Page 37 of Shadowing Bright
“Vaia.”
Emmers nodded and walked with her to the vehicle.He got the computer going and smiled.“Vaia is with her husband.Hura was injured, but the...oh...king of the shadow monsters came and got her, removing the sword that was in her ribs and starting the healing process.”
“Whoa.Okay.So, the ladies are having a busy night.”
“The king is Reymark’s uncle, so I am guessing that Hura definitely is.”
“Even with the chest wound?”
“That might slow him down a bit.”Emmers smiled.“The attackers have been wrapped up, and transport is taking them in for processing.Would you care to join us on break?”
“Sure.Burning out my esophagus seems like a capper to the evening.”
He grinned, showing a lot of teeth.“Meet you there in fifteen.”
She nodded and headed back toward the crowd, blushing as he lifted the tape for her.Amy darted to her car and eased away from the curb, avoiding all the onlookers as she turned and headed back into the heart of the city.
She parked in the lot and got in line at the taco truck.She didn’t even ask where they went on break.It was always the taco truck.
She had just ordered her burritos and tacos in stiff goblin, but the counter girl grinned and took her order.
She stood to one side with the others, and by the time the team pulled up, she had her goodies and lemonade in hand with extra sauce packets as she walked over to where the tables were filling up.Amy claimed her spot and watched Kairek laugh and shove Emmers toward her.
She laughed and watched the lumbering agent make his way to the table.He crouched next to her, and she set the burrito down.He touched her chin and kissed her.“Hi.Thanks for joining us.”
She looked at him with narrowed eyes.“Don’t you need to get in line?”
“Kairek is ordering for me.”
“Sure, trust the guy who already has fire coming out of every orifice.”
“He won’t do anything.We share a vehicle and have a lot of time left tonight.He won’t take the chance.”
She giggled as he sat across from her.She was halfway through her burrito before she muttered, “Perv.Sometimes a burrito is just a burrito.”
He laughed.“It is more that you are holding it so carefully with both hands.”
She paused.She looked at him.Shrugged.Kept eating.
He grinned and presented a milkshake.“You didn’t ask.”
“Nope.Is there a shop in the northern reaches somewhere where clients are constantly having their milkshakes disappear?”
He grinned.“Nothing like that.It is one of the few direct magics I could do, and I started doing it when I was a hungry teen.So, milkshakes.”He shrugged.“A lot of calories, cream, and sugar.What’s not to like?”
She smiled.“It is really good.”
He beamed.
She continued her meal and was on to the tacos when the other two arrived with their meals and his.
Emmers smiled, and she had to ask.“I never asked, why did you leave home?”
He chuckled.“There was a bit of a fight, and Grandma told me to go and cool off, so she sent me to Redbird, and here I have been.She’s offered to have me back, but I like it here.”He finished dousing a taco in hot sauce.“I like it here a lot more recently.”
She snorted, and Kairek grinned.“And you are a new dad to a ten-year-old.How are you dealing with that?”
He was glowing with happiness.“I am getting used to the idea.Our family is coming into town at the end of the month.They are very eager to meet Jerrik and Iris.”
