Page 2 of I Dated a Holiday Hero (Blind Date Corporation #19)

Krix stepped forward. “I will fly you home.”

“Um, I am not really dressed for it. I am sorry, but thermal shock isn’t my idea of fun.”

He chuckled, touched a chair, and held a thick cloak out to her. “Would this help?”

Torenne looked at him. “Are you able to keep up with fliers?”

“I am.”

“Good. We are heading to the ambassador’s home.”

Krix blinked. “Ambassador?”

Hever got to her feet, and Krix wrapped her in the cloak, easing the hood over her bloody hair. “My mother. I grew up at different embassies around the world.”

He nodded. “That would explain the ease with which you speak Sethir.”

“It would explain it.”

He bent and picked her up, holding her carefully.

Torenne led the way through the rescuers, and she nodded to her cousins, Ekron and Salat and Khytten.

Other cousins came forward with smiles as they looked between Krix and her. She was too tired to explain the situation.

The blood that covered her face and hands was enough to keep them from openly mocking her.

Krix walked outside, where bodies littered the ground. “Your family does not pull punches.”

“Most of those were guns or claws. Salat and Khytten arrived first.”

He began levitation and pulled her hood up more securely. “Let’s get you home. Exhale.”

She started a slow exhale as the air boomed behind them. The world blurred beneath them, and they were soon over Aksalla. She pointed. “Toward the lane where the prefect’s house is. It’s the building with the blue and black roof.”

He got into flight lanes and settled in the yard with several guards pointing weapons at him. Hever fought her way out of the hood, and her mother bolted from the house. “Hever!”

Hever said, “Put me down, please.”

He nodded and set her on her feet. She walked to her mother and was wrapped in a hug. “Oh, baby, you are never leaving my sight again.”

Hever sighed. “I am. I have to get a new com anyway. This one cracked when I blew up. Oh, Mom, this is Krix. He’s Sarathoan, was my patron, and helped get me out. The others were clearing the base, and then they would head home.”

She turned to Krix. “Krix, this is my mother, Ambassador Veradil. Getting people around the world to kiss Aksalla’s butt for the last two and a half decades.”

He looked at her dark-haired mother in astonishment. He bowed low. “Ambassador, I remember you as taller. You had that little active at your side.”

Veradil chuckled. “She got taller.”

Hever nodded. “Yup. She fed me every day.”

Krix blinked. “But the little active was covered with black and rainbow scales.”

Hever shrugged. “I found that looking human helps people get along with me. I do have some silver scales for fun on occasions, though.”

He stared at her. “I thought you were some sort of pet.”

She snorted. “Right. You are having some big feelings now. Thanks for participating in the rescue.”

He smiled. “Don’t think this is the last communication between us, Fifty-Five. I just need to check a few things.”

She nodded and looked at her mother. An arm was wrapped around her, and they made their way into the home.

Her mother murmured, “Let’s get you bathed and checked out at the hospital, and then we are going to discuss the fact that Krix is about as Sarathoan as I am. He’s Sethir-Nin through and through.”

“Yes, Mom. I know. But I have to keep the illusion of belief, just like he didn’t know I have scales and used to have wings.” Hever snorted. “Like you always said, I have to leave some mystery for the wedding night, even if it never happens.”

She showered and got the blood off then let her mother come in to assess the damage that hadn’t been worth emergency treatment.

When she was dressed for the weather and wearing a coat, her mother got her into the car, and their driver took them to the hospital for a full workup. Veradil held her hand the whole way, and Hever’s recently damaged fingers felt the pinch.

Her mother pressed her forehead to Hever’s shoulder. “I swear, I am going to wipe out anyone who had a hand in this.”

“Mom. You are not. Besides, I am pretty sure all the cousins did the job for you. Khytten got some exercise, too.”

Veradil smiled. “That’s a good thing.”

“Yes, but it’s going to be super embarrassing at the family gathering.”

“Khytten was kidnapped early in her relationship with Salat as well.”

“This is not for romance. Krix has his own agenda and preferences, and he was rather single-minded about them. I was about to ask Zera to remove him from my roster.”

“He came to rescue you.”

“So did all my cousins. That doesn’t mean I am going to sleep with them.”

Her mother snorted. “Not funny, Hev.”

“Yes, I know, but my interactions with him have been based on a lie. This isn’t my face. We had it changed to match it. Did you know that my full sibling works for Z-Corp?”

Her mother was stunned. “What?”

“They threw me away, and you found me. They kept her until she broke out and ran with other projects.” She chuckled. “She’s not in my department, but I recognize my old face.”

“It’s a good thing no one else does. Is she happy?”

“She has an alpha and an omega of her own. She’s also very pregnant, so I sent her a present for the baby.”

“Does she know it’s you?”

“She might remember my scent. I left it in the basket.”

“Ah. You miss her.”

“I kept her alive for her first four years. After that, they cut my wings off and tossed me away. Then you found me.”

“We are still looking for those wings.”

She squeezed her mother’s hand. “I know. I am trying to be whole with what I have.”

“You are still my little girl, wings or no wings.” Her mother squeezed her hand in return.

“I do wonder where they ended up.”

“Are you sure they still exist?”

“Oh, yeah. They are as hard to kill as I am when I am wearing scales.”

“You didn’t shift at all during this?”

“Nope. I haven’t shifted in three years.”

Veradil laughed. “That stupid video of Ekron’s.”

“That would be it.”

“I still can’t believe you did that.”

“It was fun, and I was in silhouette. No one knew it was me.”

“Ekron knew.”

“And he was sworn to secrecy, as was Evali. They haven’t told anyone as far as I know.”

Veradil snorted. “Only because Iron made sure that his wife and son knew how serious he was about it.”

“It is odd you call your brother by his call sign.”

Veradil laughed. “And my sister, but she has been the prefect long enough for me to remember Salmet.”

They approached the hospital, and Torenne was there and waiting. Hever mumbled, “You called ahead?”

“Yes, of course. Torenne treats all our family.” Veradil snorted. “Please tell me you outgrew your crush.”

“Nope. Not at all.” She sighed, and when the driver opened the door, she slid herself out and stood, only wobbling slightly. Mom insisted on dressing properly, which meant heels.

She staggered toward the doors, and Torenne was there, holding her arm.

“Hever, I thought you were good.”

“Yeah, well, it was good enough to get me home without barfing up a lung, so thanks for that.”

Her heart was pounding, and she gritted her teeth.

“Geez, Hever, you seem tense.”

“Yeah, you are swift as always, Torenne.” She leaned on the good doctor, and her mother came to the other side.

“Hello, Doctor. Perhaps a chair for her?”

Dr. Torenne nodded to one of the attendants, and Hever was put into her custody.

“I am still stuck to X-ray only, Doc. No magnetics.”

“Got it.”

“Don’t drive like a maniac, Torenne,” her mother muttered.

“No, Auntie. I will treat her like glass.”

Hever covered her face with one hand. Her mother didn’t approve of Torenne, and it had more to do with her hanging out with thugs and criminals than her activation.

As they headed to radiology, she knew that it was a one-sided thing. Torenne had a specific type, and Hever wasn’t anywhere near it. Torenne had just been endlessly accepting of the new family member. She had made Hever feel safe.

She got to X-ray and settled in for a full-body scan. It was the continuation of a very long day.