Page 89 of The Safest Place She Knows

“Uh,yesterday.” Zelle chuckled.

Venka blinked.“And he let you out for a manicure?”

“I work with myhands, and that offended Lady Fen, so I had to get my handsmassaged and treated to remove any rough patches. This is ascosmetic as the dress I am wearing.”

Lya wasconcerned.

Zelle chuckled.“Don’t worry. I plan on trashing this manicure right after thefilming.”

“Me, too. I amgoing to get back under cars as fast as I can.”

Venka snorted.“It’s in her contract.”

Lya’s nailswere hardened, and she flexed her fingers. “These things aredeadly.”

Venka leanedover and kissed her cheek. “I will warn my mother.”

Lya smiled andfrowned. “How am I going to get dressed?”

“I’llhelp.”

Zelle grinned.“So, you have a mixed den?”

“Two boys andVenka.”

“Just what youhoped for.”

Lya blushed.“Venka didn’t need to know that detail.”

“Yes, princess,I did.”

They waitedwith Zelle until her claws were done, and then they accompanied Lyato the change room, where she got dressed with help. The long nailskept getting in the way, and she didn’t have the practice to workwith them.

They lefttogether and headed for the cars. Zelle’s bodyguards held the cardoor for her, and they agreed to a location in the exclusiveshopping district.

They got intothe car, and Venka revved it up, following the armoured vehiclethrough town. “So, your cousin has found herself with thephoenix.”

“Is that whathe is? She just thought he was pretty.”

* * * *

Ten weeks earlier.

Zelle laughedwhen she saw Lya waiting in the airport lounge. She walked over andthudded into the seat next to her. “So, you are coming out to play,too, huh?”

Lya looked ather, gasped, and then hugged her sideways.

They chatteredfor a few minutes, and then Zelle said, “Wait, who has Tamara?”

“The productionhas provided licensed and bonded childcare. Tamara is twelve, soshe’s not completely helpless.”

“Twelvealready. Damn.” She sat back and brushed her hair behind her ear.She looked around the lounge and tried to be casual.

“Oh, no. Youare, um, hungry?”

“Yeah. Youcould say that. I am also getting fussier, if you can believethat.”

“I can. Are yougoing to go prowl?” Lya smiled.

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