Page 73 of Shadowing Bright
Amy asked, “Cake topper?”
“Oh, leave that to me.”Krys smiled.Her phone chirped.“And chairs and tables have been acquired.So, food, tables, chairs.Linen colour?”
Vaia smiled.“I think Azreen wants it in his colours.Gold and black.Or maybe blue.”
Krys chuckled.“Where is he?”
“Talking to Benko next to the mantelpiece.I think they are trying to figure a way to disguise it.”
Krys looked at both of the men, who were looking concerned about the very graphic stonework.She flicked her finger, and the carvings turned to leaves and oaks.“There.Settled.I can lock the appearance into an object, and you can keep it anywhere in the house you like, turning it off and on.”
Azreen paused.“Thank you.If we are using this as a public space, it is better to have all contingencies covered.”
“I agree.I can hold the illusion on the day, but I have an important question for you: do you have a preference for linen colours?”
“No.Did you get our invite lists?”
“Yes.They are being processed right now.”She smiled.The app she had designed was confirming addresses and creating elegant invitations.“I will have a mock-up for you in about thirty minutes.You can alter anything then.”
Azreen grinned.“My mother will think you are interesting.”
“I am fucking fascinating.Now, back to Vaia.”She swanned out and back to where the ladies were talking.“So, did you get a hold of your aunt?”
Vaia grinned.“I did.She’s coming with her husband and one of her kids.”
“Oh, excellent.”She smiled.“Glad that worked out.”
“So, you knew who I was talking about when I said Aunt Sophy.I could never find her online.”
Krys smiled.“Her name has a weird spelling.It wouldn’t show up in a search.”
“Yeah, but how didyouknow that?”
Krys pulled out her business card and held it up.“What’s Sofi’s kid’s name?”
“The one she’s bringing?Chrysalis.Krys-Alys.Oh.My.God.You?”
Krys grinned.“Hey, cuz.”Krys stood still as shadows grabbed her and pulled her in for a hug.Krys smiled as Vaia hugged her close, but when she showed no signs of stopping, light began to trickle out of her, and Vaia’s shadows flinched.
The seamstress and psychic vampire sniffled.“Sorry.I got carried away.”
“Well, the Depfords didn’t want you to meet me.One of us would have been a bad influence, and even though I am five years younger, I would tend to agree it would have been me.”
Amy chuckled.“I saw her in action tonight.I would agree.”
Krys grinned.
Vaia blinked.“What did I miss?”
“A size twelve frost fairy.”Krys snickered.
Vaia laughed softly.“That surprises me the least.Wait, why didn’t you tell me you were my cousin?”
“Oh, you didn’t remember me as particularly helpful, but you did remember my mom, so that was the starting place.She’s so chill.She and Dad are the most relaxed wolves that I have ever seen.”
“I thought she was a mage.”
“She is.She is a shapeshifting mage, so she spends minimal time as a wolf, but it was enough to get me started.She flipped her tail at another wolf one too many times.”
