Page 16 of Regal Rising

“Ah. Their feeding of me had to be administered by hand, and they forgot. They also forgot to bathe me or allow me normal toilet functions.” Ela grimaced. “They cleaned me when the next client was at the door.”

Win sighed. “But they took hair and blood?”

“They did.”

“So that is how they are drawing your energy. We can stop the draw, but we need a more powerful mage who isn’t Elite. I just happen to know one.”

Win picked up her phone and spoke, “Hey, Wren? Can you come to the new palace? We have a vulnerable victim with an active energy drain who needs help. I can’t do anything unless I shift, and I am not going to do that without making a bloody mess.”

There was murmuring from the other side, and Win smiled. “See you soon.”

She smiled at Ela. “She’s on her way. If you stop the power bleed, it is easier to regain weight.”

“How do I find out about my family and my bastard ex-husband?”

“Oreli can help. She has an unwholesome attachment to the internet.”

Ela nodded. “Sounds like buddy material.”

Win chuckled. “If you like psycho ob-gyns. She’s hooked on delivering more Elite babies than her business partner, Oriel.”

“The name thing must be an issue.”

“Likely, but when you meet her, it is blatantly apparent.” Win nodded. “And you will be meeting her. You likely have issues that Wren is not equipped to handle.”

Ela nodded. “Of course. Is there any food left?”

Rex nodded. “Yes. Ira is out and doing her homework now.”

“How long until Wren arrives?”

Win smiled. “Fifteen minutes. She’s nearby.”

“Good.” Ela made sure she was decent again and said, “I am going looking for more food.”

She left the others talking quietly while Regis was sitting next to her daughter. Ira was frowning and asking a question about designing robots, and Regis was blinking.

Ela smiled, and Pandora got her another plate.

Ela quietly grabbed a napkin and wrote a diagram of what Ira was trying to get Regis to explain. “Like that.”

Mechanism, action, and power source were all identified.

Regis blinked. “You know how to do this?”

Ela lifted a hand above her head and pointed toward it. “Teacher. Science teacher. Took me forever to logic out why I could go invisible.”

Ira smiled. “What was it?”

“Refraction on my skin with a chemical booster that makes people not see me.” Ela started eating. She smiled.

Ira looked at the diagram and grinned. “Mom, can she stay?”

Ela looked to Regis. “I am strong but not violent. I just want a place to rest and heal.”

Ira smiled slyly. “And to help with homework?”

“I can help with homework.” Ela nodded.

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