Page 3 of My Date is a Polymorph (Blind Date Corporation #20)

K eera looked to Worro and smiled. “So, more couples counselling?”

They were at his house outside the city, and it was the last day she could take before she had to get back to work. They were cuddled together, again. She wondered if they would ever get back to the physical side of things.

He held her close. “Yes. They took so much from us, and I need to process it. You are sure your attacker is dead?”

“Yes. They got the cure for the damage from his head and hands.”

“Too bad. I would have liked to take him apart with my hands.”

“As would I, but he didn’t fight fair, and I don’t want anyone else to experience that kind of pain. It was a full-body burn that I could not shake.” She snuggled against him.

He kissed her forehead. “I am going to take the guard council to court.”

“What?”

“For keeping us apart. For making me forget you. That was never in my contract with them.”

Keera nodded. “That hurt me as well. I had to live with that memory and had no one to gain comfort from. If it hadn’t been for Hever, I would have gone nuts.”

“I am very glad I did not actively pursue your friend.”

“That would have been it. I think I would have destroyed you. Or she would have. Or even Krix would have taken your skull for a spin.”

Worro chuckled. “I am glad it didn’t happen. I am happy to consider a life with you now and for always.”

“Can they still pull you away?”

“No. I have retired. What the psychic did made me unstable. So, I putter in my workshop and try to think of what was missing in my life. Now I know.” He pressed his lips to her forehead, her cheek, and her lips.

“Perhaps they can get you in touch with Heraina. I think you processing things with another person in your situation would be helpful.”

Kerra chuckled. “My situation?”

“Assaulted and injured, but you survived, and you were then and are now, loved dearly.”

She chuckled. “You are getting better at this.”

He kissed her temple. “I couldn’t get worse.”

“So, what are we going to do now, Worro? You need to do more than just fuss around in your workshop.”

“I don’t know. They have offered me my position as Wonder back.”

She chuckled. “Stupid name.”

He pressed his forehead to hers. “You thought of it.”

“I didn’t.”

“You did. I was just Finder until you renamed me. It was two days after we first met.” He smiled. “You worked fast.”

She blushed. “Yeah, well. I looked at you and saw forever. It was heady stuff.”

Worro kept her close and kissed her softly. “Just being near you is heady stuff. Do you think you will ever trust me again?”

“Have you gotten your STI test results?”

He blinked. “Yes. I am clear. I thought I told you.”

“Nope. You grabbed me and held me the moment I got to your door. Nice place, by the way.” She smiled.

“It seemed familiar when I saw it. I knew I needed to purchase it.”

She chuckled.

“Why?”

“Think about when we talked about being together and what kind of a home I wanted.”

He paused and looked around. “I bought your house.”

“Our house. Complete with a workshop for you to fuss with.”

He smiled. “Solarium, extra bedrooms for guests and a huge family. Kitchen big enough for us both to move around in. Living room for cuddling and watching movies.”

“Yeah, so I was in there somewhere.”

“That is actually really comforting.” Worro smiled. He got out of her embrace and walked a few steps away before turning and kneeling. “Keera, will you marry me? I want your days, your nights, your tomorrow, and forevers.”

She looked at him and blinked. He took a box out of his pocket and opened it. She stared. “Is that a mining sample? Or a paperweight?”

He chuckled. “It was my great-grandmother’s. She got it when she had my grandmother.”

Keera paused. “It wasn’t a big deal that she was a girl?”

“She was healthy and alive. Aside from that, it didn’t matter. Why?”

“My father was hung up on having a boy. He even captured my mother and kept her prisoner to try and get one. Two girls. A dead mother.”

Worro frowned. “She died in childbirth?”

“She died of suffocation. He was Hyreno, and he and his family kept ladies in these bubble caverns. The dipshit never calculated the extra oxygen taken in by an active child.” She pointed at herself.

“How old were you?”

“Four. Mom had been teaching me what to do since she got pregnant the second time. I was slow, but I did what I could, getting food ready for the baby. She knew she wouldn’t be able to feed her.”

“If she were a psychic, why didn’t she use it on your male parent?”

“I think she was too young. She didn’t have a handle on it. She practiced on us, and he terrified her. Like facing a monster every time he showed up.”

Worro wrapped her in his arms. “That must have been terrifying for you. I hadn’t appreciated how strong you had to be to let me even touch you.”

“I knew you were mine the moment I saw you. I just had to figure out how I could let you know.” She chuckled and held him.

