Page 10 of I Dated a Holiday Hero
“Patron... you are with the BDC?” Torenne’s eyes were wide.
“Yeah, it seemed the best way to socialize without Mom catching on.”
“Did you?”
“Socialize? Yeah. There are always alphas searching for an omega in heat.”
Torenne blinked. “And have you?”
“No, not in heat. Not a risk I want to take. Getting a knot now and then was as much as I engaged in.”
The good doctor was sweating a little.
“Sorry. Too much? Overshare?”
“It is hard to overlap you with the kid who used to dance in front of the microwave as she waited for popcorn.”
“I still do that.” She smiled. “Your face says there is something else on that tablet.”
“Have you noticed your bones aching and your body being easy to break?”
“A little. Why?”
“You have lost a ton of calcium, but it isn’t a natural reduction. It’s like your body has been washed in acid from the inside out.”
“Oh. We had an accident in R&D. A chemical spill. It was about eighteen months ago.”
“What kind of treatment did you get?”
“Standard. My blood and lungs were checked, found to be fine, and then sent on my way.”
“You have nanites in your body. Trackers, and they are taking you apart.”
“That would explain the broken pinkie toe.”
“What?”
“I broke my pinkie toe on my left foot about four months ago, and it won’t heal.” She shrugged.
“How did you break it?”
“Desmond dropped a chunk of metal.”
“And how did the chemical spill happen?”
“I was under one of the rovers, and Desmond cried out before my legs were covered in one of the experimental oozes we deal with.”
“Who was at your house before you were taken?”
Hever started crying before she could say it. Her Mom rushed in and held her while Torenne went to speak to Zera about asking Desmond a few questions.
Torenne returned. “Kritz is coming with some nanites to kill the ones in your system.”
Hever looked at her mom. “I can do it if Mom will look away.”
“I don’t look away, baby.”
Torenne nodded. “Please. Go ahead.”
