He startles and swivels around to face me. “Yes?” His voice is eerily emotionless.
“Ned is bringing his boyfriend over so we can meet him, remember?”
Jade blinks slowly, and something similar to his normal expression settles over his features. “Oh yes, let’s go meet the incestuous couple. We don’t want to be late.”
Yeah, I really don’t think now is a good time for a gossip and a catch-up. Jade does not seem like he is in the right frame of mind.
Silently, we walk out of his room together. Why is Jade being so strange? So malevolent? It is not like him at all. It is very unsettling. It is also making me feel terribly guilty. I’ve been obsessing about Monty, while Jade has been clearly going through something. I’m a terrible friend. I need to do better.
We reach the dining room and are greeted by the sight of Ned pacing frantically. It is quite the sight.
I’ve always known Ned to be a bundle of nerves when it comes to anything personal, but this? This is new. He’s pacing the dining room like the world is about to end, muttering something under his breath about sweaty palms. Sweaty palms? Ned went through hell with us in the harem and always appeared brave, but apparently, the prospect of his boyfriend meeting us, a bunch of chaotic, semi-functional paranormals, is enough to make him unravel.
“It’s going to be fine, Ned,” Lello says, his voice light and reassuring. “Everybody is going to love him, and he’s going to love everybody.”
I can’t help but smile at Lello’s optimism. The little kelpie always manages to bring a sense of hope into the room. It’s sweet, but also a little naïve.
Jade and I take our seats quietly. Everyone else, apart from Gray and Mal, are here. The dining room, despite its overly formal vibe, is the only space big enough to host this exciting event. My gaze drifts to Jade, who’s looking at Ned with his new inscrutable expression. I really wish I knew what was going on with him.
I break the tension. “We’re happy for you, Ned. We really are.”
It’s not a lie. Morgan seems like a good guy from what little I’ve heard. And Ned? He deserves a shot at happiness. But there’s an elephant in the room, and perhaps clearing the air about it, will put Jade at ease. I’ve been such a terrible friend, this small act is the least I can do.
“But…” I continue, watching as Ned’s shoulders stiffen. He turns to glare at me, already bristling with defensiveness.
“Shouldn’t you tell Morgan that you’re his great-grandfather?”
“I’m not!” Ned snaps, his tone as sharp as a blade.
Jade leans forward, his voice calm but unyielding. “No, you’re his dead wife’s great-grandfather.”
The guilt in Ned’s eyes is unmistakable, but before he can respond, the doorbell rings. He practically bolts for the door, throwing out a hurried, “He’s here!” as if we didn’t all hear the bell.
Lello scampers excitedly after him. Carter stares after him like he is thinking he should have stopped his mate, but it is too late now.
I exchange a look with Jade, who just sighs and shakes his head. What has got in to him? I don’t believe for one second that he is genuinely this perturbed by Ned’s relationship. This disapproval has to be a proxy for some other discontent. I’ll have to get the truth out of him somehow.
From the hallway, I hear Lello’s excited voice, followed by Morgan’s warm laughter. A moment later, they appear, Lello practically dragging the poor guy into the room while babbling about everything under the sun.
Morgan looks over his shoulder at Ned, who shrugs apologetically. The smile Morgan gives him in return is genuine, and I feel a pang of relief. Maybe this won’t be a disaster after all.
“Everyone, this is Morgan. Morgan, this is everyone,” Ned says awkwardly, gesturing vaguely at the room.
Morgan’s cheerful “Hi everyone!” earns him a few polite nods, but I notice Blue pale at the back of the room. Sammy leans in to whisper something, and the two of them slip out quietly. My heart sinks. Blue’s reaction is understandable, given how scared of people he is, but it still stings to see him retreat like that.
Red steps in smoothly, guiding the conversation with practiced ease. It’s what he does best, diffusing tension, keeping things pleasant. I glance at Jade, who’s glaring daggers at Ned. Then my attention is drawn to Gray and Mal as they finally make their entrance.
And suddenly everything falls apart.
Morgan freezes, his eyes locking on Gray like a rabbit caught in headlights. He stumbles back, his face pale and stricken, and I realize what’s happening. Gray isn’t shielding his energy again. The poor little demon keeps forgetting how to do it.
“Gray! Cut it out!” Ned snaps, his tone laced with frustration.
Gray looks genuinely confused, and the sight breaks my heart. Out of all of us, I think Gray suffered the most, for the longest. It makes me wish we could resurrect Ritchie so we could kill him again.
Ned steps in to comfort Morgan, explaining the situation. “Hey, it’s okay. Gray is a demon. The reaction you are feeling is a perfectly healthy human response. Demons usually shield their energy, but Gray is not right in the head and has apparently forgotten how to.”
I wince. Saying Gray is not right in the head, is a bit harsh.
