Peter’s knowing look is irritating. “You’re the only one at war.”
“Spare me.”
“Only if you listen.”
“You don’t have to plead Hiram’s case.”
“I’m not, I’m defending my friend because it’s warranted. This conversation is overdue.” Peter finishes his wine in one gulp. “He’s not perfect, but neither are you.”
“I know that. Hiram is ...” The unfinished sentence dissipates without a fitting end.
“He’s a lot of things,” Peter says. “Not all of them are congruent, but I think that’s what frustrates you most. You want him to be everything you’ve decided he is. Maybe he is some of those things, but not all.”
Veda feels warm from the spices and wine.
“It’s normal to be frustrated by what you don’t understand. Or maybe you’re curious.”
“You’re making a lot of assumptions,” she deadpans.
“Am I? You’ve been on autopilot for years. Existing like you’re terminal and your days are almost up. Now you’re waking up and paying attention. I think you want to live more than you’ve prepared to die. Antaris has muddied things. So has Hiram.”
Veda laughs.
“Laugh all you want, but you’re attached. And it’s mutual. There is no way you can keep separating Antaris from Hiram. His son is part of him. It’s tenuous, but their bond will grow. So will yours—to both. You won’t be able to help it.”
Veda jiggles her knee, fingers trailing between the kitten’s ears. “Then stop shoving Hiram in my damn face.”
Peter frowns. “I haven’t.”
“Oh? So you had nothing to do with Hiram offering to help me get rid of this curse?” She tilts her head. “From what he told me, you said I needed all the help I could get.”
“I did, but I didn’t say it expecting him to—”
“Get his hand on classified research with a snap of his fingers? Why didn’t you ask him before?”
“Honestly? He was never an option because he refused to get involved.” Peter raises an eyebrow. “But now he is, and I’m intrigued.”
Veda scoffs. “I’m leaving.”
A smirk tugs at his mouth. “Hiram does nothing without reason or a plan, but I have a feeling he might not have either when it comes to you.”
Fourteen
June passes as time often does—slow and surreal. Yet in a blink, the last week of the month arrives.
Before Hiram can settle into a routine, free from Simran, it’s almost time for the three-week school break that marks the end of the quarter. He doesn’t have a plan for how they’ll spend it, but he has time to figure it out, and he’s looking forward to sleeping in.
A soft meow from the living room reminds him that won’t be happening. He peers over at the still unnamed kitten, confined to its toy-filled play area, and sighs before chugging a foul-tasting elixir to keep from sneezing on everything.
Up early, he’s reading research papers on the Sanguis Curse on his newly delivered office desk, highlighting bits for Veda to review when they finally meet. It will be their third attempt at scheduling after each of them canceled, Veda after the school was overwhelmed with orders, and Hiram when he spent hours waiting to be sworn into the Washington State Bar Association. He’s just finished highlighting when there’s movement from his son’s room. Hiram leaves everything as is, grabs the note he wrote last night, and places it on the table where Antaris usually sits. He starts breakfast, eggs, toast, and chopped fruit, and by the time Antaris emerges, dressed and hauling his book bag to the door, everything is ready.
Normally, Hiram would shower, but today he makes a plate for himself and joins Antaris at the table. At first, Antaris focuses on the note. Then he notices Hiram is staying, and his eyes go wide.
Breakfast fluctuates between staring and eating. If Antaris is happy, sad, confused, or anxious about his presence, he can’t tell, because all his son gives him are owl blinks. Bits of eggs fail to make it from Antaris’s fork to his mouth, landing on the napkin tucked into his shirt or back on his plate. The second time it happens, Hiram realizes he needs to break the silence.
“We should finish up.”
It doesn’t make Antaris eat any faster, but it’s a start. Hiram shifts in his seat, and Antaris freezes; he understands the issue now.
