“Protective,” Lisa said gently.“It’s not a crime to worry about your ma—,” she paused and corrected herself, “wife,” she finished flatly.Again, humans didn’t call their significant others mates.Suddenly the woman didn’t look quite as sleepy as she had just a minute ago.
“I don’t need worrying.I need space.I’ve fought dark elves, overcome my own nature while surrounded by temptation in sin city, and faced off with a psycho dark elf king.Cush acts like I’m going to faint if someone scuffs my boots, or like any breathing male might snatch me away because I’m so appealing they can’t help themselves.”
Lisa reached for another jar, shaking her head with a small smile.“Maybe he remembers the part where youalmost died.”Shoot, she probably shouldn’t have said that.Lisa’s eyes bounced back up to the customer again.The woman’s eyes were wide as saucers and her mouth had dropped open.Lisa smiled, attempting to look reassuring.
“That wasonetime,” Elora shot back.“And I was fine!Didn’t die, I mean, not totally.I completely came back to the brute and tied myself to him for all eternity, which isactuallyeternity.I’m not dramatic, you know that’s not mything, but he is driving me to dramatics, and I just might shoot him with an arrow.”
Lisa hummed under her breath.“Mm-hmm.”
“Don’t ‘mm-hmm’ me,” Elora practically whined, which was alsonotlike her.“This is not one of those moments where you nod your head and look at me like I’m a three year old throwing a tantrum and I just need a nap.And you’re not agreeing with me which means you’re taking his side.”
“Perhaps you do need a nap,” Lisa pointed out as she mixed the concoction of herbs.“And I’m not taking sides, Elora.I’m simply trying to figure out who isactuallybeing unreasonable, and who is simply being stubborn.”
There was a pause, then a low growl from the other end, and she could picture her daughter closing her eyes in an attempt to get control.“You know, for someone who claims to be neutral, you’re a really bad Switzerland.”
“Did you call to vent, or do you actually want advice?”Lisa asked, dumping the herbs into a grinder.
Elora huffed.“I want advice if you’re going to tell him he needs professional help.”
Lisa chuckled.“Naturally.”
A deep male voice cut in suddenly, muffled but distinct.“Why did you storm off when I was trying to talk to you?And who are you talking to?”
“I stormed off because that’s what you do when you’re too pissed to simply meander, or stroll, or walk,” Elora said, her voice slightly softer, as if she’d turned away from the phone.“And you weren’t trying to talk to me.You were talkingatme.There’s a difference.And you had just beat the crap out of Leeland for no reason.”
“He touched you,” Cush growled.The sound was so dark that Lisa’s eyes snapped to the phone as if she’d be able to see the anger in his eyes.
Elora made an agitated noise.“Of course he touched me.Hehadto touch me, because we were training.He was teaching me new fighting moves so I can protect myself when you can’t.”
“I can train you,” Cush pointed out.“And you won’t ever need to protect yourself because I will never be in a position not to protect you.”
“You will if you’re in a box, six feet under and pushing up daisies.”Elora’s voice was sharp as a whip, as she released her frustrations out onto Cush.“Who’s going to protect me then?Your spirit?No thank you, not if he’s as psycho as you.”
“Careful, Elora,” Lisa said, “Pot meet kettle.”
“Don’t use your old lady adages on me,” she snapped.“I’m impervious to them.”
“Elora,” Cush’s deep voice rumbled dangerously.“I love you.I know you're pissed.Calling your mother isn’t going to fix this.”
“And what will fix it, Cush?”Elora sounded tired now, and that made Lisa’s heart hurt for her daughter.
“Just respect what I want.”Exasperation filled his tone.“It’s really not difficult.”
“And I’m out,” Elora called as the phone shifted and scuffled.“I need a timeout, Cush.Do not come hunt me down.”
“Lisa,” her daughter's mate, spoke confidently into the phone as if his mate hadn’t just ripped into him.
“Hello, Cush.”
“Just so you know, your daughter,” he said evenly, “thinks it’s wise to spar with someone twice her size while showing signs of weakness from her ordeal.”
“I’m fine!”Elora snapped in the background.“And stop calling it ‘my ordeal,’ like I had a breakdown or something.And he was a whole inch shorter than you!”
“You just proved my point,” Cush replied dryly.
Lisa sighed, glancing at the customer, who was trying not to laugh.“You two sure you don’t need a counselor?”
“We’re communicating,” Elora said sharply.
