Page 37 of I Dated a Retired Hero

Chapter Seven

Litha sat at Feral’sbedside, idly designing a suit for her. It would stop her from getting flayed open again. She finished her design and sent it off for fabrication.

Feral looked at her. “You don’t have to stay with me. They gave me an entertainment tablet.”

“I don’t want to miss it if they try and interrogate you or take you into custody.”

“I feel better, really better. Kritz told me the nanites are done with me, but they would like to record my shifting ability.”

“Don’t worry. They don’t torture for it.”

“Okay. Good to know. I feel a little silly being in bed with people delivering food to me.”

“This is what a nice vacation feels like, but then, it would be on a beach, like at your sister’s place.”

Feral sighed. “I knew lurking in the trees was a mistake. I should have been lurking in the ocean.”

“Funny. Well, your heat is under control. How are you feeling?”

“Better. That guy hit me like a ton of angry limbs, which he had. I had to claw my way through his chest plate to get him off me.”

“Who was it?”

“Yaveneski. He went for hard mutation after the fall. He didn’t want anyone knowing that he was involved in the med lab.” Feral snorted. “He was part turtle and part squid. It was an astonishing combo.”

“I bet. Where’s the body?”

“Oh, I dragged him to a law enforcement outpost, and then, I sort of made a run for it. I was heading to your house to lay low, but I misjudged my shadow walk and ended up getting arrested.”

“And here we are.”

A soft knock at the door made them look. Arcady opened the door and said, “Litha, there is someone who needs to speak to you.”

Litha smiled at Feral. “I will be right back.”

Litha stepped outside, and Arcady gestured for her to follow. When they were a safe distance away, Arcady said, “The Erradians are here, and they want to borrow you again.”

“Oh. So?”

“For a longer period of time, as an emotional support creature.”

Litha was startled into laughing. “What?”

“The amount they are offering is astronomical, but apparently, one of their most venerated heroes was returned to them, and he needs emotional support because of what happened to him at the hands of Uradda.”

“And I am the first pick? Doubtful.” She was glib, but she knew who they were talking about. Arcady walked with her to the lift, and they went up to a boardroom where a serious Zera and the prefect were sitting across from Dmitri and Petrov, as well as some more grizzled representatives. Sergei’s aura was in the air, so he must have stepped out for a coffee.

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