Page 32 of Christa's Obsession

Christa shrugged, moving Wanda so she could rest back against Christa’s chest and sit between her now extended legs. Sheflipped open the lid and Wanda groaned in appreciation at the steam rising from the box, gifting her with more of the delicious smell.

Christa picked up a slice of pizza, folding the tip so the cheese didn’t dangle down, and offered it to Wanda. “I can use human tools the same as everyone else, but I suspect a delivery service here is out of the question.” She picked up another slice and moaned. “A woman cannot live without pizza, I assure you.”

Wanda bit into the hot slice of pizza, the herbs zinging in her mouth as she moved the hot food around to avoid burning the roof of her mouth with the cheese and couldn’t disagree, not in the slightest. She moaned in delight at the burst of flavors.

She grinned cheekily, twisting to look at Christa. “I think you might be right. I also like cheeseburgers, just so you know.”

Laughter bounced off the leaves, giving Wanda a secret thrill as Christa let out the joyous sound. “I’ll remember that.”

Chapter Sixteen

Christa

Christa exited the tree dressed in a loose fitting shift so as not to scare any of the natives who might decide to walk through the orchard. What surprised her was the amount of humans thatwandered through Wanda’s orchard. The first couple Christa had encountered had gotten decidedly more than they were expecting when Christa had shifted and run them off. Wanda, who had been napping at the time, had woken with a frightened start at their shouting. Christa had taught them a lesson they’d hopefully never forget. Never upset a demon’s blissful one.

She chuckled at the memory of how the man had nearly broken his neck to escape her. Hopefully, he would tell his friends to stay away.

Checking once more that Wanda remained asleep, she whispered to the trees,protect her, I won’t be long.

As always, beloved.

She took a moment to show her respect and appreciation, stroking her fingers down the bark, feeling their affection for her before she walked off towards the unused house. She needed a moment of privacy to make a call to Merihem. The conversation around fear, and her decision to go to the king, in principle, was easy. Getting to see the king alone, that would be more tricky.

Seeing no one was close by, she pulled a phone from her dress pocket and dialed Merihem.

“Where have you been?” Merihem demanded before she could even say hello. “Luka said you haven’t been in the office, that you disappeared without a damn word.”

A worm of guilt slithered in, and she held back a sigh at having done exactly that and showing a level of unprofessionalism that made her defensive. “You are not the boss of me!”

“I think you’ll find I am,” he fired back, sounding way too smug for Christa.

“I quit, I don’t need the damn job.” His indrawn breath was enough to put her back in a good mood, especially with the knowledge Luka was more than capable of doing her job and his own.

She had no intention of leaving Wanda. The very idea of doing such a thing on a regular basis did not sit well with Christa, for many reasons. The main one, even now as she wandered down towards the house, somehow it felt too far away from Wanda. She needed only to look back to see the trees in the orchard, yet it did little to ease the tightness in her chest at the separation.

As yet, she hadn’t spoken to Dakata about this, but she would when Wanda was ready to move beyond her trees with Christa.

“—you can’t do that.”

The snap to Merihem’s voice brought her back to the conversation as she worked to figure out what she had missed. He clearly thought she couldn’t make her own decisions. “I can do whatever I like. Anyway, that isn’t what I’m ringing for. I need you to get me an appointment to see the king.”

“What? The king? Why?”

“I need to ask him for something.”

Merihem groaned. “I’ve just got back into the position of Controller. You know how pissed off he is with Dakata for his rampage through Dusken? Do you think he’s going to want to meet with his sister?”

“Probably not, and yes, I heard you got your job back.” Being able to read Dakata’s thoughts came in handy from time to time. “I’m pleased for you. I still need you to go ask him to see me,” she wheedled. “It’s vitally important.”

It was to her.

“This sounds ominous. Are you okay, Christa?”

She could hear Merihem weakening and his concern coming across. “I am, but… my blissful one isn’t,” she confessed.

“What. The. Fuck! Who? Does Dakata know? I knew it was catching. It’s like an epidemic. First Dakata, then me, then Scott, now you!”

Oh, so she had been right about Scott! Good for him, he could do with a little shake up in his life. “Merihem, focus! Can you get me in to see the king?”

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