Page 10 of I Dated a Retired Hero

“Two days? It has been a wasteland for twelve years.”

“So, two days...” Litha shrugged. “Maybe less.”

He shook his head and nodded. “Can you let Nelith know what I am looking for?”

“Sure. A babysitter.”

He startled into a snort. “Something like that.”

She nodded and wandered over to speak to the bride.

She settled near Nelith, and when her friend leaned over, she whispered, “He has a radiation cleanup project for me. He’s looking for a babysitter so I don’t scorch the countryside.”

Nelith asked, “Could they stop you?”

Litha snorted. “No. Anyway, just wanted you to know why your groom was distracted. I like those rings.”

Nelith wiggled her heavily laden fingers. Twelve rings with two on each index finger. “Weighing me down.”

Litha chuckled and touched her head to Nelith’s. “Have a great day.”

“Wait. Are you leaving?”

“Not feeling the party.”

“You have to wait until the first dances.”

“When is that?”

“Another twenty minutes.”

“Okay, but just because you are so cute when you are happy.” Litha smiled.

Nelith smiled. “Thank you.”

Litha walked off to the treeline and murmured, “She would like to meet you.”

A soft hissing voice said, “She doesn’t know me, and I am s-s-stuck again.”

“Aw, I would help if I could. Where have you been?”

There was a soft hissing laugh. “Playing.”

“How many did you play with?”

“Five or six. Two were hiding together. I found them, and they are no more, but now, there is a price on my head in the capitol... again.”

Litha snorted. “So that is four governments that are looking for a feral active.”

“You know I love that name. It makes me feel ferocious.”

“Pervert.”

The voice cackled. “It was a lovely ceremony. Dmitri’s guys were checking you out.”

“Good for them. I am swearing off men. And women and electrical appliances.”

The voice was soft. “I am sorry, Litha. I know that you had dreams that you can’t have or a partner you can’t find.”

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