“I do, and for you, I will.”
She grinned. “I look forward to it.”
He leaned down and kissed her softly.
Wylda whispered against his lips, “I prefer you with horns.”
He grinned. “Me, too, but this form lets me meet you where you are. When I heard about the warlocks coming after you, I was worried. Their elders have been chastised, and the perpetrators will recover in a decade or so.”
“So, they listened in on the call?”
“I was in negotiation. There is an open com policy for clarity.”
“I see. Well, thank you for taking steps.”
“No one hunts you but me.”
Wylda stared into his eyes and blinked. “You think you can catch me?”
“I am certain of it.” He caressed her shoulders and arms. “I look forward to proving it.”
She cocked her head. “I think I just heard a shot across my bow.”
“Whatever you want to call it.” He winked and turned toward her friends. “Shall we?”
She looked over at Delphine and Elodie. The ladies were smirking knowingly. “Uh, yes. Brace for an interrogation.”
“I have gotten familiar with female interactions in an effort to understand more about what happened.”
“Did you tell any of your tutors that?”
“No, but they allowed me to ask what I felt I needed to know.”
“What was that?”
“I find that if you keep your expression slightly confused and otherwise blank, they will allow you to ask anything.”
She chuckled. “Let’s see how that works with my people.”
They exited the room, and she made the introductions. Lord Rez bowed politely.
Delphine urged them to a restaurant nearby, where cold sandwiches were the food on offer. Piled high with meat, cheese, and condiments, the sandwiches were fortresses of sustenance with a pickle on the side. Lord Rez was amused, but he dug in with them.
Elodie looked at him and cocked her head. “Kijin?”
He finished a bite. “Yes. How did you know?”
“I studied. Reading was all that I was allowed.”
“You sing as well? There is something to your voice.”
“I dance more than sing. Singing is strictly Wylda’s mastery.”
Delphine looked around the deli and saw two men who were looking at their group. She snorted. “I wonder what brought Summer and Spring out?”
Lord Rez looked at the two. “Autumn and Winter have started families. I think these two are feeling neglected. They have been judging women and looking for matches for years.”
Elodie looked over at them, blinked, and focused on her sandwich. That reaction was telling.
