“Momma always takes care of me.”
“That she does. As soon as she found out she was pregnant, that woman loved you. When the doctors apologetically told her you’d been born a necromancer…” Pops stared off into the distance, a smile on his lips and a chuckle rumbling from his chest. “I think the whole damn hospital heard Lydia dress the nurse and doctor down. Gaia, I can still remember the fire in her eyes when she looked at me, daring me to reject you.” Pops’s humor dissipated. “As if I could have turned away from my son.”
So many other warlock fathers did. Momma had reason to doubt mine. “You didn’t.”
“No. I took one look at you and knew I couldn’t abandon you. I have no idea how other warlocks manage to walk away.”
Pops envisioned himself weak for standing by me. I disagreed but knew I’d never convince him. “I don’t either. I love you, Pops.”
“I love you too. I love your Momma as well. We’ll get her and Franklin back.” Pops and Momma weren’tin lovewith each other, but they did love each other. That had always been clear.
The rapid beat of wings grew louder as Phlox flew down the hall. He looked as drained as I felt. “I’ve contacted everyone I can think of, and they’re checking on others as well.” Leon walked behind Phlox and wrapped his arm around him when Phlox landed on the ground. “I got ahold of Leander also.”
“How is he?”
“Besides being a grumpy asshole? He seems okay. I told him to hunker down behind his wards and to keep all his dogs with him for the foreseeable future.”
I cringed. “I’ll bet that made him happy.”
Phlox rubbed his ear. “Yeah, not so much. I think my ear’s still ringing from the tirade he let loose.”
“Thank you for calling and checking on him. I know you’re busy. I should have done it, but I can’t get my hands to stop shaking and—”
“It was no problem,” Phlox reassured me.
I hesitated with my next question. “Did you… Is Tabitha and—”
“Tabitha and Navarre are fine. At least, so far. She’s aware of what’s happening. We considered gathering those who are left of the council but aren’t certain that’s such a good idea.”
“My beloved is concerned that will make them easier targets.”
Phlox shrugged. “I’m not sure if that’s true or not. I think Director Huxley can get to us no matter where we are—gathered or not. The ones that are missing… It’s confusing. You’d think Director Huxley would have gone after the most powerful of us, but that’s not really the case.”
“Do you still think he’s the director?” I asked. “After what he’s done.”
“Good point.” Phlox lowered his head, exposing two rounded Pallas’s cat ears. A thick, bushy tail twitched behind him, peeking around his hip every now and again. I’d noticed when he was upset that he lost control and some of his other form slipped through.
“He is no leader of mine.” A hissed voice drifted into the room, the sound coming from everywhere and nowhere at once.
I stepped back, bumping into Pops. His arm rounded my chest, pulling me back and behind him. Pops’s blackened fingertips sparked with magic, its buzz crackling in the air.
“Wait!” Phlox shouted, stepping in front of Pops. “Hikaru is a friend.” Phlox turned, giving us his back and staring into a coalescing ball of green mist. “At least most of the time. Stop being a showoff and get your tails in here, Hikaru.”
“Such disrespect.” The amusement lacing those words negated their harshness. “You have always been such a disappointment, Agent Frost.”
“Only because I didn’t bow down and kiss your tails.” Leon growled, and Phlox waved him off. “That was a figure of speech. Only an idiot would truly fall for Hikaru’scharms.”
“You wound me to the core.” The mist became increasingly dense, swirling and coalescing into a figure that stood barely a few inches above my own height. Fisted hands on hips, the smaller male proudly stood. His skin was a light brown, his hair a mix of fiery reds, oranges, and golds. The tails swaying behind him were similar colored. Hikaru and I appeared to have the same no-nonsense fashion sensibilities. Dressed in a comfortable dark gray graphic tee with cargo pants and worn tennis shoes, Hikaru’s fisted hands slid into his pants pockets. Head tilted, his gaze scanned the room. When those eyes focused on me, I was astonished by their golden-green hue. Little tufts of fur crowned his pointed ear tips and were exposed when he pushed his thick hair behind an ear.
“So, you’re what all the fuss and muss is about.” Hikaru’s assessing gaze analyzed me from top to bottom. “Not all that impressive, but I suppose the packaging is often deceiving.” Hikaru’s lips quirked at the corner, exposing a slightly sharper than average canine tooth.
“Are you insulting my son?” Pops was quick to defend me.
Hikaru’s eyes widened before his lids seductively lowered. “Well now, Agent Frost, looks like you’ve been keeping warlock secrets. Shame on you. This one is a dish.” Hikaru’s tails danced a little faster. “I’ve always liked them big and brutish.”
“W-what?” Pops flinched back as if he’d been slapped. Recovering quickly, Pops fell back on his tried-and-true arrogance. “Who is this menace?”
Hikaru threw his head back, laughing like a loon. “Menace! How fitting.”
