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P andora went to grab Gia for lunch from her family s offices. She waved at the receptionist, who smiled and let her head on in.

Pandora knocked on the door, and Gia said, Come in, Pandora.

Pandora went in with a grin and waved. So, ready?

Yup. Just finishing up. Where are we going today?

Halor Denith . It s why I dressed up. He s recovering from being under the weather, so he s distracted and might be prone to some light taunting.

Excellent. Everything is tidied here. So, let s go. Gia closed her laptop and put it in a drawer, locking it up.

So, how is business?

Dad s or my mystery husband s?

Either. Both.

Gia linked arms with her and flickered. Whoa.

Pandora blinked. Was that a first for you?

Yup. Have you flickered yet?

No. It s been years, but I guess I am not done healing. Pandora smiled. I hear relaxing with friends is good for that, so let s go. Regis is meeting us there.

What s the occasion?

I don t know. Pandora giggled. If I had to guess, she knows you flickered.

They headed downstairs and got into the car with Gia s driver, Torrence.

Gia asked, How do you think she knows?

Not a clue. But she tends to be aware of these things. Ira volunteered me to go to her school tomorrow for career day.

Well, you are a very successful private detective now. There might be kids who are interested in learning what it entails.

Pandora shrugged. Lots of peeing in coffee cups while we wait in cars.

Which, of course, you don t.

Well, teaching my fog to hold a camera was tricky, but I did manage it.

They giggled together until they reached the restaurant.

When they entered, there was a strange energy in the space. At the VIP table, a woman, who was pearl white with three dark elves with her, was getting all the attention. Pandora looked at the hostess. Can I have our usual table, Carrie?

Carrie smiled. Of course. Come this way.

They were led through the crowded space to the table near the group of elves. They sat down, and Denith came out to make out with the pale elf at the table.

Regis arrived, and the elf gathering got up and smiled. She stopped and spoke to them before excusing herself. Denith stared at Gia and Pandora, but it was a thoughtful look. The other three males were doing the same.

Pandora slowly elevated a hand with her middle finger extended. The light elf laughed and gave her a thumbs-up.

Regis smirked and joined the ladies at the table. They hugged, and Gia flickered. Regis paused. Wow. Congratulations.

Why? Stretching out of my clothing is an expensive undertaking.

Regis laughed. Yes, for you, it would be.

Pandora smiled. I like fancy wash-and-wear with tops that don t have elastic and have wide sleeves. The shop s doing pretty well.

Regis snorted. I hear you are branching out into wedding dresses.

Pandora shrugged. A few. I am using some of the designs from the Stronghold. A few of the Elite even made it through my door and commented on them. They don t remember coming in, though. Very sad.

Gia chuckled. So, you have been able to put chemicals into your fog.

Sure. It was a natural progression.

Regis shook her head. You are still going to the school tomorrow?

Yup. You are there with teeny cupcakes?

Yes. It was easier when you were working for me.

I bet. I nearly lived in the bakery. Pandora smiled.

The server came by and took their order. Monica was polite and efficient and was soon on her way with the order.

Gia smiled. So, what do I do with the flicker?

You keep it under control until you can let yourself out, Gia. Regis smiled as their water was poured. Any word on your husband?

He s coming in from globetrotting for my father s retirement. I finally get to meet my significant other. Annulment papers are already drawn up. She set her utensils out and put the napkin in her lap.

Regis raised her eyebrows. You aren t going to give him a chance?

Nope. He has had years. If I have to go mate hunting, I would rather not have a husband to deal with.

Regis chuckled. Fair point.

The drinks came out, followed shortly by their meals, and they started their lunch with Gia telling them about the upward trend in both of the businesses she was heading up. The Zotar Motorsport Corporation was going global with innovative designs that handled well in the city or on sand and everything in between.

Regis discussed her businesses and Ira s grades, and Pandora mentioned that her job and small shop were stable, and her staff enjoyed the clientele.

Pandora smiled. I have been thinking about going for my motorcycle license. Gia said she would get me a discount.

Gia grinned. It s in my annulment papers.

Regis snorted. The whole idea behind an annulment is that you leave as if you were never together.

Gia paused. Oh. Dang. You might not get that discount, Pandora.

