13
Dante
The nursery looked fantastic,if I do say somyself.
We’d decided to paint the nursery walls a pale sunset-orange color so it was gender neutral, since we didn’t know the sex of the baby just yet. My dad helped me with painting, and in his excitement, he’d already bought a whole bunch of toys and stuffed animals, which he was currently arranging on the brand new microfiber couch he bought for thenursery.
“Dad,” I said with a chuckle, “the baby’s not gonna be able to play with those until it’s wayolder.”
“I know,” my dad said, smiling with a twinkle in his eyes. “Doesn’t mean I can’t spoil my grandbaby already,doesit?”
Sometimes I saw myself in him, and this was one of those times. I had no doubt he acted exactly like this when Lorenzo and Iwereborn.
“So, I heard you made Gabriel learn magic,” Dad said as he fluffed up apillow.
“Yeah, I did. And you know what? He’s really good at it,” I saidproudly.
“Really?” his browsraised.
“Yup. His earth magic affinity is pretty strong. That’s what he and Ryu have been focusing on, and Ryu’s impressed. So am I,actually.”
Dad smiled. “That’s wonderful,Dante.”
A sad look flickered across his face, and I knew what he was thinking about. My omega-father.
“Did you want Gabriel to learn because of your father?” Dad askedsoftly.
I swallowed hard, feeling a lump in mythroat. “Yeah.”
He nodded. “I understand. It’s easier, knowing he can protect himself,isn’tit?”
“It is,” I admitted. “Even if he didn’t take to magic, I probably would have made him go to a self-defense martial arts class orsomething.”
Dad chuckled. “Goodidea.”
I checked the time. It was getting late. “Gabe’s probably done with his lessons now. I’m gonna go pickhimup.”
“Sure,” my dad said. “I’ll head on home. Call me if you needanything.”
“Thanks,Dad.”
* * *
When I arrivedin front of Ryu’s door, a strange sensation crawled up my spine, like something wasn’t quite right. I shook it off. I saw Gabriel inside through the window, meaning he was obviously alive and well. It must have just been myimagination.
When I entered, I found Ryu and Gabriel standing beside the potted flower from earlier - the one Gabe had made bloom withmagic.
But right now, they were so entranced they didn’t notice meenter.
And then Isawwhy.
Gabriel, with his brows furrowed intensely and sweat dripping down his forehead, had his trembling hands held out towards the flower. Surrounding it was a thin, see-through bubble with a silversheen.
Gabe had created abarrier.
“Gabe!?” I cried withagasp.
It broke his concentration. The barrier popped like a bubble. Gabriel stumbled back. Ryu glanced at me with anenormousgrin.
