Chapter Four

Hari felt the energy brightening the air when Livia showed up. The trio walked in, dressed in cocktail dresses, and the gathered men and women paused and stared at them.

Hari grinned and excused herself from her conversation with Benny. “My friend Livia is here.”

She walked herself over, beckoned to Prolen, and he came to them. She made the introductions, he offered to take the ladies on a tour of the party, and Livia smiled at Hari. “You seem rested, Hari.”

“I am. How are the guys, Livia? They suffering from the lack of the gym?”

“Not yet. Everyone is just glad that you made it. Mage fire is no joke.”

“No, it isn’t. Do you have a repair estimate yet?”

“Yes and no. The governor has already sent a mage to the site to estimate reconstruction costs. I think they are going to use it as a teaching moment.”

“Nice. He seems very eager to keep me unbothered by my actual life.”

“I can see he has improved your wardrobe. So, that is a point in his favour. What’s this party?”

“I think he has some folks in from out of town and since Benny comes from a fairly impressive family. Wanna meet her and her guys?”

“If you think she’s worth meeting, yes.”

Livia was wearing a discreet black dress. Her pale blonde hair was loose and cascading down her back, hiding the same small scars that Hari had on hers. It was a species-specific thing, but Hari had no idea where hers had come from, let alone Livia’s.

They linked arms and walked toward Benny, and Benny’s eyes widened when she shook hands with Livia. “Wow. So, you have the same species in you as Hari does.”

“Yes. We know.” Livia smiled. “And you have one of mine.”

Benny cocked her head. “Elf?”

“It doesn’t show, but yes.” Livia smiled. “Well-spotted.”

“But the signature is so faint. How many generations back is it?”

“One. There have been complic—” Livia turned and stared at a gorgeous dark green man who was coming in with two young women holding onto his arms.

She casually reached into her purse and took out a small device.

Hari asked, “Livia, what’s wrong?”

“Until I tell you otherwise, my name will be Jill for the rest of the night. Please?” Livia looked at Benny and then at Hari. Both of them nodded.

Hari nodded. “Zerul knows your name, though.”

Benny smiled. “I can keep it from being spoken for the next hour. Is that enough?”

Livia smiled. “Perfect.”

They gathered around Benny, and there was a slight flare around her fingers as she cast the spell. Jill it would be.

Hari smiled and took her friend’s hand as Zerul brought the newcomers over.

Orvuul was the green man whose dominion was the great forest to the north. The two girls were Beth and Mary. They were plain humans and constant companions to the stunning elder male.

Orvuul looked the introduced Jill over when it was made clear that she didn’t have a male companion at the event. He offered to show her some of the mansion and return before the dinner.

To Hari’s shock, Jill walked off with him, giggling sweetly.

Zerul must have seen her shocked expression as she watched her friend. “Does she not normally walk off with strange men?”

“No. That is definitely not something she engages in.”

The two loose ladies had found their way over to Prolen, and he was having a very good night.

Orvuul had his hand on Jill’s lower back as they walked toward a statue garden or something.

Hari frowned. “I don’t know what is going on here, but it is not standard.”

Zerul asked, “Is she in danger?”

“I have no idea. I guess we’ll find out in an hour.”

“What happens then?”

“I am sure that she will let me know.”

Zerul wrapped her in his arms. “It seems that Prolen is getting some of the affection previously denied him.”

“Well, he seems like a standup guy for a vampire, so it is better that he isn’t stuck with Serel. Pretty sure she was a bitch since she came out of the womb.”

“I have a few others that I would like to introduce you to. Will you come with me?”

“Sure. No problem. It’s what I am here for.”

They made their rounds, and it wasn’t until Orvuul and Jill returned that Hari could breathe easy again.

Jill separated and walked over to Hari, pulling her phone out and beginning to swipe in earnest. The name Livia returned to Hari’s mind as the buffet was fully populated, and music began to play softly in the background.

Livia smiled while everyone else was eating. She walked over to the sound system and plugged her phone in.

“I, Orvuul of the great forest, reject my wife, Livia. Our bond is broken, and our union complete.” The voice was definitely that of the forest god.

Orvuul screamed, “No!”

Livia unplugged her phone and tucked it back into her purse.

Her husband ran up to her, and he fell to his knees. “Please. No. Livia. I am sorry.”

“Left alone while you stole my life and beauty. Woman after woman paraded in front of me because you would not sully me? Seriously? I wanted to be sullied by you. I wanted a life with my mate. You pissed all over it. So, enjoy being the grubby forest troll that I was bonded to. You are god of all you survey, after all. Enjoy it.”

