“That is a cute story.”
“I thought it was a little sleazy, but sure. How about you?”
“Me?”
“What was your origin?”
“Oh, my parents were mages who participated in a star summoning. They felt that they were the chosen couple in the middle of the orgy, and when my mom got pregnant, they were excited, and the warlocks and mages and witches started watching me for signs of greatness. I refused to show them anything, so they guessed that the star was inside me, and when I was fourteen, they tried to match me with a warlock to bring it out. You are aware of what I am describing, yes?”
Ambera looked grim and nodded. “I want to hug you so badly right now.”
Bethany smiled. “I would probably freak out. I am not that good with physical contact. My parents weren’t huggers. Anyway, I blinded them all with my stellar magnificence and made a run for it. A few days or weeks later, I met Orvis. She got me safe.”
She smiled. “Then, a decade and a half going from shelter to shelter and keeping off the radar, and here I am. Outed by a new job.”
“It’s for the best. You are having a change of state.”
She nodded. “That is true. I suppose I would be better off if I didn’t donate the majority of my earnings to shelters to hide me from my family.”
Ambera blinked. “What?”
“I worked as a contractor for the shelters, and they kept the majority of my earnings, and I kept enough to get a reliable car and basic food and clothing. They fed and housed me, so it was a fair trade.”
“You have been on your own this whole time?”
“Yes. Finding work has been the toughest. Not having my high school diploma made things tricky.”
“You didn’t have the chance to finish?”
“Nope. They registered me at one school, and three warlocks cracked it open. So, I hid. School is a priority for me as part of my semi-retirement.”
“You want to retire?”
“I want to rest. Being hunted sucks.” She sighed.
Ambera nodded. “I can see that.”
They drove through the city and pulled up in front of a boutique that looked serious. There were no dresses in the window, which gave Bethany the idea that he did a lot of custom work.
Ambera was smiling with excitement, and Bethany unbuckled her seatbelt when Tyler opened the door. He held the door and stood to the side as she got out, and then Ambera was at her back and urging her through the door.
The assistant smiled at Ambera. “He’s ready in the back. Good morning, Ms. Kadabra.”
Ambera smiled and walked Bethany to the back, where they met with Cale, who looked her over.
“I have to ask, do you have a second form?”
“Um. Yes.”
“Can you show me? If you need magical expansion, it is best I know before I start.”
“Oh. Um. Okay.” She unbuttoned her shirt, unzipped her skirt, and stepped out of her shoes. She grew four inches and let her wings sprout.
Cale smiled. “Not a harpy. The horns give it away.”
She looked up. “Oh. Right.”
“So, what are you?”
