Beneath notice, p.1
Beneath Notice, page 1
Hazel was never the favourite daughter. One parent hated her, she revolted the other, and then she messed up at work when someone cursed her. It just wasn’t a good day.
Hazel has tried just to follow the family path and do what was asked of her. Her work in the financial industry has her pegged as an analyst and a notary for the company contracts. She has one secret she holds for herself, which is a small matter that gives her a reason to keep going.
A summons, a curse, and a blue-skinned elf tangle themselves into the worst day ever. She runs to a friend to get help with the curse, and her friend has to go to higher magic, the elf clan leader. He just happens to be the omega who gave birth to Hazel, and it doesn’t help untangle the disaster of her day.
An elf, a marriage contract, and surrogacy combine with Hazel to protect her and restart her life, but it is a little too much, and her new husband calls for an assist. Every girl needs her best friend when she has a new guy, family troubles, and a baby on the way. Good thing Sevval just showed up.
The characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.
Beneath Notice
Copyright © 2022 by Viola Grace
ISBN: 978-1-990635-19-9
©Cover art by Angela Waters
All rights reserved. With the exception of review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, is forbidden without the express permission of the publisher.
Published by Viola Grace
Look for me online at violagrace.com and other e-book sellers.
Beneath Notice
An Obscure City Book 1
By
Viola Grace
Chapter One
“It’s looking good. The parents will be over the moon.” The tech wiped the conductive gel off Hazel’s curved belly.
“You will send the images?”
“Yup. Twenty-four weeks and developing right on time. They will be excited. You are doing the whole thing anonymously?”
Hazel sat up and pulled her shirt back down. “Yeah.”
She didn’t fill the curious tech in on what was going on. She finished getting the gel off her belly and hitched her skirt back into place. Having a child for a stranger was something that she wanted to do. Her family wouldn’t let her date or marry, so the deep maternal instinct that screamed at her every moment of every day had to be satisfied. She was going to have a baby and then figure out which way to escape. Her family wouldn’t kill her while she was pregnant, but the moment she was done, she would be a corpse if she wasn’t fast enough.
There wasn’t supposed to be any of her bloodline in the world. Her father had made that certain.
She put on her business suit jacket that concealed her abdomen and headed out to pay her bill. She took out her phone and sent a message to the anonymous number. Scan’s good. All is well. 24 weeks.
She saw that the messages had been read, and she put her phone back into the lining of her purse. She headed outside and shivered as she headed back to the office.
Canwell Financial was stationed in a building with its name on the stone itself.
She grabbed a salad at the kiosk in the lobby and headed up to her desk.
“Hey, Hazel. Have another lunch appointment?” Stuart looked at her salad.
“Yeah. Don’t worry. I won’t put any dressing on.” She opened her software, ate her dry salad, and drank her bottle of water.
She proofed contracts, and then she got a call.
“Hazel, you need to get over to the Boarcroft Hotel. Dad needs a notary.” Annabeth giggled.
“Right. On my way.” Hazel hung up and grabbed her purse and her seal from a locked drawer in her desk. The blood kit was in a separate container. It was part of the service that the company provided. If either party broke the contract, they were both cursed. It wasn’t Hazel’s idea; it wasn’t her magic, but she carried the kit just in case.
As she got to the main floor, she looked to the left and right. Lovely. No cabs. She started walking.
Walking was good for the baby, and her slightly unusual condition meant that no one even knew the baby was there unless she wanted them to know. She had never been so happy to be a little bit off.
She walked with long strides and bitched herself out for not wearing a thicker coat. She walked fast and felt her fitness watch go crazy as she met her minimum step count before she was even halfway there.
Her phone went off, and she answered it. “I am six minutes away, Sir.”
“What is taking so long, Hazel?” Her father’s voice was falsely pleasant.
“No cabs, Sir.”
“Well, the exercise might trim some of the fat from your face. Hurry up.”
She hung up and kept walking. She could see the hotel sign up ahead. She walked inside the very posh lobby. She walked to the graceful troll at the desk and said, “Excuse me. I am looking for Mr. Canwell and his meal companion.”
The troll looked at her and smirked. “And what does a little creampuff like you need with two such vicious men?”
She sighed. “Work. I am the notary.”
He nodded. “Ah, come with me, little dessert.”
Hazel followed the huge but elegant male as he led her to the dining room. He held out his hand to direct her, and she saw her father sitting across from a large figure.
“Thank you very much. You have been very kind.”
He looked down at her, and a flicker of wonder crossed his expression. “It was my pleasure, miss.”
She walked into the dining room and approached the table where the two men were sitting.
She gave a short bow. “Please, excuse me for the delay.”
Albert Canwell glared at her, then looked at the other man and put a pleasant expression on his features. “Not a problem.”
The other male rumbled, “Good. You should have sent your car for her, Canwell.”
She didn’t look at the male who was speaking. What she could see of his hand was definitely non-human and a mix.
