Page 10 of Surviving Enchantment: Part two
She heard the vest creak from the front as Solor turned to look at her for a moment while he drove.
“He has a lot of weight on his shoulders.Working for the XIA is a public relations thing as much as a workout.”
“Oh.Why?”
“His beast is powerful and very much wants a partner, but that partner needs to be powerful as well, or they won’t mix well.There aren’t a lot of that kind of woman around here.”
“Oh.”She leaned heavily against Demuel’s shoulder.“I am sorry that I get so sleepy.”
“It’s fine.I saw you in action tonight.I don’t believe those moves are suitable for someone in your condition.”
She chuckled.“But I have a lot of energy, and it helps me burn it off.But then the shift is too long, and I get tired.I am sorry I am leaning on you.”She looked down and stared at her hand.“Did I do the whole shift without my glamour?”
“You did.You remember when that little girl with the lung infection said she liked the stars under your skin?I didn’t know that solid dark fae have stars under their skin.”
“They don’t.I am notpuredark fae, but I have enough power to back myself up.”
“What is the other part?”
“Oh.Djinn.He’s a jerk, though.As far as he’s concerned, I am just uppity cum.”
The car swayed.She looked up.“What was that?”
Solor murmured, “Something in the road.”
“So, you met him.”
“Yeah.About twenty years ago.I decided that I wanted to understand who I was made of, so I went looking.My bio mom is married and hiding the fact that she had a lover who was a succubus.She’s the dark fae.My father was a bored djinn who summoned my mother for a bit of exercise or relief or whatever he called it.He summoned her for sex.He was very graphic about it.”She made a face and didn’t feel sleepy anymore.She sat up and looked straight forward.“He started picking clothing for me and telling me that he was going to invite some friends.If I were half as good as my mother, he would make a fortune.”
She swallowed.“So, I blasted him with moonlight until he couldn’t move, and I teleported to safety.I ended up in Redbird.I was stuck for a few days and contacted Kaitha.She took me in until I could recover.”
“Djinn have serious wards.”
“Yeah.I blasted through them like they were tissue paper.”She chuckled and tangled her fingers together.It took some effort, but she got her human seeming back on.
“Wait.So, you wear your human skin when you are uncomfortable?”Demuel put his hand on hers.
“Yup.I am uncomfortable most of the time.The glamour comes off when I sleep.”She looked around.“Where did all my food bags go?”
Solor muttered, “They are in the hatch.Why do you need to eat so much?”
“Oh.Easy answer.If I had a partner, I would take from them.So, all that dark fae hunger has to go somewhere.”Her fingers tangled hard.“That part is really embarrassing.”
“You knew who we were months ago.”
“Yes.”
“But you didn’t tell us.”
“No.You have your own lives.Solor is always flirting and getting phone numbers.I don’t want to interfere with your social lives.Plus, my body is about to get all bulgy and weird.You two should have partners who look normal.I am odd-looking coming and going.”
She saw the turn, and they slowed to make it.The SUV hurtled down the road, and she actually looked at the house this time.“Why is it so big?”
Solor chuckled.“You are talking about the house, right?”
“Yes.”
“It is used to host weddings and graduations and events for the communities.Folks can shift or half shift and be completely comfortable here.”Solor was speaking calmly and cheerfully.
