“It’s called a spine.”She smirked.“So, have you had a chance to absorb the news?”
“I would like to go with you to an appointment to make sure all is well.”
“And get a test to make sure all is yours?No problem.I am going this week if you are in town.”
“I am.Can I get your number?”
She winced.“My purse is at the table.If you give me yours, I will enter it in.”
He unlocked his phone and handed it over.She looked at the planes of his chest, put her number in, and then sent a text to herself.“There.”
“You can display events as you sing?”
“Yes.It’s one of the things I can do.”
“What else can you do?”
“Turn into a tiger that is sixteen feet tall.Well, not now.”She glanced down.
He frowned.“I see.Your daughters...”
“Adopted.Don’t worry.They know.”She smiled.“All at least half-elf of a variety of types.All sold, trafficked, all abused, and all rescued.”
“Oh.Hell.”
“Yup.We all recovered from the rescue together, and then I applied to be their guardian, and then I adopted them.”
“What is Winnie?”
“She’s part coastal elf and part something with tentacles.”
“Ah.Right.That explains it.”
She looked at his white eyes and shrugged.“So, that’s it?”
He smiled.“Would you like to have brunch tomorrow?”
“Brunch?Wow.Renatta’s?”
“Sure.When you get back to your phone, send me information.”
“So, around eleven?”
“Sounds good.How long will the party go tonight?”
“Until dawn, but I won’t be here for it.That is one change I am not fighting.I get tired.”
He wrapped her carefully in his arms.“What do you do in town?”
“Well, I used to be an XIA agent.I am Neekil’s cousin on his mother’s side, and I am an investor and a generally lazy lady recently.”She stood still in his arms and relaxed.“You smell good.”
“As do you.”
“Thanks.”She looked up at him and beamed.“Back to the table.I don’t want to miss dessert.”
He sighed.“I don’t want to let you go.”
“We will have a very civilized brunch tomorrow.”
