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She leaned back on her hands and swung her feet. You missed behind me, above me, and you get the idea.

Knur shuddered. Are you trying to keep us in?

Yes, but not until my heat. She lifted her right leg straight up, rolled to her left, and brought it down so she dodged him as she slid to the floor.

Knur was shocked. How did you?

She grinned and struck a pose, hand on her hip, other fist in the air. Cheerleader. Now, am I meeting you for lunch or getting picked up?

Zhin laughed. We will pick you up. Or, I will. I think Knur will still be rock hard and facing the counter.

Pandora laughed brightly and walked to the front door at a measured pace.

She got her keys out of her pocket and started her car. It sounded a little rough but nothing untoward.

Humming to herself, she pulled out to the main drive and headed for the gate. Pandora didn t know how the gate opened, but it did. She was on the main road and heading for the city a few moments later.

The sky was lightening as she joined the line of cars heading for downtown. She had two days to get the final costumes done for the event.

The cupcakes were retrieved and delivered. Kay had coffee ready, and there was only part of one costume to finish. Hey, Pandora. How is mated life?

Uh, strange. You did all this by hand? The designs were all together on a rack, and Pandora flipped through them, looking at the exquisite embroidery.

Sure. I grew up doing handwork. Kay smiled.

Where was that?

Kay repositioned the fabric and kept working. A foster home is the best term, I suppose. Some of my father s friends took me in.

I had no idea. Your parents are dead?

Kay quirked her lips as her fingers moved, stitching a gold pattern into black silk. When I went into care, my mother was dead, and my father was unable to care for me. I was taken away and educated as best as my caregivers could. It was pretty thorough.

Why didn t I ask you about this before? Pandora watched the pattern bloom under Kay s fingertips.

You were getting used to living your life, and now you are getting used to the idea of a family. It s good. You should be happy and grow.

How did you know that?

You smell like two alphas. The nature ones have a specific tang to their scents.

You can tell?

Oh, yeah. A weird beta trait of mine.

Something rushed back. What were you doing at the Stronghold?

Holding back the dark mages. Persistent little buggers, but the Elite of the Stronghold called for help, and I went in to stop them from being able to assist. They had no part in what happened. Kay smiled grimly. Their fate will be their own doing.

What are you, Kay? Are you an elf omega?

Elf? Oh, no, Pandora. Not an elf. She laughed.

Pandora stared. Then, what the hell are you?

Kay just started laughing and kept giggling throughout the rest of the morning as she set up the mannequins with the different zodiacs for a photoshoot.

You have the list of who is wearing what?

Pandora had spent the morning making calls, so she had all six of her models and their escorts. I ve got them. How did you get all this finished?

I don t crochet, but I do sew, and my embroidery kicks ass. So, you have twelve costumes, male and female options, plus an emergency set if one of the other teams needs a superhero at the last minute. Kay checked her watch. You had better get changed. Your ride will be here in fifteen minutes.

Oh, shit. Pandora sent a text as she scrambled to the back to get into the flowing black trousers, white shirt, and wide metallic belt. She felt terribly grown up, but she kept the sneakers.

When she was dressed and had silenced her alarm, she walked to the front of the shop and smiled. Come with me, Kay.

No, I couldn t.

Flip the closed sign, lock up, and come with me.

You are going to be having lunch with friends.

You are a friend. Myrtle says we have room at the table, and the boys will be seated on their own.

Kay stared.

That s an order from your boss.

Uh-huh. Right. Well, I will go, but I am taking myself. Omegas are notoriously loose with time, and we have some clients coming in at two.

Who?

Lydia is coming here with Lyric to get her properly outfitted.

Pandora blinked at the familiar names. Right. This is getting rather exciting. We are dressing for the bodies we have, ears and all.

You need to find a reliable piercer. Some small holes in your upper ear could lead to all kinds of fun. Kay grinned and locked up the register. She grabbed her tiny purse and gestured for Pandora to precede her out the door.

Pandora smiled at Zhin as he came to escort her to the car. When she turned, Kay had flipped the sign and locked the door, walking briskly down the street toward the restaurant.

