Page 23 of Magic in His Arms
Elida frowned.“She was shot by an orc chief’s stalker?”
Miika nodded.“She’s in custody, and a hearing is being set.The charges will wait until Iscorabella’s survival is determined and the extent of her injuries is known.”
“Thank you, Agent.Your information has been very helpful.”
Miika nodded to her mom, and Elida followed her out.When they were clear, Miika said, “It was bad, Mom.At least one lung was punctured, and she was holding her hand to it so she could talk to us.Blood everywhere.She was so fucking calm!”Miika shuddered, and Elida hugged her.
“It’s okay, baby.Our top surgeon is working on her, and aside from the bullet damage, she started in great shape.”
“We talked to the chief, and he just about passed out.He had no idea that he was still being stalked.Just warning you because he may show up here.”
Elida nodded and stroked her daughter’s cheek.“You want a call when she wakes up?”
“Please.There are a few details we are missing.”
“Okay.I will let you know when she’s awake and lucid.We use the good drugs here.”
Miika laughed.“I remember.That was a helluva night.When I saw her, I remembered what you looked like when you shifted, and it all rushed back.Time for more therapy.”
Elida kissed her cheek.“The therapy never stops.Dealing with horror never gets easier, but you can learn to react assertively and help those in distress.”
One of Miika’s team nodded.“She got in there and told us what to do and how to do it.A crime scene team was there the moment she was out of her car.The car is already in the lab, getting the missing bullets out of the passenger door.She got everything organized in minutes, and all we had to do was get in the car with the photos and run the image through the system.By the time we got to the nearest orc neighbourhood, we had a name.”
Elida smiled.“She’s finally trusting her intuition.Good.Now, go back to work, and I will call you when she’s out of sedation.”
Miika leaned in and kissed her cheek.“Okay.Get some food in you; you look hungry, and that is never a good thing with a new date.He’s behind you, looking worried.”
“I know.”
“Is he going to be my new dad?”Miika called it out as she and her team laughed and headed to the elevator.
Elida turned to Wymol and sighed.“My eldest is having fun with this.”
He took her hand with a slight smile.“At her age, I am just happy she didn’t call me daddy.”
Elida clapped a hand over her mouth as she laughed, and they went back into the room with the others.She filled them in on what she could, keeping the medical details to herself.
After that, they just sat and listened to stories about Iscorabella Leto.
Kremoryn returned with a smug expression, and he pulled Hura onto his lap.
Krys chuckled and asked, “How is the chief?”
“More shaken by the fact that she considered the sex tepid than anything else.He thought he was being considerate.”He chuckled as if he enjoyed delivering that particular descriptor.
Krys flicked her hand.“So, he’s a non-event then.A catalyst but not involved otherwise.”
Wymol whispered to Elida, “Is that what you thought of me?”
“Naw, you were good.I smiled when I thought of you.”
He chuckled.“Good to know.”
“Now that I have actuallyseenyou, the smile will be a little brighter.”
He kept hold of her hand, and they listened to Krys describe the first time she met Iscorabella.They were at an event, had performed mirror dancing, and when they were cooling down afterward, they showed their extras.The fairy wings had so excited Iscorabella, I didn’t even notice her horns for a minute or that she had sprouted eight inches.She was hopping up and down and clapping.”She chuckled.“Quite frankly, I think Reynal had the same reaction, but he hid his giggling better.”
They shared stories, ordered takeout, and got comfortable as other members of the dance group came in to wait.Until she semi-retired, Iscorabella had been to every performance as her cute little human self.
