“Who will be watching if you’re with us? Assumedly Merry and Coltor will be there as well?”
“I’ve already asked Keplar if they can monitor for the afternoon. It’s covered.”
“And what will you owe to Hell for such favors, Seir? What will I?”
“You’ll owe nothing. The details of arrangements I make are none of your concern. Besides, I’m still technically employed there. My unit leader doing me a favor and watching the gates is on him, not me, and certainly notyou. Say. Yes.”
“You are reckless, brother. Impulsive. Infuriating.”
“You love all that about me.”
Tap grunted. “I cannot make choices like this for anyone but myself. We’ll need to discuss it with her.”
“Discuss what?” I asked, causing both men to spin my direction. Seir’s face broke into a wide smile and Tap regarded me calmly, pushing his glasses back up from where they’d slid down his nose while one hand idly turned his rings. I’d come to learn rather quickly that both habits were tells he was anxious. A demon who got nervous so easily was incredibly endearing.
Seir took a large step toward me, but Tap held him back by his shirt. If anything, this amused Seir, and he allowed his brother to effectively leash him as they approached.
“Seir has suggested that we travel earth-side.”
I’d surmised as much, but the blunt way Tap said it still shocked me. I was too used to Father Morton dancing around things and was still working on my tendency to expect trickery. “What for?”
“Sunlight. Plants. Animals. Food that isn’t prepared byhim.”
A smile cracked my face. “The food here isn’t bad. For the most part, it’s been an improvement over what I was eating before.”
“Only for the most part?” Tap asked, looking crestfallen. “It was only the greens you didn’t like, right?”
Seir groaned. “Oh no. That’s awful! What terrible mistreatment did you get in Vincara that you could say such a thing?”
I laughed then, unable to keep the bright burst of mirth from tickling up my spine. Seir was a special kind of entertaining, but more than that, the exasperation on Tap’s face had done me in. Both of them stared at me, which only made me laugh harder. Unfortunately that led to me coughing due to my irritated throat and I had to raise my hand in reassurance as Tap’s expression clouded over.
Tap’s hand grazed his chest, a soft rubbing motion just over his heart as Seir clapped him on the shoulder.
“So? What do you say?” Seir prompted, bouncing on his toes. “Would you like to get away from here? Breathe some fresh air? Meet some new people?”
My heart stuttered. Suddenly I did. I wanted a change of scenery more than anything despite the fact that I was very happy in my new residence. “That would be nice,” I said, but my mood began to slip almost immediately as I remembered whyI’d come here. “As long as it’s safe.” I looked at Tap. New people were a terrifying prospect, even if seeing a new place had its charms.
“It’s one of the most secure places I can think of,” he answered, reaching up to twist his earrings idly. “If you’d like to go, I wouldn’t be concerned about your safety there.”
His answer felt strange. “You’d be coming as well, I assume?”
He nodded stiffly. “Yes. I suppose I would.”
“Are there a lot of people?”
“No, just a few, and everyone there is… family.” One of Tap’s eyebrows raised as he completed his thought, as though saying it that way surprised even him.
“So that’s a yes?” Seir asked, eyes bouncing between me and his brother.
“Yes. Please. I’d like to go.”
Seir clapped his hands before placing them on my shoulders and steering me back toward my room. “Wonderful! It’s not nearly as cold as in Vincara, but you’ll still want a coat.”
I stiffened, realizing I’d misjudged the offer slightly. “Wait, we’re going right now?”
“When else? Do you have other plans today?”
“Seir,” Tap chided gently, slowly following behind us with a shake of his head. “Easy.”
