Page 45 of I Dated a Holiday Hero
She winced. “Very. He also knows you are big on proof.”
“I want you to come home with me.”
“No. It isn’t safe. I am safe here. You can visit as you like, but I am not going to be anywhere your family is. I am less and less able to defend myself. I am not putting myself into a position where I am unwieldy and they will attack. They had started with tripping me and salting my food, but they have had time to think on it.”
“Yes, I saw it. Will you be all right here if I go for a few days?”
She laughed. “Of course. Why?”
“I need to speak to the prefect.”
“Right. Well, have a nice day. I will let you know when I deliver.”
He chuckled. “He will also let me know when he is here.”
Romar leaned in to kiss her, but she backed up. He wasn’t going to weaken her resolve. “No. You lost that right when you didn’t tell me you had a fiancée. I don’t tread where others will walk, and you made me into a mistress instead of a lover. I don’t know if I will ever forgive you for that.”
He frowned, and his shadows flickered. “I understand. Please excuse me.”
He left, and she walked out after him with a practiced, calm expression.
He nodded, and Sgoth led him out of the building.
Cloud walked to her desk and wrote the session notes.
Zera sat near her. “So, the dream master is the baby’s father?”
“Yes. He neglected to tell me that he was engaged at the time, so I came to Aksalla, and now I make it my home.” She chuckled. “My sister works in the building, after all.”
“Sister? Who?”
Cloud looked away from her notes. “Keera. You knew that, didn’t you?”
“Uh, no. Or maybe I did. Things get blurry around you. So, he lied to you?”
“He thinks of it as a simple omission. I consider it a betrayal.”
“Ouch. So, what’s your schedule like?”
“I have next week off. I am going to see some family for the first time.”
“Does the dream master know?”
“Nope. None of his business.” She glanced at Zera. “I have done a long-range analysis of Hever and Krix. They are both stable for a date, and you can allow them to do it without the masks.”
“Why? There will be an emotional tie.”
“Those two are so knitted to each other, it isn’t funny. He was just starting with eagerness and no education. Things weren’t as good as he could get them. Sgoth helped him do research, and I believe things will be better now.”
“How did you do that?”
“Oh, I went through Keera and got to Hever. She’s easy to check, and she is very attached to Krix. Outside of a heat, I don’t think she would even consider another alpha. And once they have actually bonded, they are going to lock in and be steady. I think they will make really cute kids.”
Zera snorted. “That isn’t a huge concern.”
“It is very much on my mind right now. Keera and Worro are cuddling their brains out today, and I can see all kinds of plans in your mind for Veradil. She has a suitor?”
“Yes. I had no idea that you could read surface thoughts.”
