Page 45 of Battling Bright
He tightened his mouth.“He embarrassed us with that inappropriate union with Krys’s mother.She just showed up one day and demanded to see the timber wolf that could accelerate faster than a sports car.”
Amy snickered and covered her mouth.“Well, start with that.”
“He could have gotten a degree, been the best in his class.He had unlimited potential.”
“But now he’s a business owner, he’s a father, and he’s a husband.”Amy put her hand on his arm.“Also, the child who caused his fall from grace is a bit of a monster.A charming monster, but a monster.”
He sighed and put his arm around her shoulder.“That is true.I will make calls and see if we can’t all have dinner together.”
“Better do it fast.She’s running the most popular venue in town.Images of last night’s wedding are everywhere.The pictures are gorgeous, the event was glorious, and the food was amazing.”
He paused.“Better than here?”
“Uh.Gee, you look so nice today, Dad.”
He snorted.“Of course.Krys can bring out the best in people.”
“In that case, wouldn’t it be better to get her on your side?Maybe helping the lower castes out?Filtering needs and bringing in requests?”
They walked past the hostess, who looked shocky as Stephani sniffled on her way out.Normic paused and stopped her.“Stephani, you haven’t lost your job.Resume once you are calm.Krys pointed out that this was my policy, and I foolishly forgot to change it when she proved that she could wipe us all out with a cold snap until we couldn’t breathe and our lungs froze.”
Stephani blinked.“I didn’t know that.”
Amy nodded.“Yeah.You are lucky she doesn’t like to make a scene, or you would be frozen to the spot where you denied her what she wanted.Don’t worry, though.This place no longer has anything that interests her.She won’t be back.”
Stephani whispered, “But if she gets engaged?”
“She won’t be back.This isn’t a safe place for her, and that was making her defensive urges rise.Reynal was doing his best to distract her, bless him, but the laughter and sneers in the eyes of the surrounding serving staff pointed it out.”
Stephani blinked as understanding dawned.“Oh.So, if I had been a little more nasty...”
“You would have met her beast or Reynal’s right here in the middle of the restaurant.”
“Oh.”
Amy finally understood, and she turned to Normic.“You treat the higher-powered extranaturals better to keep them from acting out.”
He nodded.
“Oh, shit.That stops now, clan leader.”She beamed.“If you have me at your back and Krys agrees to participate, you have two enforcers who know what it’s like to be at the bottom of the heap.We didn’t like it.”
He smiled slightly, and they returned to the table, where Keel and Emmers were concerned over coffee.Amy slid next to her intended, and Normic gave the short version of what had happened.
Amy leaned against Emmers’s shoulder.“It’s a shit show, and now, she won’t come here again.”
Emmers asked, “Why not?”
“Well, to boil it down, she was embarrassed in front of Reynal.”
Normic’s eyes widened.“I forgot about him.”
Amy smiled.“The man who controls the finances of the city?Yeah, not going to send any more business here.He got a better steak at the wedding last night.”
Keel blinked.“Shit.”
“Yeah, so she was lied to by a server on your orders.Not a good look.”
Keel said, “I thought you had briefed everyone, Nor.”
