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One of the pixies rubbed the side of her neck and tried to look innocent.
Ida muttered, “Just tell her already. She could hear the difference in her voice.”
“Uh, it was my aunt. Ida told me that Abeline had been in a car accident, and the backup had gone out of town, so I called my aunt. She used to read me the story when I was little, so she came. She was really good, wasn’t she?” The green pixie looked eager.
Ruby smiled. “Yes, she was really good. Can she finish this season?”
Green blinked. “Really? Are you sure? She’s really shy and doesn’t like being stared at.”
“We can deal with that. There’s a hood on the narrator’s costume, right? She can just wear it up.”
Green cleared her throat. “This time of year, she needs more square footage.”
Ruby grinned. “How much?”
“Uh...” She walked up to Ruby and said, “An inch taller than you, and the hood has to be super light, or it hurts her ears.”
Rayden tensed and said, “You have got to be kidding.”
Ruby looked up at him. “You heard her. What did you think those undernotes were?”
He blinked. “I know one dark Elite who’s into music. He’s touring in Asia right now.”
The other dark Elite shook his head. “Nope. He’s coming in for the final performances with some of his relatives. Distant relatives but relatives nonetheless.”
Ruby asked Green, “Why doesn’t your aunt like being seen?”
Green swallowed. “That form has a scar. She hates it, but she needed it for the voice.”
Ruby made a sound of commiseration, but Rayden was stiff.
Rayden asked, “Is she near thirty?”
Green blinked. “Yeah. She’s eight years older than me. She’ll be thirty this year. How did you know?”
“It’s a long story. But, if she is who I think, your aunt is an incredibly strong woman. She is also the reason that so many Elite omegas are gathering here. She’s the beacon.” Rayden held Ruby close. “The Elite think she’s dead.”
Green nodded. “She said that the Elite part of her needs to stay dead, or she isn’t safe, but I knew her voice would be magic. We can’t have R. Lest in the production and not have the best voice we can guiding folks through it.”
Rayden said, “She’s coming back?”
Green nodded. “She will be here until a replacement can be found.”
Ruby blinked and looked at the coach. “I don’t want a replacement. She’s the voice of the fairy tale.”
Coach nodded. “She won’t be replaced. I was crying while she was reading. It was amazing.”
* * * *
From the corner of the backstage area, Meira smiled and pulled her sweatshirt hood forward. She couldn’t hide the slow trickle of energy that leaked out of the slash mark that had been left on her face.
She had survived the Elite’s attempt to abduct her, but her mate had rejected her damaged form. He required a perfect mate. An ideal match. She wasn’t either. That had been years ago, and now, she was content with her life. Her position as an art teacher in a private school paid the bills, and as none of the dark Elite were nearby, she wasn’t triggered into the form she was currently stuck in. Every year, she changed in the week before winter solstice, and she was able to look like a beta at New Year’s. The same cycle for the last twelve years.
Meira walked up to the food trucks and got some snacks and sliders along with hot cocoa. She sat down and ate, joined by Genevieve with her face scrubbed clean but her hair still decorated with tinsel and decorations.
“You were great today, Genny.”
“Auntie, how much did you hear?”
