Page 69 of Battling Bright
Neekil nodded.“Yup.If she hadn’t been in recovery and physio, there would have been a lot of investigation based on what they saw on her body cam.She was a monster.It was fabulous.I was so proud.”
Azreen nodded.“Sounds like her.Wait, you said she’s pregnant?That is going to be one well-defended baby.”
Neekil looked at him.“It’s a girl.”
“Oh, shit.Well, I guess we start a girly fund for her now.Wait.Who’s the dad?Where’s the dad?”Azreen frowned.
“She said that she went to a place called the club and came out with a passenger.”
Azreen blinked.“Oh, did she mention whose club?”
“A kitsune?”
He nodded and said, “How pregnant is she?”
“Three months.That’s also when they moved back into town.”
Azreen nodded and took his phone to another room.
* * * *
Vaia blinked.“Wait.Elida Danforth?She’s one of my customers.She said something about not being able to shift now, but she had hopes for next year.”
Her phone went off, and she checked it.“Apparently, five women are cleaning out my shop with a credit card that can take the hit.One of them needs alterations.”
Hannah nodded.“That would be Elida.She said she was a tricky fit.”
Vaia nodded.“Her waist is teeny.If she’s pregnant, the alterations should just be for one dress.”Her phone beeped again.“Oh, shit.Thatdress.Where did Azreen go?”
* * * *
Azreen got off thecall and blinked.“Of course.Figures.The moon called to the stars.”
He returned to the kitchen, where Vaia was looking at him.“I have to alter a dress today.Min wanted to, but she took a look at the detail and had an aneurysm.She’s having Elida bring it by.Is that okay?”
He shrugged.“That is your joy and passion.If the dress is for Elida, I can see the tension.”
Neekil nodded.“Yeah.She’s...complicated.”
Azreen asked, “Have you ever been to Arutrus?”
“No.Their queen was highly predatory for hot fellas like me.I steered clear.”Neekil grinned.“Why?”
“Because that is where Elida and her daughters were hiding.I just talked to King Amori, and he checked the records of the club.That is where Elida picked up the next generation.That isn’t supposed to happen.”
Neekil raised his brows.“I thought that it was definitely supposed to happen at the club.Just because I haven’t gone doesn’t mean I don’t know about it.”
“Not sex.Pregnancy.That place is enchanted to the baseboards.”Azreen looked at Vaia’s arched brow.“Or so Amori has told me.”
Vaia snorted.
A feminine voice said softly, “But the charm at the doorway numbs your memory.It keeps you from grasping the details.Neekil, have you been being nosey?”
Neekil pointed toward Azreen.“He did it.”
Vaia walked over.“Elida, I presume?”
“Yup.Congratulations on finally putting Azreen out of his misery.He was despondent when the woman who would light his days was strapped to him without either one of you having time to form an attachment.”
