Page 30 of Patchwork Pixie

“Because she wouldn’t listen to what I told her about Tanner. Fuck!”

“So, you warned her?”

“Of course. She laughed and said I was just trying to keep him to myself. I told her to do whatever she wanted but be careful what she wished for.” She paused. “Can I countersue for the gown? It got all bloody and semeny.”

His eyes went wide. “We could do that. How much was the dress?”

“Sixty-five thousand.”

He whistled softly. “You have proof?”

She got his email and sent him a copy of the invoice.

“It’s covered in diamonds?”

“Yeah. Little ones, but still, there was a whole bunch of them. Tanner picked it to show off. Don’t worry. The money was mine.”

She was urged to sit, and Mr. Kensington sat behind her and put his hands on her shoulders. She was tired enough that the heat of his hands felt nice.

She tilted her head back and asked, “Am I paying your hourly for the backrub? I am willing to pay it, but I just want to know.”

He grinned. “No charge. One of ours is in the contract department. If you need it put in writing, I am sure that Dante can oblige.”

“No. I am good. I just wanted things in the open.”

Mr. Mayfield asked, “Can you tell me about your life before you got the compulsion?”

“I was a normal eleven-year-old until my appearance changed. It wasn’t gradual, you know. I was just playing at recess at school, and then my friends were screaming and calling for the teacher. My parents were called to the school, but someone had also called the Stronghold. One of them grabbed me, and I bit him. I tore a chunk out of his hand and screamed bloody murder when they tried to confine me. That is when three grown alpha Elite grabbed me and held me still so the fourth could put that obedience block in place. My mom made them agree to pick me up the following day, and she took me home to get my favourite stuffed animals and clothes, and my dad took the car out without us in it. He parked it a few blocks away while telling the Elite watching that he had to take it to the shop. My baby sister was at home, and I sat on the bed and hugged her. That was when I learned I could reverse my appearance.” She smiled. “I copied Emmy.”

She inhaled. “Well, Mom was super excited, and she took me by the hand, telling me not to speak. She took me out the back door, and we walked across the field and to the car that my dad had stashed. We got in, and she called Leon and begged him to take me in. He talked to his pack, and they agreed as long as I was minimally invasive to their lifestyles.”

She looked at the lawyer, who was recording her statement. “I learned later that Leon had just miscarried a baby girl. He had been devastated, and my asshole cousin told me that I could never replace his lost sister.” She sighed again. “I just didn’t want to be hunted. So, I spent hours the first few months begging my mom to take me home, begging my dad to come get me, and they couldn’t. The Elite were looking for me in every town and city between home and here. So, I went to school, caused as little trouble as I could, and didn’t ask for anything that wasn’t completely necessary. Finally, I left the pack house and went to school, and from there, I was on my own. Then I got the job, and Dane came up to me at a work party and introduced me to Tanner.”

Mr. Kensington growled. “I would like to chat with your cousin.”

“What is that growling thing? It happened on the ice while dancing with one of the pixies.”

Mr. Mayfield smiled. “When the dark Elite find their mates, they get very protective and aggressive to other males until she acknowledges them.”

“Ah. What constitutes acknowledgement?” She looked up at the man looming over her.

Mr. Kensington chuckled. “A kiss will do in your case.”

She nodded. “Understood.”

She looked back at Mr. Mayfield. “Anything else?”

“Did you ever encourage him? I am sorry, I have to ask.”

“Just the first time. I wanted to get sex over with, so when he was done, I focused on healing. Every time. Predominantly, he engaged on Fridays, so I had the weekend to heal. I can only prove the last twelve when I had the recordings. The other ones I just detailed in my journal.”

“Do you have your journal?”

“It’s at my condo.”

“Can you give me your key?”

“Currently, it’s the only key. I rekeyed the electric lock when I left that night. They could leave, but they couldn’t return.”

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