Page 40 of Second Shooter

Draven chuckled. “And when I asked, the tree lowered you so we could take you. The oak had no business bending like that.”

She blushed. “Trees like me.”

“I think I know who or what your father is.” He smiled. “A botanist disappeared thirty-three years ago. His signal simply cut off one day, but he was highly regarded. The gardens at the Stronghold have never been the same.”

She thought about the man who looked relaxed as he stood with Jia. His silent movements into the house didn’t have any footfalls that she had been able to hear. The barefoot gene might be a thing.

She smiled and then heard a sound. A golf cart was driving to them. A dark Elite was driving, and the omega next to him was grinning with excitement.

Iris walked up to them, and when the other omega bolted out, she caught her. “Hey, Lya. You are looking good. Oren, looking amused.”

Iris couldn’t see what Win could, which was a half dozen Elite omegas looking at the man in the cart.

Wellyn walked over to the man and said, “Yeah, it’s freaking us out, too.”

Win snorted. “Yeah, you didn’t have to arrange special clothes for the event.” She snapped a picture of the newcomers and laughed. She had never seen scales on an omega before.

She looked up when she saw movement in front of her. “Oh, hey.”

Iris smiled. “Win, this is Lya. Lya, this is Win. Win has said she likes leather components to her clothing. She’s also really tall in her other form.”

Win held up a hand and got the dress out of the bag. “This tall. Actually, this falls to just below the knee.”

Lya took the dress and held it up. “Oh. Wow. That is a lot to play with. Can we chat?”

“Sure.” Lya took her hand, and they walked away from the house. “Sorry. Pointy ears have good hearing.”

Win smiled. “I know.”

“Oh, right. Mine are still coming in. My den doesn’t want me growing too fast, and the baby doesn’t want it either. I will finish when I finish.”

“You are pregnant?”

“Yes, and I have a thirteen-year-old daughter.” She looked at the dress.

Win took the dress and tossed it into the air. When it settled, it was on a three-dimensional projection of Win’s warrior form.

“That is neat. Can you show me how to do that?”

“When you finish growing and your pregnancy does the same.” Win said, “You might not be born to magic; you might be born to scales instead.”

Lya blinked. “Did Iris tell you?”

“Nope. I took a picture of your soul.” Win grinned and showed her the picture.

Lya got excited, and they stood and looked at the other pictures. “Wait. Erik and someone?”

“My little sister, Cori. She’s not eighteen and hasn’t finished school. Or gone to college or university. I want that for her. She needs to know what she is capable of before she has a mate.”

“How are you going to stop him? I have heard stories about his father’s dragon.”

“I threatened the fucking dragon, and he knows I meant it.” She chuckled. “The first time it saw me, I was covered in blood, skin shredded and torn up, and yet still witty.”

Lya chuckled. “What did you study?”

“Nothing. If my attack had born fruit, our kids would be in school together. I have had a lot of menial jobs. I do like photography, though. It is fun.”

Lya smiled. “When I make outfits, do you want to be my photographer? Everybody uses Alexi, but I have to guess that he is getting tired of it.”

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