He lifted a single shoulder in a partial shrug. “You won’t have to help take care of it, if that’s what you’re worried about. In fact, I’d prefer if you didn’t.”
After how Castle had put his hands on Bay, Sila was rethinking a few things. He’d kept the leash rather loose up until this point because there’d been no real reason to tighten it and make his presence known, but now…
“Is this the type of pet you’ll eventually get bored with and release back into the wild?” his brother asked. “You know you shouldn’t do things like that. Making someone get attached to you only for you to kick them to the curb. Especially when you know that’s how things will end from the start.”
“Will it?” Sila wasn’t sure. It wasn’t like he intended to hang onto Bay forever, but there was no set timeline as of yet either.
“Whatever,” his brother gave in. “Just find somewhere else to keep it. The last thing I need is to come home to find some stranger tied up on the couch.”
It was his referring to their apartment as a home that had Sila mildly concerned. His brother never called it that, because that’s not what it was. They didn’t have a home. Things with the Imperial Prince must be stressing him out more than he was letting on, even to Sila.
“Do you need anything?” Sila asked, gentling his tone the way he knew people found comforting. His brother would see through the act, but sometimes playing pretend, even with each other, was a sort of comfort all on its own.
Sure enough, the corner of his mouth tipped up in appreciation, but then he gave a single shake of his head. “What I need is to get back to the Academy. I’ve got a shooting exam tomorrow in the early am.”
The exam was merely an excuse to leave, since his brother was an impeccable shot, but Sila didn’t point that out. If he wanted to go, he wouldn’t hold him back. There were things he’d rather be doing right now as well, actually.
“I’ll see you later.” Without any more prompting, his brother turned on his heel and walked out.
Sila waited for a minute or two, just to be sure he wasn’t coming back for any reason, and then he made a quick call on his multi-slate.
“What’s up?” a tired voice asked after only a couple of rings.
“Nate,” he greeted just to be polite, since the older guy had been nice to him these past few months and got down to business. “I’d like to set up another race.”
“I’m not on speaking terms with Pandaveer at the moment. Bastard blew me off last week.”
Sila grinned to himself. He’d been curious when he’d spotted Bay and Nate at the coffee shop down the street from campus. Their connection with racing had already been discovered, of course, but he hadn’t realized the two were also friends until then.
Friends forgave one another minor transgressions.
“I’ll throw in another thirty coin for you on the side,” Sila offered.
“Again?” Nate let out a low whistle on the other end of the line. “Careful. I’ve seen guys get cocky when it comes to gambling. You don’t want to end up like them.”
He smiled. “I won’t.”
“Takes a lot of coin to put together one of these impromptu races, man,” Nate reminded, but when Sila remained silent, a clear indicator he wasn’t going to budge, he sighed. “All right. You’re in luck. I’m with Bauble now. He can do tomorrow at six.”
Bauble Heart, another prominent racer on the scene. Nate was friends with many of the mid-tier racers, which was how he was always able to get someone to participate whenever Sila gave him a call. He must know that Sila played the game, that he set these things up and then placed bets with a third party in order to rack in the dough. Nate wasn’t stupid, and he would have caught on that every friend of his he set against Bay ended up losing, but he’d never brought it up and never turned Sila down. Whatever his reasoning, it was his own and Sila had no interest in prying.
“Do me another favor,” he said before Nate could end the call. “When you contact Pandaveer to let him know, include a message from me.”
Nate hesitated but then asked absently, “Sure, whatever. What do you want me to say?”
“Tell him I’m looking forward to watching my kitten ride.”
There was a slight choking sound but he managed to collect himself quickly enough. Nate cleared his throat. “You got it, man.”
“Thanks.” Sila hung up and then exited the Brick, making his way through the forest toward his apartment building while he waited. He didn’t have to wait long.
His multi-slate beeped and he was already grinning when he lifted to check the new message.
Kitten:What is this?
Humming to himself, Sila made the professor wait, taking his time as he made it to the parking lot and then up to his apartment. It wasn’t until he was comfortably seated in front of his desk in his room, his tablet open before him, that he finally replied. The program he’d used to create the fake number helped to keep his identity hidden from Bay, not that he thought the guy would bother going to the authorities to ask for a trace.
Though, he may end up getting his friend Flix involved if Sila pushed things too far. That wouldn’t do.
