Heart heavy, I closed the distance to Keir’s door and knocked. The quiet, “come in,” was all the welcome I required.
Just as before, Keir’s quarters were warm and welcoming. Little had changed except the gryphon who called this space home. Shoulders slumped, eyelids drooping, and face pinched and drawn, Keir looked like sleep had become a foreign concept.
Despite his obvious exhaustion, Keir waved me inside. “Thank you for coming, Hikaru. Please, have a seat. I’ll get the tea.”
Guilt ate at me. “You don’t have to do that.”
“Nonsense. Tea is never a bother and besides, all I have to do is pour it into a cup.” Keir offered me a kind smile as he momentarily disappeared into his kitchen, quickly returning with a steaming cup of heavenly smelling tea. I really needed to carve out a space in Niki’s home for a proper tea station.
“You look good,” Keir said as he sat across from me. I only wished I could the same about him.
“Thank you, I… Niki’s good for me.”
“Hmm…that seems obvious. I suspicion you are also very good for him.”
“Naturally,” I quickly responded.
Keir’s soft chuckles eased the tightness in my chest. It looked like Martin was slacking. I’d need to scold the oak dryad. Keir obviously needed more laughter in his life. With that in mind, I set my teacup on the coffee table and leaned forward, my elbows firmly planted on my thighs. “I don’t mean to sound like a brat, but you look like shit, Keir.”
Eyebrows barely lifting toward the sky, Keir gave another soft chuckle before also setting his teacup down. “I wish I could disagree but…” Keir spread his arms wide. “I’m afraid the proof is obvious to all with eyes to see. Besides, I’m too damn tired to belabor the point.” Leaning back, Keir rubbed his forehead before pinching the bridge of his nose. “I wish I were an anomaly, but I’m afraid everyone working for the council has been run ragged. And then there’s…” Keir inhaled deeply, his mouth pulling down into an even thinner line. “We seem to have acquired aninteresteddjinn.” Keir’s already poor color blanched a little further.
I straightened. “Aurelia or Helios?” I didn’t think the first created djinn, Ajita, would have much interest in the council, although I could be wrong. I also hoped there wasn’t another one flitting about.
“Helios mostly, although Aurelia has popped up once or twice as well, along with herpets.”
“The scuttlebutts.” Fuzzy Britches came to Aurelia pregnant. Ironic really, considering Aurelia had wanted a scuttlebutt and now not only had one, but four.
Keir cringed. “Disturbing creatures. Fiercely loyal. So far, they’ve reacted favorably to everyone but Martin. I’m not certain why they don’t like him.”
I could think of a few reasons but kept those to myself. I regretted not witnessing their reaction firsthand. Maybe I’d get lucky in the future.Be nice. Elvira’s words rang in my head and I swallowed my uncharitable comments, focusing instead on the djinn. “Have they done anything worrisome?”
“Besides their very presence?” Keir asked, a note of disbelief in his tone.
“Besides that.”
“Not that I know of. They just seem very…I’m not sure how to describe it. Curious?” Keir shrugged. “Helios said he was bored and was looking for something entertaining. I honestly don’t know what to do with a bored djinn. On the other hand, I don’t think I want to know what their idea of entertaining is.” With an even heavier sigh, Keir waved off the conversation. “But I suppose that is neither here nor there. At the end of the day, there is nothing I can do about the djinn, so I’ve relegated them to the back of my mind.”
“Admirable.” I wasn’t even joking.
“It’s more survival at this point. I simply don’t think my brain can deal with anything else. In a way, it’s a relief, knowing there is absolutely nothing I can do. It takes a bit of the pressure off.”
I could see that. What I could also see was that Keir clearly needed help. I wasn’t so selfish not to understand that. Elvira said I didn’t need to come back, that Keir wouldn’t want me to do that, but was she right? Uncomfortably twisting and with a pit of nausea, I offered, “I could come back. If you need the help, I can?—”
“Absolutely not,” Keir answered emphatically. “Not that I couldn’t use the help, but I would never ask that of you. I have never seen you so happy and content, Hikaru. Knowing you have found your place in the world, knowing that you’ve found unconditional love…that knowledge warms me and gives me peace. In these trying times, thinking of you gives me joy. Selfishly, I would not wish to take that away from either of us.”
Of course, I knew Keir was placating me. Still, I answered, “Well, I wouldn’t wish to deprive you of your happiness.”
Keir’s grin was wide and crinkled his eyes. “I knew you wouldn’t.” Becoming more serious, Keir said, “That doesn’t mean I might not call on you now and again to help with a matter that best suits your abilities.”
“You can call whenever you like. Niki will always be my first priority?—”
“As he should be.”
“But I will do what I can. You have my word.” A few weeks ago, I wouldn’t have been so ready to cave. Maybe, after seeing how flustered and worn down Keir was, I would have. I honestly had no idea. What I did know was that today was different.Iwas different. I’d never been so content, so settled. That kind of knowledge did something to me. I wasn’t so frantic. I didn’t feel the need to protect myself against every perceived slight. Before, I would have felt like Keir was using me. Now it felt like I was doing a friend a favor.
“Thank you.” Keir offered a tired smile. Reaching forward, he lifted his teacup and drained the remnants. I took theopportunity to do the same. Sitting there, teacup in his hands, Keir stared at the cup’s intricate pattern. I’d noted it was Japanese in design. The cups he’d chosen were one of my favorites.
Keir remained silent long enough for the stagnant air to become uncomfortable. Tapping the side of his cup, Keir gave a firm, singular nod, as if he’d finally decided something. “There’s no easy way to say this, so I’m just going rip the proverbial Band-Aid off.”
