"Your nose is like ice, Eva. Is it too cold for you? Should we get out?"
Eva did the best she could to stick her tongue out at him then headed for the falls. She left his laughter behind her as she ducked in and under the water. She loved playing in the water. After twenty minutes, she realized her mate was already out, dried off, and dressed.
She sighed but made her way out of the water. When her feet were solidly on smooth stone, she shifted back. Adriel wrapped her in his coat to dry. "Too cold?"
Eva's teeth chattered. "I wasn't in the water, but it is a tid bit nipply out here."
Adriel blinked. "I love the way you talk."
"And I love you." Eva used his coat to get most of the water off her body and stood, pulling her clothes on.
"I want to give this to you. The lagoon," Adriel said.
She spun. "No! This is your special spot, I can't take it."
Adriel stood. "You are giving up so much to be with me. I know we have not discussed it, but I cannot leave the city, and I will not give you up."
Eva nodded. "I realized that the second I scented you were my mate and saw your uniform."
"You deserve some place of your own."
Eva frowned. "Don't I get to live in your house with you?"
Adriel froze. "Of course!"
"If I need extra space I'll just claim one of your guest rooms. You keep your special space."
Adriel shook his head. "You need it more. It is perfect for your tiger."
Eva knew that his gift was truly about pleasing her and not as a way to say he was sorry. She tapped her foot. "How about this? We come here together. I get to watch you do yoga, we can make love, and I can swim. Ultimate relaxation."
"Ultimate relaxation, huh? It is only a deal if I get to teach you yoga."
"I don't think I'm that bendy."
"You are a tiger shifter. I believe you could be that 'bendy', which really opens up so many new positions." His eyes were bleeding back to red as he licked his lips.
She swallowed hard. "I could try."
"So, this will be our special place from now on?" he asked, walking up to pull her against his chest.
"I can agree to that."
He kissed her forehead. "Good. Now, let us get you down to Bethy. If I know her, she is already working buttonholes about tonight. Especially since it is with House Géroux, and our only suspect lives on their level."
Eva leaned back to look at her mate. "Isn't that the same family Tarak and Kuruk are from?"
"Yes, which is the main reason why this dinner is so important. House Géroux has always supported Magnus, so he will show his support by keeping their plans to have dinner."
"So it went from dreadful, boring political dinner to awkwardly painful political dinner," she surmised.
"I would say that is an apt assumption."
"Peachy."
*****
Eva sat still as Beth applied the last bit of glittery powder to her face.
"There, now you're done!" Beth put the make-up and brush down.
Eva looked in the mirror and stared. Her unruly long blonde hair had been pinned up in a neat, twisted chignon. Her make-up was natural but somehow highlighted her best feature, her eyes.
"You're a miracle worker."
Beth scoffed. "As if you weren't drop dead gorgeous before I got started."
"Not like this. This is polished and sophisticated."
"Get used to it. I have a feeling Adriel will be seeing a lot of Level One from now on. Uncle wants it to be known how much he supports the unit warriors." Beth looked in the mirror and dabbed on a bit more lipstick. She turned to her smiling. "Ready for the big challenge?"
"Dinner?"
Beth shook her head. "No. Meryn."
Eva followed Beth out of her room and down the hall. Without knocking, she walked in and sighed. Meryn was stretched out on a large oversized chair. She was wrapped up in a blanket that now sported orange powder stains. Eva looked down and spotted the culprit. An empty bag of Cheetos lay forgotten on the floor. Meryn's eyes were slightly unfocused and glazed over as she watched television.
"Oh dear, it's worse than I imagined." Beth's brow creased as she frowned.
Behind them, Ryuu walked in carrying a cup on a tray. Unless Eva's nose was playing tricks on her, it was coffee.
"Denka, here is your evening treat." Gently, he wrapped Meryn's fingers around the cup. Slowly, Meryn began to sip her coffee. It wasn't until she had drunk every last drop did she look around. She took in Eva and Beth's appearance and groaned. She pulled the blanket up over her head and burrowed between the cushions of the chair.
Exasperated, Beth stalked forward and began to unravel Meryn's blanket burrito. When she was finally uncovered, Meryn scowled up at her sister. "I'll eviscerate you."
Beth huffed and dropped the blanket. "No, you won't, because you would never hurt your niece or nephew."
Meryn blinked then smiled. "True." She closed her eyes and the air around her shimmered. Gone were the baggy sweats and t-shirt, in its place were jeans and a new hoodie. Beth stared, aghast at the change.
"Meryn! You can't wear that! Do something else."
Meryn closed her eyes again, only the hoodie's color changed from black to gray.
Beth's mouth open and closed in horror. "Okay. Okay. We can do this." She walked over and sat next to Meryn. "All right sweetie, picture this: A black tea length satin dress, off the shoulder with long sleeves. Imagine silk stockings and black kitten heels. You're wearing pearls and your hair and make up look like Audrey Hepburn." Beth stood as Meryn's clothes began to change. When it was done, Meryn sat primly in a gorgeous navy blue, satin formal dress. It was off the shoulder as Beth described and accented with tiny sapphires. The string of pearls was exactly as Beth planned and Meryn's hair was slicked back for a modern twist to a vintage look. Her eyebrows were artfully arched, her high cheekbones glowing, and her lips a perfect red.