“Gummy bear?” Cyrus asked in wonder.
“Well, she had no teeth when I first met her, so… But that doesn’t matter right now. Killian, did Cyrus tell you what I want to know?”
“He did. And while I did find more than those who looked the first time, it is mostly as we thought. Preston paid off some, like Seri's roommates, to look the other way. A withdrawal was submitted that looked official enough, so his school didn’t question it.
“The only one who caused issues was the human who was Seri’s superior. Or rather, the man in charge of the research grant study he was in. Professor Emmet Finley tried to file a report, and it got thrown out. I found that out when I contacted him. Because there was no official filing left.
“He informed me that the police told him that Seri threatened to file a restraining order against him for harassment if he didn’t let it go. The man outright told me that he believed it wasn’t Seri threatening him, it was the police. Emmet tried to go to the CEB next, but…” Killian grimaced. “Let’s just say that the mole who turned him away has already been dealt with. The professor promised that while he wouldn’t be talking to anyone about this, he was going to take my line of questioning as proof of him being right, and only regrets that he didn’t keep pushing.”
“So, corruption and more corruption.” He cursed in his head. “At least someone did look for him. That will…make Seri happy.”
Killian stretched,before rubbing at his temples. Firm hands brushed his away and took over the task. “Headache?” Cyrus asked him.
“Mhmm. Sleep deprived. I’ve been digging as long as I can each day. But I’m being pulled in multiple directions. My list of names to track down keeps growing, which means so do my tasks. And I have to be careful each and every time I set up an arrest, to make sure I’m not fucking accidentally using one of Preston’s people.”
“You need more help,” his lover mused.
“I do. And you are helping. You are the one vetting everyone we send out, so don’t act like I’m doing all this alone.”
“My help is moderate. You still deep dive into everyone before I vet further.”
“It is what it is. Each person we find that we can trust makes it a bit easier, but…there is just so much to look into…and certain things I’m not willing to trust anyone but you or myself with. I'm sure there are others but…the time spent vetting would be just one more extra thing to do.”
“How about using Jorah?” Cyrus said. “He used to do your job before moving to the financial department.”
The airy quality to the man’s voice had Killian stiffening up.
Brushing Cyrus’ hands away, he turned around. Cyrus’ eyes were glowing, and the reddish purple had been replaced by forest green. “Is this really…the time for you to tug on a thread?”
“I see paths. There are choices. None are without collateral. The end results are nearly identical, yet with some paths, the damage accumulated is greater.”
“Jorah Parise… That there are even choices means he can’t be trusted. Hell, Cyrus…he’s been with us since the beginning…back when your cousin still ran this branch…”
“Life is all about choices.”
“Yes, well, when the results of this choice come to fruition, it'll be you who has to deal with Severo. As for Jorah, feel free to do as you wish, set him on the tasks you want, but I won’t take any part in it.”
Cyrus sighed. “Sirens…so cautious.”
Killian cupped the man’s face and gave him a hard kiss before saying, “And sometimes you Grimms are not cautious enough. You think you can see all the pathways, and all the consequences of the choices that could be made, when the truth is, you only see what the threads want you to see.”
“Bah da, ah, Oh-Oh!”Skya ranted.
“Yes, yes, I know you are hungry. I’m so sorry my meeting ran long.”
“BAH!” she growled.
“Aw, is my dewdrop hungry?” Seri chuckled as Severo walked out of the hallway and into the kitchen.
The man was sitting there in the seat next to Skya’s highchair, drinking what looked like milk. Laid out on the table was a jar that he knew was freshly mashed food for Skya, and a sippy cup with a bunny on it. His gaze caught on Seri’s necklace. No longer was it the small jar, but a small two-inch cylinder with a silver ring at the bottom and the top. The middle part was completely clear, and it looked full of a very familiar, glowing light blue liquid.
“She only had a few snacks after lunch, so she isobviouslystarving. Is that necklace…?”
Seri glanced down, grasping the small cylinder. “Ah…yes… While I want to improve and break it down…I thought… Well, it’s an automatic injector, even if it doesn’t look like one… If…or when Preston comes, I’ll have some way to defend myself. Though, I may have improved it slightly for the worse.”
Severo smirked. “More lethal?”
The Nymph snorted. “No, I just added an ingredient. It’s nothing that should cause added harm. I would rather not get put away for murder, thank you.”
