Chapter Five #3
“So, they listened in on the call?”
“I was in negotiation. There is an open com policy for clarity.”
“I see. Well, thank you for taking steps.”
“No one hunts you but me.”
Wylda stared into his eyes and blinked. “You think you can catch me?”
“I am certain of it.” He caressed her shoulders and arms. “I look forward to proving it.”
She cocked her head. “I think I just heard a shot across my bow.”
“Whatever you want to call it.” He winked and turned toward her friends. “Shall we?”
She looked over at Delphine and Elodie. The ladies were smirking knowingly. “Uh, yes. Brace for an interrogation.”
“I have gotten familiar with female interactions in an effort to understand more about what happened.”
“Did you tell any of your tutors that?”
“No, but they allowed me to ask what I felt I needed to know.”
“What was that?”
“I find that if you keep your expression slightly confused and otherwise blank, they will allow you to ask anything.”
She chuckled. “Let’s see how that works with my people.”
They exited the room, and she made the introductions. Lord Rez bowed politely.
Delphine urged them to a restaurant nearby, where cold sandwiches were the food on offer. Piled high with meat, cheese, and condiments, the sandwiches were fortresses of sustenance with a pickle on the side. Lord Rez was amused, but he dug in with them.
Elodie looked at him and cocked her head. “Kijin?”
He finished a bite. “Yes. How did you know?”
“I studied. Reading was all that I was allowed.”
“You sing as well? There is something to your voice.”
“I dance more than sing. Singing is strictly Wylda’s mastery.”
Delphine looked around the deli and saw two men who were looking at their group. She snorted. “I wonder what brought Summer and Spring out?”
Lord Rez looked at the two. “Autumn and Winter have started families. I think these two are feeling neglected. They have been judging women and looking for matches for years.”
Elodie looked over at them, blinked, and focused on her sandwich. That reaction was telling.
Wylda looked at her friend. “Why the blush?”
“There is something familiar about the one with dark hair and eyes.”
Delphine cocked her head. “Well, he doesn’t look like your deceased ex, so that is something.”
Lord Rez blinked. “You are a widow?”
“Yes. Sort of.”
Wylda smiled. “It’s complicated.”
Delphine chuckled. “She’s also my aunt.”
Elodie snickered. “That is so odd. Hey, where’s your mom?”
“She hates delis. She had to live on this while she was young, so she prefers hot food or sushi.” Delphine smiled. “She’s having a barbeque with Orvis down the street.”
Lord Rez looked at them. “What is on the agenda this afternoon?”
Wylda smiled. “I have to go to work at the fertility retreat.”
He frowned. “Can’t you just...”
“I could, but they approached Nessa, and she is easing their systems together. I will not interfere with her magic.”
He nodded. “I understand. No octuplets in the mix.”
Wylda grinned. “Exactly. Also, there are no pure appearances with me. It doesn’t matter if they are from species that breed along the chromosomal divide. Everything is an even blend.”
He smiled slightly. “So, your children would be starborn and kijin?”
Elodie grinned, and Delphine muttered, “Smooth.”
Wylda frowned. “They would be wild magic and kijin. Oh. I see what you did there.”
Lord Rez grinned. “Done.”
There was a binding spell that wrapped around them and echoed through the restaurant. All of the magic users looked up.
Elodie smiled. “That was clever.”
Wylda said, “What just happened?”
“You just agreed to have children with a kijin. Lord Rez is in charge of the kijin, and that means your introduction to your future spouse will go through him.”
Lord Rez smiled. “To get to you, Wylda, they will have to get through me.”
She looked at his handsome features and remembered the horns and the unearthly beauty of him. “Okay.”
“I will be attending the party, and we will speak afterward.” Lord Rez smiled and lifted her hand to his lips, complete with the pickle. The pickle was missing when he got up and left.
Wylda looked at her hand. “He stole my pickle.”
Elodie hugged her. “I am sure he is willing to replace it at a more opportune time.”
Delphine grinned and giggled. “It’s a good thing we can commute for visiting.”
Wylda blinked. “You can?”
“Well, Elodie can, and I will just come along.”
Elodie chuckled. “Sure. I am willing to transport anywhere to visit you two.”
Wylda smiled, and she felt a blush on her face. “What just happened?”
“You got engaged to Lord Rez, and he will come when you call.” Elodie smiled. “He made a declaration. You echoed it, and he locked you in. If you are attacked again, he will be there in a moment.”
Wylda perked up. “Really?”
Elodie smiled. “Really. The rules of courtship are the one thing my mother-in-law had me studying. She was planning on selling me off like a prize horse.”
Delphine frowned. “Why?”
“Because elf law says that if I have a child, it will belong to my deceased husband’s line if the stud agrees to it. She had been actively looking.”
Delphine scowled. “What about Veeso?”
“He’s busy trying to create a second child. He won’t do it, but he is disinterested in Halla’s life.” She paused. “But he might have been the only one who suspected I had taken Halla over.”
They finished their meal and got up.
Delphine ordered Elodie to come back so Ambera could take charge of her and get her some clothing.
Elodie sighed. “I can just change mine.”
“No. They don’t stay if you are unconscious.”
Elodie paused and said, “Fine.”
They chatted as they walked back to the company, where Ambera was chatting with Orvis in the lobby. Delphine smiled. “Mom, we have another one to kit out. Enjoy.”
Wylda said, “I have to get to work.”
Elodie said, “We will drop you off.”
Ambera nodded brightly. “Okay, let’s go.”
They piled into the car and got settled as the driver pulled away from the curb. It was time to enjoy being themselves. They had waited long enough.