gets easier, but you can learn to react assertively and help those in distress.”
One of Miika’s team nodded. “She got in there and told us what to do and how to do it. A crime scene team was there the moment she was out of her car. The car is already in the lab, getting the missing bullets out of the passenger door. She got everything organized in minutes, and all we had to do was get in the car with the photos and run the image through the system. By the time we got to the nearest orc neighbourhood, we had a name.”
Elida smiled. “She’s finally trusting her intuition. Good. Now, go back to work, and I will call you when she’s out of sedation.”
Miika leaned in and kissed her cheek. “Okay. Get some food in you; you look hungry, and that is never a good thing with a new date. He’s behind you, looking worried.”
“I know.”
“Is he going to be my new dad?” Miika called it out as she and her team laughed and headed to the elevator.
Elida turned to Wymol and sighed. “My eldest is having fun with this.”
He took her hand with a slight smile. “At her age, I am just happy she didn’t call me daddy.”
Elida clapped a hand over her mouth as she laughed, and they went back into the room with the others. She filled them in on what she could, keeping the medical details to herself.
After that, they just sat and listened to stories about Iscorabella Leto.
Kremoryn returned with a smug expression, and he pulled Hura onto his lap.
Krys chuckled and asked, “How is the chief?”
“More shaken by the fact that she considered the sex tepid than anything else. He thought he was being considerate.” He chuckled as if he enjoyed delivering that particular descriptor.
Krys flicked her hand. “So, he’s a non-event then. A catalyst but not involved otherwise.”
Wymol whispered to Elida, “Is that what you thought of me?”
“Naw, you were good. I smiled when I thought of you.”
He chuckled. “Good to know.”
“Now that I have actually seen you, the smile will be a little brighter.”
He kept hold of her hand, and they listened to Krys describe the first time she met Iscorabella.
They were at an event, had performed mirror dancing, and when they were cooling down afterward, they showed their extras.
The fairy wings had so excited Iscorabella, I didn’t even notice her horns for a minute or that she had sprouted eight inches.
She was hopping up and down and clapping.
” She chuckled. “Quite frankly, I think Reynal had the same reaction, but he hid his giggling better.”
They shared stories, ordered takeout, and got comfortable as other members of the dance group came in to wait. Until she semi-retired, Iscorabella had been to every performance as her cute little human self.
Matthias sat quietly with his arm around Leo, and they were both answering phones and sending messages. They did not move from the room.
When the surgeon came to the room, he blinked at the gathering. “Whoa. She was popular, I guess.”
Someone whispered, “Was?”
“Is. Shit. Sorry. I am tired. She’s doing fine considering her injuries. She has a bit of recovery ahead of her. Healers would speed it up if there is no budget issue.”
Matthias looked at him. “There is no issue.”
Elida said, “The request has been sent. They have to be good with dark energy, so that will take... never mind. I have a healer incoming. Sort of.”
Matthias looked at her. “Sort of?”
“Her friend from high school is a hunter. She was on her way here the moment she felt Iscorabella’s injuries. She will be here within the hour.”
Matthias nodded and checked his phone. “Kibra. Navendar Kibra.”
Elida watched her phone, and when the hunter arrived, it was obvious.
A female in motorcycle gear bypassed the desk and the security officer, and no one noticed.
It was as if she weren’t there. Elida walked to the only elevator that led to the surgical recovery area, and then the blur of shadow came toward her. “Hunter Kibra?”
The shadow firmed up. “Yes?”
“I am Elida Danforth, an acquaintance of Iscorabella.”
“You just met her.”
“How do you know?”
The shadow reached up, and a helmet came off. Soft grey eyes with no pupils looked at her. “I have seen it. That little orc bitch doesn’t know what she did.”
Elida looked up at the woman who had beautiful features, slightly pointed ears, a crest of hair braided on the top of her skull, and shaved sides. She was minty green. “Oh. Right. That would explain a bit.”
“Yes. She thought fucking an orc would be creepy, so she put it off. He must have been charming at the time. Now I get to claim the rights of vengeance. That little bitch is going down in pieces.”
“First, do you want to help her advance her healing?”
Hunter Kibra nodded. “Yes, please, Miss Danforth. Show the way.”
Elida nodded and said, “Do you want to speak to her godfather first?”
Kibra chuckled. “Uncle Matthias? I will speak to him when I have boosted Cora.”
Elida nodded and led the way to the post-op recovery.
Kibra scrubbed her hands and put on a gown to cover her street clothes. The little booties looked strange on her black footwear.
Elida watched her approach the woman they were all here for.
She reached out and touched the fingers that poked out of the cast. The hunter spoke softly to the patient, and energy flowed out in a thick wave.
Bella glowed softly, and Hunter Kibra continued to talk to her in a casual tone until Bella inhaled deeply and exhaled and then repeated.
“There you go. All nice and stable, Cora. I have to go talk to your people. For an antisocial bitch, you make a lot of friends. I will be back when you are in a room so I can talk shit about you to your face.”
Kibra turned, and they both heard the soft sound, “See you, Never.”
She smiled and left the room. Elida looked at her. “Sounds like she doesn’t want to see you.”
“Oh, she does, or she wouldn’t have called me by name. Let’s go talk to the others. She did an impressive draw.”
Elida trailed behind her and listened to her say, “She’s up, she’s healing at about ten times the normal rate. She can be talked to, but she’s still heavily sedated. She is, however, out of the woods.”
Matthias walked to her, wrapped her in his arms. “Thanks, Never.”
“So, that stupid spell had a purpose.”
He looked at her and said, “I would love to ruffle your hair right now.”
“I know. I braid it for the helmet and kept it because of your twitchy fingers. You are as bad as Elsinor.”
Elida was shocked as she saw a bright and happy grin on Matthias’s face.
The mayor chuckled. “I will let her know you said so.”
“Is she around?”
“She is complete and will remain so.” He paused. “But you knew that.”
“Of course I did. Now, which way to the commissary? I need a snack.”
Vaia smiled. “I was here for a bit. I can show you.”
Azreen got to his feet. “I will pay. You have no idea what your arrival means to my wife.”
Elida watched the trio leave the family room, and she slumped into a chair. Wymol rubbed her shoulders and asked, “Are you okay?”
She grinned. “I am fine.”
He glanced down and said, “Everything good?”
“Everything is fine. Standing doesn’t bother it at all.”
Leo grinned. “Wow. Another baby so soon? Oh, and now we can use the Grunwald mansion for the shower. How far along are you?”
“Three months.” She said it before she had a chance to think about it.
Wymol smiled. “Travel is broadening.”
“Yeah, but I never thought it meant my body,” she muttered.
Matthias sat next to Leo and looked at his phone. “It means Leo is going to throw another baby shower. She loves throwing baby showers.”
Leo grinned. “I really do. Fond memories of bashing in a vampire’s head. Lets me not do the same to this one.” She jerked her head toward Matthias. “He’s too much fun not to keep him around.”
Matthias touched his assistant’s cheek. She turned to him, and they shared a sweet kiss. It was impressive because he wasn’t really known for his PDA.
Leo explained, “I am happy because I get to plan another baby shower, and it leaked through to him. That was his version of shouting woohoo!”
Matthias grinned.
Elida smiled. The mood had shifted from desperate hope to planning the future. It was funny how that worked.