Page 7 of I Dated a Retired Hero

“Fine. I am on the way.”

“You know where we are?”

“Yes. I have been there before. Years ago.” She left her house and locked it up, looking at her little farm and barn before she rose in the air and directed herself to the islands.

Apparently, she was attending a wedding. The sonic boom followed her as she kept the speed she needed to get there just after their breakfast. She could turn to light and travel that way, but it was showing off.

She saw the gathering of people on the beach, and the children jumping up and down at her approach made her smile. She landed on the sand, walked toward the crowd, and turned around. “Who are we watching for?”

Xeva walked out with a grin. “You, Litha. One of the island guardian’s brothers has all the action figures he could find, and when I told him Plasma was coming, he lost his mind. You are one of the rarest figures, but he does have one.”

“I had forgotten about that. They only released those when I was out of the stellar corp.”

Xeva hugged her. “Well, here you are, new in a box. That is an honour. Come on, we are getting you dressed and maybe something in your hair.”

She was bustled into the bridal prep area and smiled. “Oh, Nelith, you look lovely.”

“You look like casual Friday at a barn. Get changed.” The bride was blushing and smiling.

Xeva held up a wrap and smiled. “Come on. Get nekkid, oh, and let your hair down.”

Litha dressed in the pink and gold sarong and slipped on the sandals. She loosed her hair, and it tumbled past her shoulders down to her hips.

Nelith smiled. “I always forget how gorgeous you are.”

“It is something that does me no good. But you are stunning today as well.”

Nelith grinned. “Thank you. I feel pretty. You would not believe how many of my sisters are on this island. I think almost all of them are here.”

“Oh, why aren’t they walking you down the aisle?”

“Because you are here. You helped lift me out of depression, showed me how to speed my recovery, and told me that being depressed because of my situation was fine, but there was a world moving around that had things that were fun to participate in. You gave me mom-advice, and it was the first time someone had done that in decades.”

Litha finished getting ready. “It was just nice talking to someone else who had been fucked over by their activation.”

Nelith paused. “Ouch. What’s going on?”

“Nothing. Nothing. I am cleared for dating by the BDC, but no one will take me up on it. I have had nothing but platonic dates, and even my last patron just gave up when he saw a flick of my power. He likes helpless ladies.”

“Oh. Damn.”

Xeva walked up and hugged her, and Nelith moved toward her in her peach and gold dress, stroking her cheek.

Litha chuckled. “This is the most physical contact I have had in twenty-five years.”

Nelith frowned.

Litha said, “Hey, hey. Calm. I told Xeva I was going to be in a mood today.”

Nelith nodded. “It is understandable. I got plenty of hugs and touches from friends.”

Litha smiled. “Please let the ceremony start soon.”

A young woman darted in, and the scent of honey came with her. “Aunties, we are ready to go. Hello, ma’am.”

“Hello. You are Nelith’s niece?”

Xeva shrugged. “Niece, granddaughter, it is hard to say.”

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