Page 24 of I Dated a Holiday Hero
Hever had a thought, walked up to Krix, and said, “Thank you. Thank you so much.” She grabbed him by the shoulders and pulled him down for a kiss. He remained stiff for a moment before he wrapped his arms around her, and the kiss took off. She tasted him, tongues duelled, and she held tight until there was a soft clearing of a throat.
“Salmet is wondering where you are,” Veradil said softly.
Hever blushed and backed away. Krix reluctantly let her go.
The other alpha stood smiling. “I believe I am owed a thank you as well.”
“I don’t know you.”
He walked toward her and bowed. “I am a finder of things that fit in my life. It was easy to find your wings, as they were part of you, and you are going to fit into my life.”
“You are very sure of yourself.”
He took one of her hands and kissed the back of her fingers. “Yes. But as the prefect will tell you, it is fucking annoying.”
She smiled. “I hope you like Krix.”
“Why?”
“Because I fly alone.” She stepped back and launched skyward.
She looked back, and the guys blurred and disappeared. Looked like Krix did a standing start. She flew over to her aunt’s place and slowly descended. Salat, Khytten, and the kids were all there, and they all watched her land.
Salmet was there and was grinning. “So, that’s what you were supposed to look like.”
“Take it in, Auntie. I know you always were fond of basic black.”
Salat grinned, and Khytten’s eyes were watery. She let the dark energy run over her before it dissipated, and Salat’s jaw hung open. Hever beamed and settled her wings, hugging the staggering toddlers. She had Cira on her hip when she looked at her auntie. “So, what do you think?”
“You can shift between them?”
“Sure. I can go silver as well, but then the wings don’t lift. I have a lot more dark energy, though.”
Krix and Worro were standing at a distance.
“Would you be willing to try for one of the teams?”
“Nope. I make suits. I made those monstrous cars for Salat and Khytten and then designed the features to put child seats in a battle tank. That is what I do. I am not a hero; I am a maker.”
Salmet smiled. “It’s good that you know it. Right, now, what are these two doing here?”
“Krix and Worro found my wings, and they found the files that had been left behind in the labs.”
“They used paper records?”
Hever nodded. “Yeah, they were super concerned that someone would hack them and rescue us. Luckily for them, that never happened.”
Salmet looked at Worro and grimaced. “It figures that you would be here. Being a seer and finder and heavy-hitter is a stupid mix.”
Worro shrugged. “I am sorry, but it is the mix I had. Your niece is a bit of a blend herself.”
Salmet looked between Hever and Worro. “Oh, you have to be kidding me.”
Hever held her hands up. “I just met him, am under contract to the BDC, and am on suspension. Plus, I have a day job. And it would be Krix rather than him anyway.”
Krix grinned. Worro scowled. Salmet cackled. “Well, Krix, hand over the files. I am eager to see how Hever was made.”
Hever cleared her throat. “Read them when you are on duty, possibly with a genetic specialist and a therapist. What they did to children smaller than Cira here is not pleasant. There was a ten percent survival rate, from what I recall. There was one scientist who understood how to manage it, and when they discovered she was an active, they killed her. That was the end of their success, such as it was.”
