Page 6 of I Dated a Holiday Hero
“Most of those were guns or claws. Salat and Khytten arrived first.”
He began levitation and pulled her hood up more securely. “Let’s get you home. Exhale.”
She started a slow exhale as the air boomed behind them. The world blurred beneath them, and they were soon over Aksalla. She pointed. “Toward the lane where the prefect’s house is. It’s the building with the blue and black roof.”
He got into flight lanes and settled in the yard with several guards pointing weapons at him. Hever fought her way out of the hood, and her mother bolted from the house. “Hever!”
Hever said, “Put me down, please.”
He nodded and set her on her feet. She walked to her mother and was wrapped in a hug. “Oh, baby, you are never leaving my sight again.”
Hever sighed. “I am. I have to get a new com anyway. This one cracked when I blew up. Oh, Mom, this is Krix. He’s Sarathoan, was my patron, and helped get me out. The others were clearing the base, and then they would head home.”
She turned to Krix. “Krix, this is my mother, Ambassador Veradil. Getting people around the world to kiss Aksalla’s butt for the last two and a half decades.”
He looked at her dark-haired mother in astonishment. He bowed low. “Ambassador, I remember you as taller. You had that little active at your side.”
Veradil chuckled. “She got taller.”
Hever nodded. “Yup. She fed me every day.”
Krix blinked. “But the little active was covered with black and rainbow scales.”
Hever shrugged. “I found that looking human helps people get along with me. I do have some silver scales for fun on occasions, though.”
He stared at her. “I thought you were some sort of pet.”
She snorted. “Right. You are having some big feelings now. Thanks for participating in the rescue.”
He smiled. “Don’t think this is the last communication between us, Fifty-Five. I just need to check a few things.”
She nodded and looked at her mother. An arm was wrapped around her, and they made their way into the home.
Her mother murmured, “Let’s get you bathed and checked out at the hospital, and then we are going to discuss the fact that Krix is about as Sarathoan as I am. He’s Sethir-Nin through and through.”
“Yes, Mom. I know. But I have to keep the illusion of belief, just like he didn’t know I have scales and used to have wings.” Hever snorted. “Like you always said, I have to leave some mystery for the wedding night, even if it never happens.”
She showered and got the blood off then let her mother come in to assess the damage that hadn’t been worth emergency treatment.
When she was dressed for the weather and wearing a coat, her mother got her into the car, and their driver took them to the hospital for a full workup. Veradil held her hand the whole way, and Hever’s recently damaged fingers felt the pinch.
Her mother pressed her forehead to Hever’s shoulder. “I swear, I am going to wipe out anyone who had a hand in this.”
“Mom. You are not. Besides, I am pretty sure all the cousins did the job for you. Khytten got some exercise, too.”
Veradil smiled. “That’s a good thing.”
“Yes, but it’s going to be super embarrassing at the family gathering.”
“Khytten was kidnapped early in her relationship with Salat as well.”
“This is not for romance. Krix has his own agenda and preferences, and he was rather single-minded about them. I was about to ask Zera to remove him from my roster.”
“He came to rescue you.”
“So did all my cousins. That doesn’t mean I am going to sleep with them.”
Her mother snorted. “Not funny, Hev.”
