Page 36 of Shattered Magic

“Have I ever been your granddaughter? I just need to know before you leave.”

Arkus looked at her and then at the elder. “Ah. This explains so much.”

“Vega.”

“Elder. I believe your work here is done. Please hand me my phone.”

Arkus nodded. “We will speak later, Iony.”

The elder left, and Vega sighed, rubbing her forehead and looking at her phone. All the vicious messages had been deleted, and her trash had been emptied. It was a good thing she had forwarded them to her other account then. It was handy to keep track of those who wished you dead, raped, and tortured.

Arkus exhaled. “I am sorry I brought her. Can you rest?”

“Yeah.”

“When you wake, we will leave and have a much-needed conversation. Zerul has connected me with a car service.”

She looked at him. “I don’t want to stay here. Bad things happen here. I want to go home.”

Eon opened the door. “I’ve got the paperwork.”

Arkus asked, “Did you get any clothing for her?”

“The bag by the door.”

Vega nodded. “Thanks, Eon.”

Arkus handed her the bag, and she stripped down and then pulled on the sweatsuit and sneakers. Vega was dressed when the nurse came in, and she signed off on her medical care.

She took the purse she had come in with that Eon had kept close. She hugged her friend and then headed for the door. She was done with this place. She wanted to be home. Her home. Her place. Her sanctuary.

Arkus offered her his arm, and she held it as their trio left the hospital and went their separate ways. A car pulled up, and Arkus put her inside before climbing in next to her. They were soon on their way to the apartment. She wanted to sleep in her own bed and wake up without anything weird happening. She felt it was a small ask.

Chapter Seven

Hari exhaled slowly and cursed softly. Zerul looked at her from across his desk. “What is it?”

“Vega is out of the hospital and has rejected her family. Arkus is with her, and Eon is worried. Eon is never worried.”

Zerul asked, “What is she worried about?”

“That Vega will be untethered now. She isn’t one to not have a focus.”

“What was her focus previously?”

“Her family and her village. The dwarf village in the foothills.”

“Yup. The artisans, historians, and miners. They are all in that protected space.” Hari sighed. “It’s stupid, as many members of their population were born human, just like Vega was. The wave doesn’t discriminate, but they do.”

“Anhara, would you like to visit her?”

“Yes, but I am going to send her an invitation to dinner and see if she answers. I am guessing that she would be a little weak after the hospital. Eon told me that it wasn’t a simple thing.”

“I see. Send the invitation. I also want to speak with the village. This is sitting wrong with me.” Zerul frowned. “It is on the edge of my influence, but I think I can still make an impact.”

“Impact?”

“If your friend has rejected her birthplace, they had to have done something wrong. Your associates are remarkably even-tempered.”

---