His skin darkened.“I would call it enhanced cuddling.”
She snorted, and Ithal said, “I wrote that on the calendar.”
Alody blushed.“Oh, dear.Can I get a copy of that?”
“No!It’s a surprise.”Ithal giggled and then gasped.“Sgoth and Ekron are waiting outside a transport!No way!”
Alody grinned.“And just like that, he’s a normal eight-year-old again.”
Eskin snickered.“Okay, Ithal.Let’s go.”
Alody sighed.“You are going to have to allocate about fifteen minutes to him quizzing Sgoth on all the shapes he can take.”
“Sgoth likes kids.He and Jeneev have a whole plan for a houseful.”
Alody focused and touched Jenaki’s mind.He would stay with Diena.She was safe.
She pulled her mind in, nodded, and smiled.“Okay.Let’s move me into my daughter’s house.”
Eskin nodded.“A suitable first date activity.”
She narrowed her eyes at him.“Shut up.”
He grinned.They left Diena’s home and went to pack their essentials.Apparently, they were getting a family home.
The transport had a lot of room, and Ithal spent the entire drive pelting Sgoth with questions about shapeshifting.
Alody looked at Eskin, and Ekron drove them to her home.He hadn’t asked for the address.
She sat back and pinched the bridge of her nose.“I had forgotten how annoying team members were.You would think I would have remembered after chatting with Torun, but no, I purged it from my mind.”
Eskin chuckled.“You might want to get used to it.Some of them are special professors, and we will need to consult at quarterly meetings when planning the curriculum.”
Alody blushed.He was speaking like they were going to be together at meetings.“If I end up at the academy, how will Drin get her dresses?”
Ekron swayed.“Wait.What?Can’t you do both?”
She laughed.“I don’t have access to the fabrics or equipment.Sorry.Morthiwel’s going to have to find a replacement if the academy comes through.”
Ithal cackled.“So you are going to be a professor.”
“Not sure, Ithal.I have been an instructor before, and my students were annoying.”She glanced at Eskin.“Very annoying.”
Ekron asked over his shoulder, “Did you really babysit Salat?”
“And Dr.Torenne.They were shorter then but still cute, and they stuck to each other like glue.”
“So you have met Salmet.”
“I have met most of your extended family, Ekron, including your father.”
The vehicle swayed and steadied.“How well did you know my father?”
She laughed.“Ask him.”
“That is a very loaded question.”
She chuckled.“I know.”