Well, I can live with it. I just won t be able to afford a custom model. Since they are designed for taller men, I may want to pull on my other form.

Regis paused. You have your other form?

Yup. Have since you found me. I just didn t want to freak out my new friends and family.

Regis shook her head. You are an asshole.

I know. Pandora finished her fancy potato casserole. She grinned. It s part of my charm.

Regis snorted and shook her head. I don t know why I named you as her pickup person.

Because I am trustworthy... on paper. She picked up her napkin and wiped the corners of her mouth.

Regis smirked. That must be it.

Pandora saw the pale woman get to her feet and said, Regis, who is that woman?

Myrtle. She s a writer, and all four of those guys are hers. Why?

She s coming this way.

Pandora met the woman s gaze and met the smile for smile.

The woman bounced on her feet, making her men laugh at their table. Hiya, ladies.

Pandora stood and smiled. Hello, Myrtle.

Myrtle gasped. You know who I am?

Regis is a chatterbox. I am Pandora, and this is Gia.

Myrtle s eyes went wide. The ignored and the rejected. Yikes. I was a rejected mate for a while until Toros got his ass handed to him... by me. Then things were fine, if crowded.

Regis grinned. Pandora is the endless fog, and Gia the living wraith.

Myrtle began hopping again. She reached out and shook Pandora s hand before she looked disappointed. Oh.

Gia snorted. Pandora, come on. You are dressed for it.

Fine. Myrtle, I don t automatically change when contacted by the Elite. She let herself get tall, and there were gasps from other diners as she passed Myrtle s height and ended up around six feet ten inches. I can change this shape s height as well, but this is the automated setting.

Myrtle looked up at her and grinned. Wow. You are... You have quite the figure.

Yeah, boxy clothing hides a lot.

Regis smiled. She s nymph class. All curves all the time.

Fortunately, I am also a raging bitch, so things cancel out. Pandora smiled brightly.

Myrtle grinned. I think I like you.

Strange instinct. It needs further study.

I think so, too. Denith is always good for food if you want to meet me here tomorrow.

Oh, sorry. Tomorrow, I am over at Regis s daughter s school for career day. Regis is busy, and I am fucking fascinating.

Myrtle grinned. Fine. Day after?

Sure.

Gimmee your phone.

Pandora sighed and unlocked her phone, handing it over to Myrtle, who punched in her number and then texted herself. One of the dark elves picked up her phone and grinned. Got it.

She beamed. There. Now you have me, and you will know what is going on if I text. I am going to look you up in the book.

Book?

Regis sighed. My diary. Well, the recycled me. It has lists and descriptions of the new Elite omegas that are going to be walking the world very soon. It s toxic to anyone but Myrtle or me.

How toxic?

Deadly if handled.

Pandora smiled. Cool.

Regis snorted. Don t even think it.

What?

You want to surround it with mist and see if you can lift it?

Pandora shrugged. I have weird hobbies.

Gia laughed. You could say that. She used to be a professional cheerleader.

Not like this, I wasn t. One of the males was coming toward them. Uh-oh. The principal is coming.

Myrtle leaned against the man and said, Teyval, this is Pandora.

He nodded slowly. Did you once go by another name?

Yeah. Sort of. Dora.

He blinked slowly. Last name?

Mycroft.

Understanding lit his gaze. You had a mate.

Pandora frowned. He was yelling, and I fell.

Myrtle smiled. Don t worry about your audience. They can t see us talking. We are... elsewhere.

Cool.

Teyval frowned. You don t remember?

Someone was strangling me, and I was fighting, and I fell. If I had a mate, he was either the one that killed me, or he wasn t there. She smiled. There was a dead Elite next to me when I regained consciousness. I took every useful thing in his body and then tried to find my way out. It took a while, but the wall cracked, and I was free. The wind grabbed me and pulled me around the world. I gained control of myself when I got here. When Regis came and got me.

She had a rapt audience in both of them. Fast forward to me meeting Gia and helping her get back to herself, a few careers and learning how to be legal when I don t match my birth certificate anymore. Now I am here. Finished lunch and met some nice people.

Teyval asked, What were you before the Stronghold?

Cheerleader and was looking into a career in law enforcement.

Teyval asked, Can you name any of the people on your team?

