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“Knowing those two, they’d be hiding you in their nest and hissing at any other dragons showing interest,” Erik’s father muttered. “Frankly, I’m astonished they haven’t dragged you back to their nest as it is.”
“Well, I wrote them letters and kept in touch. I just did a very good job of covering my tracks.” As I was quite proud of giving even my parents the slip, I smiled. “I did a good job. I escaped Miami with life and limb intact, I maintained my integrity, and I’ve done well enough for myself.”
“You have. Once you’re ready, go into the kitchen. There’s no rush, and I know these things are difficult, especially when you feel like you’ve done something wrong. You haven’t, and we’ll keep telling you that until you believe it. There is nothing ever wrong about doing something difficult for someone else’s sake.”
EIGHTEEN
The little glutton had devoured every last drop.
Sunday, April 26, 2167
The Sapphire Ward
Dragon Heights, Wyoming
Erik had his mother’s eyes, and I spent a shameful amount of time peeking around the corner to admire him. He still wore his uniform, and from the looks of it, he hadn’t been given any time to remove his holster. His firearm was nowhere in sight, though. Had it been, I would have stormed the kitchen and given him a piece of my mind immediately.
When we’d had a household together, we’d put our guns into the safe first thing upon arriving home.
From the looks of the activities in the kitchen, Erik’s mother intended on feeding Garnet at least ten different types of potatoes.
“Mom, I could understand the scalloped potatoes upon learning Chester is bringing a guest, but what are we even doing?”
I grinned, retrieved Tourmaline from Garnet’s back, and whispered, “Garnet, in your wisp form, go see what Mrs. Millson is making. Don’t transform unless she invites you to, okay?”
The carbunclo squeaked, jumped off my shoulder, and transformed, zipping across the kitchen to bob around, investigating the potatoes.
Erik’s mother giggled. “I see one of our guests has arrived. Hello, little baby. We’re just finishing up your supper.” The woman grabbed a teacloth, spread it out nearby, and patted the counter in invitation. “Sit here, and I’ll give you a little now. You must be hungry, you poor little dear.”
Garnet did as told, and she sat as I’d taught her, offering one of her greeting mews.
Erik sucked in a breath, staring at my kitten.
I slinked around the corner, waited for the tell-tale sounds of Erik coming my way, and tensed, debating on tripping him and getting the jump on him that way or tapping on his shoulder with my cuffed hands. While tripping him was rude, I remembered how swift he could be when he wanted. I might not have a chance to tap him at all before I had to chase after him.
If I wanted to waylay him, I’d have to go in for the kill, get him down, and hold him there.
“Chester?” Erik called, and he emerged from the kitchen.
I stuck my foot out, caught him across the feet, and hooked my toes around his ankle to tangle him up. He yelped and went down, his knees hitting the ground first before he unbalanced, sprawling on his stomach. Somehow, I kept my balance, freeing my foot. Then, because I could, I sat on his back. “I was put under arrest for having a criminally cute kitten.”
“Kinsley.”
Not a question, but a statement. While it had been years since I’d seen him, I recognized his tone.
I’d gotten him good, and he’d get me good in kind as soon as he had some time to think of how to get his revenge. After everything I’d put him through, I deserved a little payback.
I could handle his desire to hold his own and give it as good as he received.
Leaning forward, I rattled the handcuffs. “I’ll admit, having a criminally cute kitten is a good reason to be arrested. Imagine my surprise when your brother showed up at my door for legitimate business, especially as I had not known you had siblings.”
“Oh, I can imagine,” Erik replied in a wry tone. “Did he sit on your back?”
“No, he didn’t. It was a wellness check because of my parents showing up. Perhaps if he hadn’t been on official police business, I might have undergone some basic familial hazing. Apparently, my parents are demons. The local police were concerned for my safety. The photographs of my suffering had the cops coming over.”
Erik snorted in his effort to contain his laughter, failed, snorted a few more times, and finally gave in and snickered. “I was putting thought into doing a wellness check, but I wouldn’t have been in my uniform. I would have been in a suit, I would have been bringing flowers, and I would have found the greasiest junk food money can buy to bribe my way into your home. Once I’d gotten inside, you would have had difficulties getting rid of me.”
I bowed my head and joined him in laughing; the first time I’d been convinced to go on an outing with him, I’d missed the memo, insisting we go to a junk food place to indulge in burgers, not clueing in he’d wanted to go on a proper date. It had taken him four more attempts before he’d accepted if he wanted to do anything romantic, he would need to fully plan the date without letting me be involved with any of it.