Page 68 of Battling Bright
“No.Why?”
“They have an investor in town, and they want him to see the mansion to see if he wants to invest in Redbird and Hannah’s efforts to revive and renovate our haunted buildings.”
“Put them at the girls’ table.If they get out of line, Elida can smack them down.”
Hannah looked at Neekil.“Oh, wow.If we have kids, you are going to be a girl dad.”
He grinned.“Of course, my war companion.They have so much potential and are rarely given enough support.And if you ever see Elida in action, you will understand that in the right circumstances, they can be far more ferocious than a male.”
“How old was she when you worked with her?”
“She had just turned twenty-two when she was in hospital.”He chuckled.“She has a master’s in criminology.She likes to study.”
“I imagine her house wasn’t quiet with four girls.Wait.How old was the oldest?”
“Sixteen at the time.Miika is twenty-three now and training for the XIA.”Neekil looked like a proud uncle.
Hannah smiled.
Krys pointed out, “Don’t worry about the girls getting mobbed at the wedding.They will make their reappearance at the gala on Thursday night.Elida is singing something.”
Neekil grinned.“She is?”
Krys groaned and scrubbed her face with her hands.“Oh, shit.That was supposed to be a surprise.”
Hannah knew in that moment that she had met the other woman in Neekil’s life, and it wasn’t a bad thing.Elida was calm, composed, and had an attitude that let Neekil know she cared but would still put him in his place.Not bad for a woman who was more elf than human.She looked forward to hanging out with her more often.Elida had serious sister vibes.Hannah had always wanted a sister.
Azreen looked toward them and had to ask, “Did you mention Elida Danforth?I had forgotten all about her.Is she back in town?”
Vaia looked at him.“You know her?”
“Sure.We went to school together.You and I got married, and I left town, or we would probably be friends today.”
Vaia smiled.“You had a crush?”
“No.Definitely no.She was way more man than I was.She scared me.But she was a good friend, always ready to defend me.You remember how scrawny I was.She held back the other wealthy bullies that families had produced.”
Vaia asked, “She...scared you?”
“She could go from calm to vicious defender in a heartbeat.She knew when to strike, how to move, and where to hit.When she wanted an attacker down, it was down.She turned into a white whirl of blades and pointy ears.”He smiled.“Comforting to have as a friend, but nothing else.”
Vaia felt something deep inside her ease.
Neekil called out, “And she’s pregnant.”
Hannah muttered, “Do you think she wants everyone to know?”
“Well, it explains why she didn’t return to the XIA.”Azreen nodded.“She loved it.It was either going to be kicking ass or social work.”
Vaia blinked.“Why social work?”
“Still the chance to kick ass.”Neekil chuckled.
Azreen grinned.“Exactly.”
Vaia smiled.“I look forward to meeting her.”
Azreen nodded.“You will like her.Everyone likes her, unless they are guilty of something, in which case, they start running.”