The nice ones? Caber, Melbourne, or Walker?

Teyval smiled. I am going to contact them and find out if they remember you being taken or, at least, when.

You think someone knew me then?

He looked her over. Is your beta form to scale?

Oh. Yeah. I just wear comfy clothing, and no one looks closely.

He smiled. Someone remembers you.

Unlikely. I just used to jump and kick.

Regis blinked. Seriously? Ira wants to try out for the cheer team when she s old enough. Why didn t you tell me?

I came to it a few months ago on an assignment. There were backflips involved, and that came way too easily. She shrugged. That kind of thing reminds me of what I used to be.

Regis grinned. You are going to be swarmed at home.

I know. I am braced for it.

Teyval was looking at his phone and grinned. This is you.

He turned his phone, and there she was in a crop top and micro skirt with shorts under it, backflipping from one end of the field to the other. Neat.

Myrtle looked at that and whistled. I don t have an athletic bone in my body.

Byron is fairly athletic, so you have one occasionally.

Shut up. Aren t you supposed to be a nerd or something? she muttered at him.

I am the archive, and I have to defend it. That requires muscles. I suppose I qualify as the athletic bone in your body.

Pandora grinned as Myrtle turned and covered Teyval s mouth with her hands. She hissed, Knock it off.

His gaze was sparkling.

Myrtle sighed and turned. Right. So, you are talking at the school tomorrow, but lunch the day after?

Sure. Just text me when you want us to meet up. If there is no text, I won t show.

Fair enough. Myrtle smiled. What is your career?

Private investigator. I am licensed and everything. She beamed. Told you. I am fucking fascinating.

Myrtle giggled and hugged her. You feel so comfy.

Hey, hey, keep your hands above the equator, Pandora chided. She looked behind Myrtle to the stunned elf. Teyval, please retrieve your omega. I know she s pregnant, but she s also hyper-frisky right now. An afternoon nap might be in order.

He carefully pried Myrtle away from Pandora, and the soft whines echoed in the now-silent restaurant.

Myrtle, open the time bubble? Teyval asked softly.

Myrtle clung to him, and Pandora nodded with a smile. And that is why I don t hulk out that often. Any omegas near me get all twitterpated.

Myrtle muttered, Good word. Teyval, get me home.

Of course, Turtle. Pleasure to meet you, Pandora.

Pandora moved out of the bubble, and the world around them snapped into sounds and smells and movement again. That was one interesting power.

Pandora sat at the table in her beta form.

Regis grinned. That is an impressive form.

Is it? The breasts require scaffolding. She shrugged, and their server came by to ask if they wanted any dessert.

Denith came by and paused at their table. Whatever you like is on the house, ladies. I have put the order in with your server.

Pandora smirked. Heading home?

He grinned. Yes, thank you.

He left, and they had their desserts. Pandora s was a baked apple rose with fresh ice cream.

Gia smiled. I am glad that we came here for lunch. Now, we get freebies.

Don t forget to tip like a monster, though.

Gia chuckled. Live like a monster, pay like a monster.

Pandora grinned. And I will continue to work like the peon that I am.

Regis laughed. You are an excellent designer as well. Don t forget that.

Gia paused. Oh, have you decided to participate in the fashion show for Halloween?

I am still thinking, Pandora muttered. They want me to do the zodiac. And while I have a few designs... I am unsure.

Gia took a wad of cash out and set it on the table. Going to do the normal representations?

I thought I would do ruling planets instead. Liquid-metal fabric. Formal style and masks with the icons on them.

Regis grinned. You know I want to see those.

Yeah, but it s a lot of work.

There was a snort. How many have you finished?

Eight, and all set for Elite omegas. So, I have to start looking around for models soon. Or female alphas. They would be close to the same height.

Regis nodded. I can make some calls and get you the ladies you need. Twelve, right?

Yup. Pandora thought about the early autumn fashion show. All of her clothes were bespoke, so making gowns that could fit a range of figures was the true challenge.

Three other designers had been tapped to be involved themselves, and the fundraiser benefited the children s wing of the city hospital, and the school was hosting it at a hotel downtown.

It was a community event, and Pandora was invited.

The ladies got up and went their separate ways. It was nice to have some time to herself. That thought cursed her. Her phone rang, she started the recording, and answered.