“My childhood was just that. My childhood. It is how I grew up and learned to face the world. The trust issues were worked out when I was adopted by a family who knew I wasn’t what I presented.

Raising my little brother was a lot of fun. ”

“Oh, right. How is Wellin?”

“He was spooked when they took me, but when I got back and consoled him, my parents agreed that if someone was targeting me, I should stay away for a while.”

“Targeting you?”

“They are trying to get Hever, but her mom has pulled her in safe and snug. Krix has gotten her in a little closer.” She chuckled.

Worro stroked her back. “How close can I get?”

She looked up at him, and a slow smile crossed her lips. “I know you consider me broken, but I am very sturdy.”

“I didn’t doubt it. I just didn’t know if my touch would be welcome.” He chuckled.

“Says the man who has been wrapped around me since we reunited. And, hey, you just proposed. Were you going to be the tragic bodyguard for the rest of your life?”

He looked at her with a warm expression. “But you do go into heat, so I thought things might be alright then.”

“Oh, because I am driving it. I suppose that would work.” She stroked his neck. “You are going to be waiting a while.”

Worro raised his brows. “How long is a while?”

“Until I tell the doctor to turn it on again. I had it suspended because I was going crazy.”

“Why... ohhh.”

“Yup. I had the impulses of a woman with a mate but no mate. At least we weren’t completely bonded. I would have been in trouble if we had.”

His arms tensed around her. “I hadn’t thought of that.”

“I did. While I was being patched up, I was calculating when it would hit again, and it really did a number on my ability to focus. They kicked me out of team training, and I was stuck with returning to my family until I was healed. I am still there. Mom and Dad had to take the bulk of the cost of my aftercare, and I got back to work as soon as I could. Z-Corp was willing to take me on and run me through aptitude tests, and being an analyst was right up my alley. They also offered me a concealing unit.”

“A what?”

“It was a projector so that my skin didn’t look all shredded and carved up. I was introduced to the different department heads, and I got to work. My work paid for my upkeep and the unit. I have been putting a bit aside.”

She looked up at him and rested her chin against his chest. “It’s been rough, and I am not sure that you won’t feel like I am running to you like a port during a storm. The storm is over, and I am just a wreck now.”

“You are not a wreck. You have pulled yourself together without help. Well, without my help. I want to be there when you come home from work and hold you every night. When you are comfortable enough to have your heat again, I will be there. All alpha and weird.”

She chuckled. “You aren’t letting me live that down.”

“Nope. I am going to have it engraved on your wedding ring and mine.” He smiled. “So, when do you want to meet my family?”

“Uh. After I get back to work. Are your family in Sethir?”

“Yes, but they can be here in a day. Ideally, they would like to meet your parents and brother.”

She sighed. “My parents are going to freak. Your dad is in the Stronghold guard, right?”

“Yes.”

“That’s gonna be a problem.”

“Why?”

“Because Wellin may take umbrage if any threats or comments are made against me.”

Worro frowned. “You think my family will insult you?”

“I am braced for it.”

“Why?”

“Because you had a successful career on a team until you met me. A lot of families would consider me to be a bad influence. Certainly, a downward influence. Your sister fucking hates me.”

He whispered, “What?”

“Vaika. She thinks that I should keep away from you and that my association is not really wanted.”

Worro cupped her head and said, “She contacted you?”

“Yeah. While I was recovering. She’s good with words. Brutal, in fact. If I didn’t have friends and family, things might have been different. This moment would not have happened. My sister would not have helped us, and I wouldn’t be here.”

“I will have a chat with my sister before we meet. I need to talk to her.”

She shifted her hands and took off the engagement ring. “You might want to keep this until after your family gives you their blessing. I don’t want to be accused of stealing it.”

He sighed, leaned back, and slid the ring back on her finger. “You are keeping it on. I don’t give a rat’s ass what they think. I lost you once, and we would have been a family already if that bastard hadn’t attacked you.”

“True.”

“So, I am going to contact my parents and my sister, inform them of my intent, and then they are going to want to meet you. Fortunately, you have a day job, so they have to come here. I will make reservations at a nice restaurant in a private room, and you can invite your family, including your brother.”

She looked at the ring and sighed. “Fine. But I am not getting attached to it.”

Worro hugged her. “Will you sit with me while I call my sister?”

“Sure, but she’s not going to be polite.”

“Leave that to me.”