The sound of paper rustling put her on guard, and her father handed her the contract. “Read it over. I have cleared it already, but this is one of the few areas where you excel.”
“May I have a seat?” Hazel asked him softly.
“Over there.” He flapped his hand dismissively.
She took the contract and started to go over it. When her father’s fingers started tapping, she read faster. It was a bridal contract, and she could only find one issue.
She stood up and walked it over. “There is one thing that may cause an issue.”
Her father glared at her. “I didn’t see it, so it isn’t there. Are we clear?”
She nodded. “Certainly, Sir.”
The contracts were signed, and she witnessed, notarized, and then paused.
Her father murmured, “Get the blood kit.”
She nodded and got the kit out. There were three copies. She put one drop of blood on each of her seals. On the third, near the business partner who was about to be her brother-in-law, he reached for his cup as she moved to mark the seal.
Her blood touched his blue skin marked with glyphs, and she stared into his strangely pretty eyes. “I am so sorry.” She spun and got a napkin, but he was already licking her blood.
Shit.
“Uh, sir, that... I am sorry.” She bit her lip. She fumbled and got out a business card and handed it to him. “Please, call this mage, and they can remove the effects, at my expense, of course.”
He looked at the name and arched his brow. “You will pay for this? He’s expensive.”
She flushed and tried to stem the slow drip of blood that didn’t want to stop. “No expense is too great to set your mind at ease.”
Hazel didn’t look at her father as she stumbled to her blood kit and tried to get the emergency clot solution. There was no scent, and it appeared that someone had tampered with her kit. The blade had been dipped in an anticoagulant, and her coagulant was water. The blonde hair in her kit told her that Annabeth had made a visit.
She grabbed the gauze and quickly wrapped her finger, but the blood seeped through.
The other male asked, “Is something wrong?”
“No. The contracts are sealed. You are all good.” She packed up swiftly and bowed again. “Good afternoon.”
The business partner stood up, but she ducked her head and headed out of the restaurant. Since she was on personal business now, she called a ride-share and told him where she wanted to go. She hid the bleeding finger behind her purse and got into the car while she used her left hand to text her friend.
Shit. How had this gone so wrong so fast? She needed Kira, who would help her get some quick clot. She didn’t want to run around like this right now.
Her mind wanted to crawl into a corner and whimper, but she couldn’t until she got this sorted.
The driver tried to chat with her, but she politely said she was having a very bad day. He nodded and drove silently to the bakery.
To her surprise, he got out and helped her out of the car. She wobbled. “Thank you.”
“You are bleeding somewhere, and with your pregnancy, I am surprised you aren’t at a hospital.”
She swallowed. “I am plain human. All they can do is what I can do. Please, don’t mention this to anyone.”
He nodded, his slightly shaggy hair falling forward over his eyes. “You do look like you are having a bad day. I am on duty for most of the day if you need another ride.”
Hazel nodded. “Thank you for that.”
She kept her hand inside her purse, nodded politely, and bolted inside the bakery with its cute tables and folks having tea and desserts.
She typed a message to Kira, and the half-elf came out a moment later. “Oh, honey. Come with me.”
Hazel smiled at the honey-coloured hair, moon-cold skin, and rainbow eyes that came toward her in a flurry of flour.
She got to her feet and walked to her friend, getting a one-armed hug from Kira and going with her to the back.
They headed to the office, and Kira said, “Okay, let me see it.”
Hazel grimaced and pulled her hand out, the gauze was soaked, and she had started dripping.
“Holy shit. That’s a curse.”
“I know. Do you know who can tackle it? I am worried about the baby.”
Kira covered her mouth. “Oh, geez. I forgot. You don’t look... I mean, your face is rounder, but you don’t really look pregnant.”
“Thanks. Who springs to mind to help me with this?”
Kira removed the bandage and soaked it in water. Hazel’s finger was pristine, but as they watched, a drop of blood welled out.
Kira got her first aide kit and said, “You know who would probably be the person to deal with this?”
“No, that is why I am here. Well, that and the croissants.”
Kira wrapped the wound up and soaked everything that had touched Hazel’s blood in the water. It was the only way to deal with a virgin’s blood if you didn’t want it used for spellwork. Hazel appreciated the care her friend took with her.
“You need to talk to him. He’s your blood. He’ll help.”
Hazel paled. “You really don’t understand how much he hates me.”
“It doesn’t matter. He will help.”
“I am not going to call him.”
Kira frowned. “If you aren’t, I will. I am his clan. He has to see me.”
Hazel blinked. “Oh.”
Kira called and made an appointment to see her clan leader. She explained that she had a friend under a blood curse, and she would like the leader to take a look.
Hazel watched the white of the new bandage become stained with red again. It was stupid, but if she kept bleeding for two weeks, she would be dead, and the baby would go with her. The bleeding was picking up the pace. It might even be one week.
She pressed her left hand to her abdomen, and her baby fluttered. She smiled and stroked her belly.
Kira hung up and looked at her hopefully. “Is it moving?”
