Page 13 of I Dated a Retired Hero

“No. I have been looking for years but keep scaring the poor little things.” She snorted. “Have a great party. She’s a wonderful woman.”

“You don’t want to catch the bouquet?”

“No, it is better off going to ladies who have a chance at getting laid. Goodbye, Dmitri; goodbye, crowd.”

She backed away, and Nelith walked to her and smiled. “You really won’t stay?”

Litha looked at the happy people dancing, flirting and holding each other. Tears started to flow. “No, but I hope you have an amazing time. Blessings to you, Nelith.”

She kissed her friend’s cheek and walked back to change into her casual clothes that she had crafted to withstand her radiation. When dressed, she checked the location and took flight, going as fast as she could away from the sight of all that love and laughter.

* * * *

Nelith swallowed. “Oh, damn. I didn’t think it had gotten that bad, but she did say she had been bodyguarding for new couples, attending baby showers, and the like. Fuck. I should have let her stay home.”

Dmitri was still staring at the burn of light in the sky where she had lit the atmosphere. “What kind of active is she, besides radioactive?”

“Oh, she’s nova class. As far as we know, she’s the only one alive. They normally don’t survive activation.”

“How did she survive?”

Nelith smiled softly. “Her parents were getting hints of her activation, so they prepared, and when she started glowing, they broke into a nuclear power plant, and she was in the tank for a week. When she came out, she was stable but still leaking a little.”

“Why didn’t she get a mate then?”

“She was fourteen.”

“Ah. That would do it.”

“Her parents died from radiation exposure, but they didn’t regret it. She saved the world more times than I can count, and they saw her do it.”

“But she wants a partner?”

“Yes. For the same reason I went for assessment at the BDC. She’s lonely. The issue is she needs astral class if she wants them to survive more than one encounter. She was dating one casually, but he wanted women who were helpless. She had the bad taste to save some kids while on a date with him.”

“Ah. Fragile ego.”

“He isn’t looking for someone like her. He wants someone who is physically vulnerable. She pretended to be for a while, but he didn’t make a move.”

“So, she’s frustrated, lonely, and watching a wedding with couples and teens and laughter that must sound like glass to her ears.”

Nelith exhaled. “I am an ass. I just wanted my friend with me.”

“I think she knows that, but she’s hurting right now and is trying to lose herself in work.”

“Can she do that with this assignment?”

He kissed her temple. “I hope so. It will certainly push her endurance.”

“How did I get so lucky as to find you?”

“You let yourself be taken in as a war criminal.”

“Oh, right. Now we are on a beach, and you are in a skirt that doesn’t cover much.” She smiled.

“Come on and circulate amongst our guests and your family.”

Nelith nodded and returned to the party. Litha was resilient. She could bounce back from this.I hope.

---