She turned toward Hari and walked over. With every step, she changed but only on the surface. Her blonde hair turned into a magnificent pink opal tone. Her skin gleamed in a bluish frost tone. Her ears pointed, and she got a few inches taller.

Hari smiled. “Now I know why I always thought you needed more.”

“Check him out.”

Hari looked, and Orvuul was turning grey and sobbing on the ground.

Zerul asked, “What happened to his compulsion and charm?”

Livia held up her hand, took in a deep breath, and huge avian wings sprang from her back, glowing and glittering. “The wings impart that, but we were bound before they emerged, so...”

The entire room was still.

Zerul inhaled. “Ah, that is what it is.”

“Yeah. I am half-elf, and Hari is half-waterfolk. The other half is self-evident.” She flexed her wings and flapped slowly before folding the wings in and letting them fade into sparkles. “I am glad to have those finally. When the proxy kicked in, he took all the energy that made me pretty and powerful. Now I finally feel like the me I was supposed to be.” She smiled at Hari. “Thanks for inviting me.”

Hari looked at her friend and saw the woman she leaned on in times of need under the glowing exterior. Livia looked peaceful, which was a feat when Orvuul was still wailing.

Hari turned to Zerul. “Can you take care of him? He doesn’t look like he is going to calm down soon.”

Zerul nodded and looked to Prolen. The man extricated himself from the ladies and walked over to Orvuul, picking him up and hauling him out of the ballroom. His ladies looked confused and trailed after him.

Hari looked at her friend. “What is happening?”

“He’s returning to whence he came. He was a grey-skinned forest man. Short, hunch-backed, and powerful but unpleasant. My family signed me over to him when I was fourteen. I never even met him.”

Hari blinked. “You never mentioned that you were married.”

“There was no point. Orvuul wouldn’t even meet with me when I turned eighteen. The union was never consummated, so the declaration in front of witnesses was good enough to break our bond. My aunt is going to be pissed, but tough. She will have to do without the forest god’s blessing for her hobby farm.”

“So, folk will be angry that you are now free?”

“Yeah, but they can suck it or find another maiden with power for him to leech off.”

“Maiden?” Hari blinked. “Wow. I never thought that you would be a maiden.”

“Yeah, because of our link, I couldn’t find a lover. He didn’t have that problem, the cheating bastard.” Livia grimaced. “Eventually, I recognized the distinct feel of him drawing extra energy from me that indicated that he was out screwing around. I got migraines.” Livia rolled her neck. “Now I feel good for the first time in sixteen years.”

Hari looked at her friend and hugged her. “I am sorry you went through that.”

“It’s done. He’s rejected me. It took me a while to come up with the plan, but I am delighted that it worked.” Livia grinned. “Tech for the win.” She paused. “Do I look weird?”

“You are you, just more sparkly.”

Livia beamed. “Thank you. That’s reassuring.”

Hari cocked her head. “You are going to need to change your makeup. You are a little more glowy now.”

Livia smiled. “Thanks. I knew I could.”

Zerul frowned. “You were bound to him?”

“Yeah. His pretty appearance was my energy filtered through his body.” Livia smiled. “It makes me glad I am sure as to my orientation. The ladies flocked to him, and I don’t want the same. They are cute and all, but I have seen enough ladies naked in my lifetime.”

Hari laughed.

Zerul cocked his head, and then understanding lit in his eyes. “You work at the strip club.”

“Upper management and accountant.”

“And... Anhara is the head chef.”

Livia’s eyes were sparkling. “Correct.”

“Any others?”

Hari chuckled. “One or two.”

Zerul cleared his throat. “It isn’t like me to ask this, but where were you all spawned?”

Livia snorted. “Ah, that. We have already had this conversation. The Norwell Gateway. I am guessing that is where you trotted into the human world.”

Zerul grinned. “I haven’t had hooves for years.”

Livia smiled at him. “Good for you.”

Hari paused. “Hooves?”

“It appears that your friend recognizes me or, at least, my kind.” He chuckled. “I was hoping to conceal it for a little longer.”

“I have not said what, and you mentioned the hooves.”

Zerul blinked. “Ah, just so. You are dangerous.”

“Truth surrounds me. That didn’t change.” Livia smiled.

Hari smiled. “So, what is he?”

“That is a very personal question. He will tell you, but your curiosity indicates interest, and he is enjoying that interest.”

