She looked at their hands and up at his face. “You are serious about this.”
“I am. I will purchase you a home near the city, you can register there, and get your documentation.”
“I can stay with Delphine.”
“Your friends are rushing toward their own unions. Do you want to be with them while you wait for your paperwork?”
“Um, I am going to ask. Delphine is good about these things. She’s the only one of us who was out where folks could see her in the mortal realm. She knows about this stuff.”
“I could find someone to help you.” He smiled. “I am fairly sure that when Stovos uncouples from Orvis, he would be glad to lay assistance at your feet.”
“That isn’t necessary. I have my friends, and when things change, I will call on you. I think Delphine has a lawyer to help us with identity. Elodie has been a confined elf for years. She has to remake her identity.”
“Of course. But what I asked for. May we have the rest of the night?”
“As long as I am back to Delphine’s tomorrow morning. Can you do that?”
He folded his fingers and caressed her cheek with his knuckles. “I can do that.”
“Then, we can try again, but watch the nails.”
He smiled and slowly rose to his feet. “You are texting?”
“I am telling Delphine where I am.” She watched until thedeliveredicon showed up.
“I will get you a phone so that we can keep in touch. Mine is the need, mine will be the bill.”
She looked at him and shrugged. “Okay.”
He smiled. “You won’t fight me on it?”
“I live in a car, and this phone is prepaid. If you change your mind, you take the phone back.”
He blinked. “So, you actually were in your vehicle?”
“Yes. I was able to reinforce the wards on it. It held just fine until those eight bozos came and tried to rattle me out of it.”
“How did you bathe?”
“I had a membership in a national gym. I would go in in the early morning and shower.”
“No bathing?”
“No. No time. I had to work a thousand tiny jobs.”
They were walking over a lightly arching bridge, rippling water under it and large, slow fish swaying from side to side in their territory.
Wylda asked, “Is this where we were that time?”
“No. This is my country home.”
“Oh. It’s nice.”
“Thank you. I will bring you to your friend’s home at dawn.”
She looked around and saw the light of an afternoon. “Wait. Dawn here, or dawn there?”
He chuckled. “Here.”
