There was a change in the energy, and Hemma looked at the men around her.“Kessie, go to the kitchen and get some cookies or something.”
“Okay.Don’t hurt them too bad if you have to.”
“Of course not.Just the right amount.”
She laughed and headed for the kitchen, where Hemma saw Lady Daycross senior watching warily through the door.She took Kessie away from the door with a nod.
Hemma looked at the alphas.“So, why have you convened this council?Do we have to throw a ring into a volcano or something?”
Etgar laughed, but he liked movies.
One of the Sethir said, “We are very interested in you changing your occupation to include being an escort.”
“I am not interested in that.I have had nothing but degradation at the hands of alphas.This is unlikely to change just because I am wearing a mask.I am also a heavy-hitter when the occasion calls for it.”
One of the Hyreno asked, “Why didn’t you use it?”
“It would have been a death sentence.Either from my people or yours.We were underwater, and my gills are sealed.”She stared at him.“Despite everything, I do enjoy living.”
The Hyreno she had met looked embarrassed.The Sethir looked calm.“You could come live at the stronghold.”
“No.I like my life.I like going to the market and shopping for the household.I like cooking and making things with my hands.Plus, to get me, you would have to go through a lot of very angry ladies, and they wouldn’t let you.”
One of the Sethir grinned.“Are they little omegas like you?”
“One is, one isn’t, and Law and Finance are the last lines of defense.”
The men froze.Hemma smiled.“There it is.Get ‘em where it hurts.In their wallets.”
Vallu came down with a dress over her arm and some cute shoes dangling from her fingers.She walked them into the guestroom, and Hemma got up and said, “You fellas think about that and then forget you saw me.”
She hoped Salat was arriving soon.The dress that she was wearing cost more than she made in a quarter.The shoes were super cute, though.She loved an open toe.
She walked out, and Kessie was there with Vallu and Salat.The alphas were gone.
Vallu smiled.“Etgar took them for a walk.You are cleared to leave.I can’t say they aren’t trying to figure out a way around what you said, but they have cleared out for now.Mentioning Law and Finance really spooked them.”
Kessie smiled.“My aunties are scary, and so is Nigel if you are mean.”
Hemma smiled.“And he fights dirty.”
Kessie giggled.“He said that I was his best friend, and he would defend me against all comers.”
Vallu said, “Nigel is a friend of the family?”
Hemma nodded.“He escaped with Ava; they were together when they went into care, and Kessie’s mom and her twin were already there.The three girls banded together, and Nigel was along for the ride.”
Vallu frowned.“I have met Finance, and Etgar says he knows Law.What is Kessie’s mom?”
“Inventor.Those ladies, Zera, and one purple hero were the start of the Blind Date Corp.”
Vallu froze.“No way.”
Kessie smiled.“Mom found out that neutralizing the guys was important because of me.Dad always just smiles when it’s mentioned.”
“And Keska made the masks and a lot of the defensive tech that travelled with you, whether you knew it or not.”
Vallu smiled.“In that case, Kessie is descended from greatness.”
