It’s Nikolo’s.
At some point in the yelling, Nikolo, Egbert and Kroy have wandered in.
That explains Lusce’s wide eyes. Shit.
The trio are still hovering by the open doorway, Nikolo in the front, Egbert And Kroy’s hands on his shoulders keeping him upright.
There’s too many damned shelves in between us. It’s ridiculous—I almost topple a display racing to get to him. Ithasn’t even been an hour since he left but it feels like it’s been days—and I need him. More than I need air.
Still two strides away I reach for him. He doesn’t resist—reaching out a hand and grabbing for me, too. The impact of our bodies colliding rocks through me. Wrapping my arms around Nikolo, I hold him tight, squeezing probably too tightly, pressing my face into his familiar blonde curls.
“You don’t have to do that—for me.” He manages to get out. I can feel the words against my shoulder. I just squeeze him tighter. Between the anger and the frustration coiling inside me, I can’t get out all the things I need to say. Certainly I can’t say them right now with everyone watching. So I press a kiss to the side of his head and keep hold of him tight and turn back to Aleksi.
“We’re done here. Do whatever clan business you have with Egbert, I don’t care. But you and me? We’re done.”
Aleksi’s brow puckers, the long cape-like skirt of his oqic fluttering around his knees. “What do you mean?”
“Whether it’s just today, or forever, Aleksi, is entirely up to you.” There isn’t a single sound in the shop above my deadly whisper. The others watching are as silent as Nikolo—not daring to even breathe. “I choose Nikolo. I choose me. I choose this life I’m building for myself. Whether or not you are a part of it, depends onthis. This shit right here. If this is your choice, whoyouwant to be, then I’ll walk up those stairs and it’ll be the last you’ll know of me.”
“Willan, I—you can’t—” Aleksi looks scared. I know this isn’t how he envisioned this visit going. Gods, before it happened,Inever thought it would end up like this. I certainly never thought it would devolve this rapidly.
Annoyingly, there is a part of me—the child who always made excuses for him—that wants to forgive him one last time.
“No, Aleksi.” Holding up a hand, I don’t use magic to stop his advance, but I may as well have. “Think about it. Really think about it. About this,” I wave a finger between me and Nikolo standing proud and strong under my arm, then around the shop. “And this. And this.” I finally point between him and myself. “And what you’re going to do next.”
Aleksi sinks in on himself, his wide shoulders bowing. He’s not entirely defeated—I can still see the anger and defiance flickering around him.
Despite being a genuinely shitty brother sometimes, I know he loves me. I also know he has some harsh realities to face.
After a moment he nods, jaw tight, the muscle visibly flexing.
“I think we should go. Nikolo, can we stay at your place tonight?” I squeeze his waist, and he looks up at me, far more calm than I am.
“Yeah, of course.” And then the corner of his mouth lifts. “I’ve got you.”
NIKOLO
“I feel kind ofbad about leaving Lusce in all of that.” Willan sighs, nuzzling his head into the pillow on my lap.
Thank the Gods Kai’s spending the night at Finn’s. I sent him a message on our way here about, well, everything, and he offered to come home but I think more than anything, Willan needs space. And we need to talk.
I smooth a hand over his ponytail, draping the hair out over the arm of the couch. “Are you kidding me? He probably loved it. Part of the drama, notofthe drama. That’s the fun bit.”
Willan snorts, rolling over so he’s curled with his knees digging into the back of the couch, facing my stomach. Light fingers tickle my side with quick, delicate strokes, making me wiggle under him.
“How are you so calm about all of this?” Willan huffs, turning just enough to glower up at me. All I can do is shrug.
“I’ve done my time grappling with all that is the Mazheri. It’s old news to me now. I’ve grown. I’ve evolved. It’s all new for you.” With a smirk I pat his head. “You’ll get there. I’ll help you. Get you nice and strong.”
And just to make him laugh, I flex my biceps.
Thank the Gods, it works, a soft chuckle breaking through his glassy eyed misery. Gently he pushes at my side, his hands lingering until it’s really more of a fondle.
“You're an idiot.”
“Yeah.” I stop flexing and go back to patting his hair. He likes it, I can tell by the way he keeps nuzzling into my lap. I’m glad we put the pillow there, getting a boner right now would be seriously inappropriate. “But I’m your idiot.”
“You really are.” Craning his neck, he kisses my stomach, then he sighs. “This is really not how I planned for tonight to go.”