Kay did everything with a purpose, and she was heading to the restaurant and would probably beat them there.

Zhin hugged her and said, Who is that?

That? That s Kay.

Your assistant?

She s a seamstress. She s excellent. Pandora let him guide her into his car.

Knur is meeting us there.

Oh. Great.

He had to discuss something with Teyval, so he went ahead.

She buckled in, and they were on their way to the restaurant, an eight-block drive but four as the crow flies.

When they pulled up, Kay was waiting and looking as unruffled as if she had just gotten out of her car.

Zhin asked, Is that Kay?

It is.

She looks strangely familiar.

Pandora turned to him. Where? Where do you know her from?

Well, she rather looks like you.

What?

Do you have any cousins? Zhin lifted his brows. I am not joking. You two look related.

He got out and walked around to open her door. She put her hand in his, and Knur stepped out of the shadows. He kissed her cheek and escorted her inside. Kay, get in here, Pandora called toward her silent employee.

Yeah, yeah. Kay followed.

Knur paused and turned. I am sorry, miss. I wasn t able to look past my mate.

As it should be.

Zhin held out his hand to her, and on contact, his eyes flicked to Kay s face in surprise. Kay looked at him calmly. Yes, elf?

Nothing, ma am. Nothing at all.

Thought so. She smiled pleasantly and walked inside with him.

Pandora looked at Knur. What just happened? I felt shock and then wonder.

I think your little friend is more than the beta she appears to be.

She said she isn t an elf.

That merely opens the possibilities to an entire universe. Knur grinned.

Wait. What? She looked up at him and then off to Kay.

Kay was already talking with an excited Myrtle. Apparently, a new book had been dropped off at the home of the archive, and Myrtle was excited by the contents. She was gripping Kay s hands and chattering on about dragons and djinn.

Pandora walked in, and Myrtle grabbed hold of her, dragging them both to a table in the back that was flanked by two others. The tables were filled with dark elves, and the ladies had their little spot in the centre. Gia and Ornolf joined them, and everyone settled in for lunch.

Myrtle mumbled, Sorry if I get carried away, but this is such a cool story. Teyval says it s history.

Kay said, Are you sure it isn t just a story?

Well, I am going to tell you all about it, and then you can tell me. Once upon a time, there was an elf princess who was unlike any of her kind before. Myrtle told the story, and Pandora listened.

Food arrived, they ate, and they listened to the story.

And at this point, it leads into the queen s diary. That was horrible, but all of the new talents are in there. They are so strong, and it is so easy to tell who is who based on the descriptions.

Kay nodded. That would make sense.

Myrtle blinked. Why?

Kay finished her dessert. Because they would need you to know that this was foretold so that you would be looking for the women who matched the descriptions and welcomed them. It s a dangerous time to be out on your own.

Pandora understood. And the guys are all linked somehow, so they can send up a flag and get to their mate quickly.

Myrtle snorted. Yeah. A bunch of us have bumped into one and summoned a whole herd.

Kay asked, Are elves a herd or a glammer or a glitter or even a troupe?

Pandora smiled. Good question. Zhin, what would you call it?

Zhin answered, Here, it is a colony.

Thank you, sweetie. She blew him a kiss.

Knur growled, and the others laughed.

Kay blinked. What was that about?

Pandora smiled. I am offering Zhin kisses for simple assists, and Knur is grumpy because we didn t have sex this morning so that my day would be normalish.

Myrtle nodded. That would do it. Even without sex, I have designated cuddle times.

Kay smirked. Well, I am going to thank you for the story and the lunch and get back to work. We have clients coming in half an hour, and Pandora looks settled.

She got to her feet and nodded to Myrtle, Gia, and Pandora. Pandora got up and hugged her, trying to tip her into a shape shift, but nothing.

Kay laughed and said, See you later.

Pandora sat down and drummed her fingers on the table. Myrtle, is there anyone in the queen s book that isn t an Elite?

