Chapter Six #3
Jennel finally took the hint and left. Amy chuckled, shook her head, and got back to work, moving the files to the case files and attaching other unsolved evidence files for examination with commonalities.
The patterns could not be avoided. It was why she was in this particular office.
She could see them. It wasn’t like being a seer, but she could see when things did fit and when they didn’t.
It meant she didn’t miss socialization with the opposite sex.
They didn’t fit her life. No romantic entanglement fit her life. The energy was just all wrong.
* * * *
N ylora looked at Jennel . “Couldn’t get her to show up?”
Jennel shook her head. “Nope. Do you know anything about frost giants?”
“A little. Why?”
“She said something, and if Emmers doesn’t know what it means. I will ask you.” Jennel shrugged.
“Now is your chance.” Nylora pointed toward the vehicle that was parking.
Jennel walked up to the guys and was talking to them as they lined up behind other agents who were there on break.
Jennel was talking to Emmers, and something that she said to him caused him to fluff out.
Nylora sipped her lemonade. “So, he knows what that means.”
Jennel said something else, and Neekil and Kairek started laughing.
Nylora smiled. “And now they know where she works.”
“Are you turning the other agents into a soap opera?” Solor sat next to her with an arm around her waist.
“No. But Emmers just found out where Amy works and something that she said about her people. No, I don’t know what it is.”
He chuckled and kissed her temple. “Well, you have enough drama at home.”
“Yeah, now, aren’t you glad we did that test? Your mother was stopped in her tracks.”
He sighed. “And it didn’t hurt that Demuel explained why he had been with me that night.”
“That was embarrassing, but I am really glad he knew that spell, or you two would have caused some permanent damage. I had no idea that unicorns could actually detect virgins.”
“It is something he usually ignored, but in your case, he couldn’t, so I had to share.”
“And now your mom is plotting with Leo. That is going to be a weird party.”
“Well, Myor is trying to rein them in, but I don’t know how successful she will be.”
“Only two more weeks, and then I will know what I can buy for Bump.” Nylora rubbed her hands. “And then... there will be no stopping me.”
“Oh, no. You have to let me set something up.”
“Fine, you and Demuel can assemble anything that needs assembling, but I get to determine where it goes. And you can get a little onesie with Pretty like my dad on it.”
He sighed. “I was thinking of something more than that.”
“Fine. Set up a trust fund. Buy them a pony. Demuel will love that.”
He laughed.
Nylora looked at Emmers talking to Jennel, and then Jerrik came pelting toward Kairek. “Aw. Look. He’s acting all dad-ish.”
It was a sweet scene. Kairek had his hand on Jerrik’s shoulder, and they remained in line for tacos.
“I didn’t know that Iris was here. Oh, look. Amy drove them.”
Solor sipped at her lemonade. “Wow. What will happen next?”
She grabbed the lemonade back. “I don’t know, that’s why I am watching.”
* * * *
I ris was talking with Kairek, and where the Dullahan was, Emmers was. That was true, but now Emmers was stalking toward her car.
Amy looked at the vested midsection outside her window. She rolled the window down. “I don’t suppose I can get a milkshake?”
Emmers ducked down. Blond hair, tanned skin, and dark blue eyes all made him look like one of the guys from back home. “You work for the XIA.”
“Yup.”
“Which is how you know me.”
“Also, yup.”
“Will you get out of the car?”
“Nope.”
“Why not?”
“I’m short.”
He grinned. “Most people are around extranaturals. Like, Jennel short?”
“Oh, god no. But, like... nipple height on you, and you are a close talker.” She shrugged. “Don’t want to get a crick in my neck.”
He grinned. His canines were pointed, even in human form. “Amy, please come out.”
“Nope. You are not the boss of me.”
“Are you coming to the rehearsal dinner?”
“Nope.”
He was getting frustrated. “What about Nylora’s baby shower?”
“Nope.”
“The wedding?”
“Sort of, but I am a vendor, not a guest.”
“What are you doing at the wedding?”
She smiled. “Something.”
He sighed. “Will you save me a dance?”
“Oh, I will be leaving as soon as the thing is done. I have been assured that it will be lovely, though. Take some pictures for me.”
He made a face. “Would you go on a date with me?”
“Whoa. Just blurting it out there.”
“I need to get in line if I am to get anything before we have to get back on duty. Do you need anything?”
“Nope. I’m good. Thanks for asking.” She nodded and watched him walk away with her focus flitting between his shoulders and his world-class ass.