Fog investigations. Pandora speaking. She was walking down the sidewalk and keeping her senses open. Her car was four blocks away.

Hello, I am calling from MacKinerny and Willis. We would like to meet with you on the possibility of surveillance on a man going through a nasty divorce.

When do you want to meet?

As soon as possible.

Address, please.

He rattled it off, and she headed for their offices. I should be there in ten minutes.

Thank you.

She hung up and changed direction, heading for the law offices. It was looking like she had a date of sorts.

Pandora had grabbed a cake from Regis s bakery and then waited for the cover of sunset. It was too bright for summer evenings, so it was as good as she could get. The car she was looking for was in the parking lot of the strip club. She got photos of the car via her necklace and went to the back door, knocking and smiling. Hey, I have a delivery for the boardroom? I think? I mean, it is a weird place to send a cake, right?

The guard at the back said, Who is it for?

Mr. Sakendar. Bobby Sakendar?

He blinked. Are you sure?

She held the cake down, and it was visible through the viewing window. I dunno. I have issues with cursive.

He looked at it and jerked back. Mr. Sorrow. Right. Down this hall, up the stairs. Hell, I will come with you.

Thanks. This place is like a maze, and I haven t been here since it was under new management.

You have been here before?

Sure. I used to deliver cupcakes to the dancers on birthdays.

Shit. That was you. Hey, I don t suppose you have any cupcakes in the car today?

Not today, but I can arrange something later in the week. What s your favourite flavour?

They chatted as they walked behind the scenes, and a new guard took over the back door. He smirked. Not vanilla.

Why not? It is a solid base, and it opens the door to all kinds of options with a safe place to return. She grinned. Just because you start there, you don t have to stay there.

He froze in his tracks. That is an interesting thought.

I have it on a t-shirt.

He chuckled, and they continued up to a quiet part of the business with an overlook to the floor. He knocked on the door, and when a voice called, Come in, the door opened.

Pandora walked in with the cake and looked around at the room full of scowling alphas. There was the one she was looking for, and he was sitting with his little companion on his lap. I have a cake here for a Mr. Sorrow?

The man with the beta pet raised his hand and frowned. That is me. Where are you from?

Someone ordered it from Regis Bakery. I just got tapped to deliver because you guys don t freak me out.

The alphas looked at each other in amusement.

I can t see why this location would upset the teen currently doing deliveries.

They chuckled, and Mr. Sorrow frowned. What kind of cake is it?

Layer cake with vanilla, raspberries, and chocolate. She walked over to him and smiled.

Would you open the box? I don t want to disturb my companion.

Oh, I am sure she s left the building with weirder stains, Pandora murmured.

The man nearest her snorted.

She walked around the table, opened the box, smoothly popped the sides down, and exposed the cake, letting the fresh scents waft into the room.

Sorry. Don t have knives, forks, or plates, but you guys have a kitchen here, have some sent up. She noticed that the silent woman was very still, and it jolted her when she realized it was an illusion.

A man next to her offered her a dagger, and it was one of the dark Elite. She shrugged. Seriously? You guys can t cut a cake?

The man shrugged.

Mr. Sorrow looked at her and said, Please divide it for us.

She looked around the room, counted, added the lap addition and then counted again. She took the dagger and sliced the cake into twelve pieces so everyone could have two slices.

She really wanted to lick the knife, but that wouldn t be safe in this particular meeting.

She set it down, and suddenly there were plates, forks, and napkins.

Mr. Sorrow asked, Will you serve the cake?

Aw, now, pumpkin. That costs extra. She grinned. Have a lovely evening. The cake is pretty good. Evening, lady. She nodded to the projection who cuddled against Mr. Sorrow.

With a small nod, she left the room. She had the information she needed. The lady who was stalking Sorrow was going to learn that he had his companion with him twenty-four seven. She had no idea why a legal office was handling this, but she had their payment, and that was enough.

When she was out in her car, she made the call as she pulled out of the parking spot and notified the lawyer that she had confirmed that Mr. Sorrow was in the building.

As she was heading for the exit of the parking lot, four dark SUVs rolled in, and she cursed. That wasn t good. The guys hadn t even finished their cake yet.