Page 70 of Shadowing Bright
The wings fluttered, and she rose and looked Normic in the eye.“So, Uncle.What do you think?Can I continue to go about the matter of taking the jobs that I have been given by the mayor, or do you want to explain that someone he didn’t pick is a better fit for his expectations?Someone who doesn’t understand the needs of the variety of races that this city offers?Derek is a racist disaster when it comes to working with the undead or night creatures.He hates certain foods and won’t include them in end-of-night buffets.A little organ meat could fix so many things.”She shook her head and kept fluttering.
Normic said, “But you know all of these things?”
“Sure.I learned it when I started working at the XIA.”
“You work at the XIA?”His voice was weak.
“Yes.You had to sign an authorization.It was a few years ago.I work there part-time, in marketing and PR.”She continued to flutter.
Amy saw someone standing and approaching Krys.She opened her mouth, but Krys shook her head.Amy watched the guy stretch out his hand to grab a wing, and when he closed his fingers around it, he started screaming a moment later and let go.
Krys smiled.“Frostbite.He also won’t be able to shift for two weeks.Serves you right, Derek.”
Normic blinked.“It’s a shift lock?”
“Yup.His leopard ass is going to have to wait it out.I don’t take grabbing from any species, let alone my own people.They should know better.”
There was a murmur from the folks who were staring at the pixie in jeans.
“So, clan leader.Will you promise to keep members of your gathering from interfering with commerce?It’s really illegal to do that.I mean, I have been commissioned by the mayor’s office to orchestrate a minimum of three weddings in the next twelve months.That isn’t something you want to mess with.”
There was a woman in the crowd who said, “Sure, they chose you.”
Krys held up her phone and tapped the speaker.“Did you hear that?”
The mayor’s deep voice boomed out.“Normic, I was going to call you this evening.Kris-Alis Bright has a skill and an intuition for dealing with people, and as such, we have chosen her as the event planner for the Grunwald mansion.She gets along with the leaseholders and the other occupants of the property.That is not a balance you want to mess with.I am sure you don’t want a dragon letting it be known that you are restricting commerce.I want none of your folk interfering either.I have heard about some of the nefarious schemes that folks pull around weddings.Leonora has delighted in telling me.Perhaps I will eventually make an honest woman out of her.”
“Uh, of course, Mayor Matthias.She will be free to work in any capacity you wish.No interference from any of my people.”His voice was stern on the last sentence.“But, Krys?She’s a little...”
Matthias said, “Flighty?Yes, I know.Her extranatural situation is listed in my office.She’s impressive.Manifestations from both mother’s and father’s sides, as well as some whatthehells in the middle.She’s an impressive nut job.”
Krys was grinning and did a slow twirl.
Amy laughed behind her hand.
Normic was trying to hold a straight face, but he smiled.“Thank you for bringing this to my attention.I will make sure she is free to chase her crazy wherever it leads.”
Amy saw the couple in the back, who clung to each other in relief.Krys’s parents.
Matthias sighed.“Thank you.I would have hated to sic my assistant on you.She’s attached to Krys somewhat fiercely.Frighteningly actually.Well, good evening.Krys, see you Saturday.The wedding had better be all that was promised.Wait.How the hell did you do that?”
Krys giggled and hung up.“A girl needs her mysteries.”
Amy asked, “What did you do?”
She smiled and lifted her head up.Giant, glittering snowflakes made their way from the ceiling to the floor, where they disappeared.“I did that.”
Normic blinked.“You threw an illusion...from this distance?”
“Sure.Can’t everybody?”She fluttered her lashes.“Right, so are we good?Any other clan business?”
“Take a seat, Krys.Wherever you like.”Normic rubbed the back of his neck.“Right.Well, that is Krys delt with.”
She grinned and resumed her dark hair and dark eyes, the sparkles and wings nowhere to be seen.She went to sit with her parents.
The two hundred participants laughed, but it wasn’t unkind.
“Right.Well, the city has asked us to organize the winter festival again.Any interested parties should contact me.Once we have a council grouping, we will bring the plan to the mayor’s office.So, everybody, get thinking of ways to depict winter without freezing people to death.That’s it.Have a good evening.”