As he caught up with his team members, they looked at her, and Neekil said something to him that made Emmers whirl in shock. She shrugged and went back to browsing through her phone.
Iris and Jerrik returned to her after five minutes, getting in the car with their takeout bags.
“Everybody ready to head home?”
“Wait, Aunt Amy.”
“Why?”
There was a soft knock on her window. She turned her head, and a bag was on the other side of the window. She lowered the window and looked at Emmers. “Um... I didn’t order anything.”
He reached into the bag and pulled out a milkshake. “You actually did, but there are also two super hot quesadillas in here that aren’t set for human hot.”
“Jennel.”
“Correct.”
“Thank you. It’s appreciated.”
He inclined his head and smiled, then walked off with his own takeout bag in his hand. This was really for her. She handed the bag to the snickering Iris, started her car, and brought up the window. She set the milkshake in the cup holder and drove off.
Jerrik asked, “Aunt Amy, are you dating Emmers like Mom is dating my dad?”
“Um. No. We are just being nice to each other because we like cold weather, and he chased me through the woods one time.”
“Oh. He’s a bear.”
“Yes, I know. He’s a polar bear. That is the largest kind of bear.”
Iris chuckled. “He’s a good tracker.”
“Yes.”
“I bet he could find you in no time.”
“Well, I don’t actually have a scent, so trackers do have trouble with me.”
Iris made a disappointed sound. “Oh. Right.”
“Yeah. I am not fun.”
Jerrik said, “It’s okay, Aunt. We still love you.”
“Thank you, Jerrik.” She smiled and drove the five blocks home.
They all took their food, and Amy took her food, heading for her house.
“Don’t you want to eat together?”
“If this is as hot as I think, I am going to need to be close to the bathroom. The milkshake is also unknown.”
Iris laughed. “Fair. Okay, Jerrik, let’s add hot sauce and make each other cry.”
Amy headed for her house, walked into the living room, and settled on the couch.
She loved spicy food, but she looked like she wouldn’t appreciate it.
No fur, no fangs, just standard human appearance.
She sighed and took out a taco, inhaling deeply and smelling the layers of spice that were Dem-rah’s stock and trade.
The first bite was heaven, and she took the second and then the third. Her stomach warmed, and she smiled. It was everything she had hoped.
The milkshake was the true mystery. He had to have summoned it from somewhere, so she put a straw in and took the first sip. Ohhhh. Ice cream, vanilla, and sugar in perfect harmony.
She took another slow sip and smiled. He had noticed her preoccupation with food. No wonder he worked for the XIA. He was smart and observant.
Amy wished the milkshake could last forever, but she interspersed sips with the tacos in the bag until she was fat and happy. It wasn’t the worst way to spend an evening.
She grinned as she went to get ready for bed.
She had a full day ahead of her the next day, and it was a good thing that she had agreed to the setup to get her to the taco truck.
Iris was a terrible liar, and Jerrik never got food after dinner.
Part of the increase in romance with Iris and Kairek meant that they wanted to see each other at night, which meant Amy would be driving.
Iris drove during the day and hated driving at night.
Amy wondered what Emmers wanted for a second milkshake.
No one but Jennel came to see her at work, and Iris took Jerrik out for tacos on her own. Amy hung out with other friends and generally lived her life until the wedding. Tomorrow was the big day, but tonight, she and some other ladies from the office were going to the Night Faire.
She closed up her office and went home to change into something with a corset.
Amy laughed as they watched the dancers. She had her fox ears out, a blue-and-purple outfit with fluttering sleeves, a snug corset, and a flowy skirt that flared when she moved. Her friends were pushing forward to get picked for a dance, but Amy hung back. Dancing wasn’t for her.
When Anna got picked for a dance, Amy laughed and clapped as she was whirled around over and over.
It was a really fun night until there was a drunken bellow, drunk laughter, and then there was screaming.
A huge, drunk orc had grabbed Anna and was trying to dance with her.
“Oh, hell.” She was really thankful this was an expensive outfit, and Amy waded through the crowd as Anna freaked out.
“Anna! Calm down.” Amy walked up to them and said, “Hey, little fella. Do you want to let the nice lady go?”
The drunk orc looked up at her and gave her a slow smile. “You are fun.”
“Aw, that’s what they all say. Let the pixie go, and you will see how much fun I am.”
He looked at Anna as if he had forgotten he was holding her. He dropped her, and Anna scrambled loose. Mina said, “Friends are coming.”
Amy looked at the orc. “See that? All kinds of people are going to meet you. Come here, buddy.”