Hazel knew what she was asking. “Yes.” She grabbed Kira’s hand and pressed her to where the fluttering movements were occurring.
Kira smiled. “Wow. I haven’t… wow.”
Hazel smiled softly. “Yeah, it is pretty extraordinary.”
When the little kicks and flutters tapered off, Kira straightened. “Do you think the father will let you visit it?”
“Doubtful. They wanted things anonymous, so that is how they will be. I carry this little guy to term, and then I get enough money to make a run for it.” She got to her feet. “And I forget a broken heart.”
Kira’s expression fell. Hazel immediately hugged her. “Hey, it’s okay. It was just money that I could funnel around my family holdings so I could use it, and I know that this baby is very much wanted. Maybe I get to have one I can keep one day.”
Kira closed the office door, removed her apron, and then opened a portal. She kept her arm around Hazel and walked them through the glowing doorway.
Hazel felt a surge of nausea, looked around, and sprinted for the ladies’ room.
She got to the stall in time to see her salad in all its vivid glory. Hazel heaved again at the thought of speaking to the man in the office.
She flushed and realized that she was going to have to get up and actually face the clan leader. The first omega to have gained the post in the last two hundred years.
She got up and washed her face. It was a good thing that she didn’t wear makeup. Growing up, Annabeth used to enjoy putting all kinds of spells in the makeup. That broke Hazel off the habit pretty quickly.
She blotted her face with a paper towel and checked the bandage. She hadn’t bled through all the way yet.
Hazel looked at the bathroom door and tried to imagine starting a new life next to the toilets.
She tensed up, patted the baby, and headed back to the waiting room where Kira was sitting. Her friend got to her feet and said, “Are you all right?”
“Yeah, I just don’t do well with portal transport right now. Little dude doesn’t like it.”
“Well, have a seat. Another guy took our appointment. We have to wait now.”
“Sorry.” She pressed her good hand to her forehead. “Okay, we wait.”
They waited and waited and waited.
She woke up alone in the waiting area. Well, she wasn’t alone. An elf with thick bronze hair, rainbow eyes, tanned skin, clearly cut lips, and shoulders like a linebacker sat near her.
He glanced at her over his phone. “You sleep soundly.”
“No snoring?”
He chuckled. “No. Surprising, but no.”
She shivered. “Good. I was here with a woman. Is she gone already?”
“She is currently begging for Tylos to see you. He’s refusing.”
Hazel nodded. “Thank you.”
She got to her feet and knocked on the office door. She could hear angry voices, male and female. She grunted and swung the door open. She saw her friend standing with tears streaming down her face. “Kira. Lost cause. Maybe if I cut the finger off, it will work.”
She looked at the man behind the desk, more beautiful than any man had a right to be. She met his gaze, and he looked shocked. “Who are you?”
“Hazel Canwell. Your daughter by forced birth, Lord Spiralbright.” She held out her bleeding hand. “Kira. Come on.”
His rainbow eyes narrowed. “Wait. Come here.”
She looked at him and scowled. “No. Fuck off.” She remembered her manners. “My lord.”
Kira smiled through her tears.
The lean and lithe figure behind the desk was suddenly standing in front of her. He took her bleeding hand and sniffed. “You were stung with elfbane.”
“Yeah, but I am human. It shouldn’t have an effect.”
“You have elf blood in you. It will still be able to be affected by the bane. You just need to take some regoth root, and you will be fine.”
She swallowed. “I can’t.”
He looked at her hand. “What? Why not?”
She gritted her teeth. “I’m pregnant. Roots that affect clotting are not recommended.”
“Pregnant? I thought Canwell was keeping you a virgin to avoid that curse.” He sneered.
“If virginity just means I haven’t had sex, I am still qualified there. This was done via IVF.”
He grabbed her chin. “Your man agreed to that?”
She jerked her head away. “No man. I am surrogating anonymously. Once I have the baby, I leave the city.”
“And the child?”
“Left with the father who wanted it.” She stiffened her jaw and looked at him. “I know what it is to be discarded by both parents, so if the father changes his mind, I will take the child.”
Tylos nodded. “Come in. I will fix your ouchie if only to save my grandchild.”
She stared at him, but he grabbed her wrist and hauled her along. There was a couch in his office, and he sat her down while unwrapping her finger. “So, how did you get stung by bane?”
“Uh, I poked myself sealing a contract for the company.” She watched as he set down the gauze. “My sister likes to play with my supplies in a not-so-fun way.”
“Sealing?”
“I am a notary, and Sir likes to show off by having me blood seal anything that involves a non-human.”
He frowned. “You call him sir?”
“He doesn’t answer to anything else. I have called him that since I could speak.” She looked as he watched the blood well up and run down her hand.
“This was designed to kill you.”
She shrugged. “It wouldn’t have been the first time.”
His right hand began to glow, and his left hand supported hers. He gestured, and the blood moved up her hand and returned to the pinprick. When the blood was gone, he pressed his lips to the mark, bit her, and spit the tissue out.
