Page 31 of Flying Blind

They walked to the main house, where Zara was meeting her soon-to-be bonded father.

Lyric headed inside and started to work on dinner. It looked like they were having quite a few guests, and she prided herself on being a good host.

* * * *

Zara felt better afterEmma was there to help guide her around, and when Lykon returned, he walked up to her and kissed her cheek.

The gentle behaviour made her relax.

“Are you all right, Zara? Lyric took care of you all right?”

“Yeah, she’s a kickass bodyguard.”

He chuckled. “Good. My little sister is good at many things.”

Lyric called from the kitchen. “Including cooking, but I hate doing dishes.”

Lykon rumbled, “And listening in, which is why our legion will take over the guesthouse.”

Lyric called out, “It’s the pointy ears. Yes, Emma has already seen them.”

Zara laughed. “I look forward to seeing and touching them.”

“Oh, no touching. It’s too close to foreplay.”

A clatter told Zara that Lyric was approaching. “Lykon, go take a shower. You are sweaty and grimy. I know she can’t smell you yet, but I can.”

He chuckled, kissing Zara’s cheek again. “I will be back in a few minutes.”

Rayd chuckled. “That is the most emotion I have seen out of him... ever.”

Lyric set a tray down and then said, “Zara, did you want to have something to drink? Water, lemonade, wine if you like? Coffee is on the way.”

Emma said, “Axel has been singing your praises, Lyric. You have done amazing things marketing this winery.”

Zara took Lyric’s arm as she was led to a couch.

Another male voice said, “But she refused my efforts at rebranding.”

Lyric snorted. “Little Bastard Vineyards was not an acceptable name. For a beer, sure, but not a midrange wine.”

Zara turned her head toward the new male voice. She could see him with her sonar, and it was a standard alpha sitting in a comfortable-sized chair for an alpha.

“Zara, that is our father, Axel. He’s the reason I warned you about the bastard thing. He owns the vineyard and the winery and will talk your ear off, explaining all the details.”

Emma cleared her throat. “Bastard thing?”

“Oh, Axel and my mother, Lydia, liked to go to some of those very specific clubs for very specific purposes, and I was the result. Obviously not Axel’s, and Mom wasn’t Asian.”

Zara had to ask, “You are Asian?”

Lyric chuckled. “Half. Yes. When you are all together, you will be able to tell. Use protection when you go to sex clubs, kids.”

Emma asked cautiously, “Axel, you had no trouble with her?”

Lyric asked wryly, “Yeah, Axel, did you have trouble with me?”

“Well, the locals were critical, so I just took to wearing her around when I did errands, and she wore aBest Little Bastardonesie around the vineyard and around town. It was the only way I could think of to let folks know that I was aware and she was still my little girl.”

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