The instant Clyde vanished, Reid’s timid demeanour dropped. He kicked at the gravel with a scowl. “I wish you didn’t have to go to the meetings.”
I sighed and ruffled his hair. “Me too, buddy. Tell you what, why don’t you sit with me at dinner? You can teach me about the rarest dinosaur you know about. How does that sound?”
“Awesome.” He bounced on his toes, excitement lighting him up from within. “I’m gonna go and make notes.”
With that, he was sprinting off in the direction of the house. I shook my head with a wry chuckle. God knew what I’d let myself in for. It had to be better than the meetings though. More interesting, that was for sure.
Dragging my feet across the gravel, I braced myself for another round of diplomacy.
You can do this, Evan. No fucking up.
Eventually, the final day rolled around. The hours of interminable meetings were done. The treaties had been signed and I was leaving with terms I was certain Finn would be happy with. All I had to do now was say goodbye to Reid. He’d made me promise to find him today before I left. It was no great hardship—he’d been a godsend this week. The conversations I’d had with him had kept me sane during all the politics and backstabbing. I wasn’t sure what I’d learned about diplomacy, but I was leaving with a greater than expected knowledge of dinosaurs.
When Reiddidn’t appear during the morning, I decided to track him down. I found him in one of the common rooms, surrounded by the other kids.
Something settled in me at seeing him with his peers. As I’d hoped, they’d taken him into their circle. That was better. I could leave here knowing Reid wouldn’t be lonely anymore.
Reid looked up and my stomach flipped. His left eye was black.
I was before him in a second, crouching low. “Hey, buddy, what happened?”
His chin dropped to his chest. “I fell out of a tree.”
Shit.“Are you hurt anywhere else?”
“Just my wrist,” he mumbled.
I frowned down at his covered arm, aware that everyone was watching us. “Can I see?”
He nodded and I gently pulled back his sleeve. Purple bruises encircled his wrist. “Sh—sugar, Reid. You must’ve really fallen hard.”
“He did,” Neil piped up. “We told him not to climb up there, but he didn’t listen.”
“That’s right,” the girl beside him added. “He knows not to climb up them. He’s only human, after all. But he thinks he can do everything we can.”
Reid’s face was flaming now. He ducked his head to his chest again. “I know. It’s my fault. It always is.”
Pity washed over me. It had to be hard being only human among shifters. He could try to keep up with them, but he’d find his limits long before they did. “I’m just glad you’re okay.”
“I’m fine,” Reid said flatly. He wasn’t meeting my eyes, but I imagined that was because he was embarrassed. Poor kid just wanted to be like everyone else in a place where he was destined to be different.
“Good,” I said, patting his shoulder and standing up. “Well, it’s been great to meet you all. Remember: play nicely, and pack comes first.”
Neil tried to hide his eye-roll, blushing when he realised I’d caught him. I glared at him as I spoke, my voice stern. “Especially those of you who are older. Yer setting an example to the others. Don’t forget that.”
Fuck, who even was I? I wasn’t a parent, and here I was trying to pass on advice to the next generation. Ma would have a fit of hysterics if she could see me now.
Well, if it helped Reid feel happier in his home then I’d feel better walking away. No kid deserved to feel lonely, especially not in a clan as big as the Clarksons’.
I gave them all a cheery wave and headed for the door. I just needed to grab my bag from the guest room I’d occupied and I’d be on my way. Unfortunately, I couldn’t shift and run home thanks to the amount of stuff I’d had to bring. The whole experience had been an exhausting,frustrating, and inconvenient way to spend my time. I was glad I’d done it, just for the opportunity to represent the clan…but I’d be happy if I wasn’t asked to do it again any time soon.
My mind was far away, back home with my own clan, when I heard a thin voice call my name. I turned, confused, to see Reid scurrying along the corridor towards me. “Something wrong, Reid?”
“Umm…” He was wringing his hands and bouncing on the balls of his feet. “Can I ask you something, Ev?”
His shortening of my name had me smiling. “Of course, little dude. What’s up?”
“Can I go with you?”