Well, no one is described as Elite or not. Fog, wraith, the betrayed. That is how we are described. There is the siren, the mother, the forgotten, the runner, warrior. That is as far as I can see now. Some of the names are super vague as well. The dancer, the bard, the creator.

Pandora winced. Must be frustrating.

Yeah, but then Teyval gives me a backrub, and I get back to my work. Myrtle shrugged. I let the plots I can t focus on float away.

Pandora sighed. So, I know I confirmed it, but you are going to walk in the fashion show? It s here downtown, so no long commute.

Myrtle and Gia both nodded. We are doing it.

Pandora clapped her hands. Neat. Sorry. I haven t done anything this big before. I am kinda nervous.

Gia grinned. Ira is super excited. Seeing elves in costumes is making her year.

Myrtle chuckled. I am pretty sure I will have enough brain stimulation out of this to write a whole new series.

Pandora grinned, they had coffee, and then she returned to her shop, where Kay was organizing the custom orders. You are too efficient for your own good. Did Lydia and Lyric have a nice time?

They had a great mother-daughter day. Lydia is content to stay at her shorter height, but Lyric is into the entire six-foot-plus omega thing. Kay finished arranging the production order. We have supplies in place for everything. You can start on this whenever you want.

Pandora grinned. Thank you. So, what are you?

Irritated if you keep asking. Why don t you get a few things so you don t have to wear sweats around the house?

Oh, good idea.

I started a pile for you. Also, I would recommend draping yourself across Knur regularly. He needs it, and so do you.

How do you know all of this stuff?

I m complicated. Kay grinned. I am also off for the day. Congratulations on your match.

Thank you. It just feels so right, you know?

Kay got her things together and left, leaving Pandora selecting outfits from her collection and noting them down next to the register. She hadn t grabbed her wallet, so she would pay herself tomorrow.

She chatted with a few customers and then got the notice that it was home time. She grabbed her bags and headed for her car. She would have to move her stuff out of the palace, but that could wait for another day. Today, she was going home and then figuring out where Zhin hid the cookies. There had to be cookies.

Kay had been right. One evening of sitting on Knur s lap whenever she was near him made for some complicated eating, but she felt something unlock in both of them. Her fear of being torn away melted, and his helpless frustration began to fade.

Zhin needed less reassurance. His nature was calmer and more inevitable. The forest was always there.

Pandora cuddled between them on the couch and watched a documentary about the glaciers. She was on Knur s lap, and Zhin was stroking her from the thighs to her toes.

Knur asked. What drew you to sewing clothes?

She looked up at him. You are kidding, right? I grew a foot, and they don t make pretty clothing for women this tall. I had to do it myself. Finding Kay was sheer luck. The touches she puts on my clothing double the value.

How did you find her? Zhin asked.

Don t know. She was just there.

Knur murmured, Didn t you mention that she was at the Stronghold?

Oh. Yeah. She said she was there, stopping the dark mages from coming to the Elite s assistance. No weird magic broke loose, so I am guessing she was successful.

Her mates were tense with shock. Zhin asked, Where was she, exactly?

She was standing in a portal and pulling it shut with her hands, like closing curtains.

Knur murmured, Will she answer other questions?

Nope. I asked her if she was an elf, and she just laughed and said no. She shrugged.

Zhin asked, You don t know what she is?

She s my assistant, she s a good friend, and she s a powerful something or other. Pandora said, And that s all.

Knur murmured, So, you don t want us to pursue this.

That is correct. Leave her alone. If she wanted to tell me, she would.

Zhin asked, So, what is on the agenda for tomorrow?

Work and a quick walk through of the hotel for the event the following evening. The designers, friends, and school folk and staff should pretty well fill either the ballroom or back gardens.

Knur nodded. I have to go to work tonight, but right now, I am very interested in melting glaciers. He smoothed a hand over her stomach and opened the loose trousers. His fingers curled into her, and she shivered as his fingers flexed and relaxed against her clit. It took under a minute for the melt to start.

Her clothing was carefully removed, and they added the television room to the roster. Only sixteen more rooms to go. Relationship goals had never seemed more achievable.