Hari looked at Zerul. “Oh. Right. So, what is going to happen to Orvuul?”

Zerul shrugged. “He will be taken back to his forest, where he will wait for another bride or a power donor.”

Livia sighed. “What will happen to the ladies he brought?”

“The girls will be returned to their home communities.” He frowned. “I am not quite sure why he was here tonight anyway.”

Livia frowned. Hari frowned, and as understanding hit, she looked at her friend. They spoke in unison. “Eon.”

Zerul paused. “Eon?”

Hari sighed. “She was the bouncer when we started and then went into maintenance at the club. She does the banking and payroll, too.”

Zerul paused. “Wait. Do you own the strip club?”

Livia laughed. “Yes. Yes, we do. We are a corporation with a long and annoying number. Eon was originally handy at getting us the location and the permits. Whatever we needed, she was there, and we just had good luck at getting the right thing at the right time.”

Hari smiled. “Life got so much easier when she ran into us at that coffee shop.”

Zerul cleared his throat. “Is she available to join us this evening?”

“Would you like me to check?”

“Please. I am always fascinated by those who can move through the world and shape it as they go.”

“Hm. Okay. I will send her a text and see what she’s up to.” Hari smiled and sent the text. A response came back, and Hari laughed. “Wow. She and Vega just left a movie. They are willing to come by.”

“Who is Vega?”

Hari smiled. “Our truly silent partner. She put up the funding for the club. All of it. She’s also possessed, but he keeps to himself for the most part.”

“Possessed?”

“Yeah. Vega has funny luck. She found an artifact five years ago, and now, there is someone inside her. No mages have been able to dislodge him, so she is resigned to a singular life.”

“I will make certain that she is well-received.” Zerul beckoned to one of the security men discreetly spotted around the room and explained that two more ladies were coming who may not be dressed appropriately. They were to be brought in immediately.

Hari chuckled. “This is actually turning into a fun party for me.”

Livia smiled and walked over to Benny and her crew. Tremble inclined his head to her, and Livia smiled at the other elf. Hari smiled at Livia easily settling.

Zerul smiled. “I am glad for it. Oh, look. Officer Lonny and your weapon of choice.”

The officer looked a little nervous as he walked in and had the distinct shape of the frying pan in a bag. Hari walked over to him and smiled. “Hey, Lonny. Sorry that I wasn’t able to pick up the pan. It’s been a day.”

“You are okay? I heard about the fire.”

“I wasn’t, but I am now. Fast metabolism.” She smiled.

He held her wrapped pan out to her. “Here it is, as promised. Oh, Serel is in custody and being held without bail. She’s pissed.”

“Good.”

“You are really the governor’s consort?”

“Most likely. I have a few issues that have to be worked out.”

Lonny smiled. “Got it. Hey, Livia is here? Who is watching the bar?”

“The standard staff. Today was my day off anyway. I am not sure how my week is shaking out.” She slid the wrap off her frying pan and checked out the edge. “Not even a dent.”

Lonny grinned. “Quality workmanship.”

Zerul’s voice said smoothly, “Thank you.”

Hari felt the hand slowly wrapping around her abdomen and pulling her back against him.

Lonny blinked, and his smile got even wider. “Good evening, sir.”

“Good evening, officer.”

“I will be on my way.”

Zerul pressed a kiss to Hari’s temple. “Solid idea. She will see you soon.”

Lonny nodded. “Have a nice time, Hari.”

“I probably will, but the night is young.”

Zerul squeezed her gently.

Lonny chuckled and left the party. As he was leaving, Eon and Vega walked in, dressed appropriately for the event. Both were wearing grey and dark bronze cocktail dresses, respectively.

Vega’s bronze dress gleamed, and her black hair was twisted over one shoulder to cascade down to her waist. Eon wore short, cropped hair and a grey dress. They smiled at Hari and walked over, ignoring the attention that they were gathering as they moved through the crowd of fifty extranaturals and local dignitaries.

Livia turned and walked toward them in her ivory dress, and when they all stood with Hari, she could swear she heard a gong ringing somewhere in the dream realm.

Benny was whispering to her companions, and all of them looked excited.

Hari looked around, saw her friends, and whispered, “What just happened?”

Zerul whispered in her ear, “The first demi-goddess council has convened.”

Vega snorted. “Not fucking likely.”

The others laughed. Hari was content to agree. How likely was it that they had come together because Zerul insisted on a consort?