Page 246 of A Vicious Love

It had one ear slightly crushed, and the resigned face of a creature that had seen too much.

“No.”

Sienna’s foot brushed mine under the table.

I corrected. “He appears durable.”

“He is.” Mila peered at my hand. “Why do you have drawings?”

“Tattoos.”

The boy leaned closer. “Do you have children?”

“No.”

“Why?”

“I haven’t married Sienna.”

Sienna choked on her coffee.

I placed one hand between her shoulder blades, rubbing once while she recovered. The table stayed frozen in collective horror. Good. Let them hear it. I had spent three years refusing to say anything at tables. Now I was making up for time.

“Will your children be with Aunt Sienna?” the boy asked.

“Tomas,” Julian said sharply.

Tomas ignored him. “Because we have odd numbers for the children’s game. If you have one, can you bring it next retreat?”

I considered the child.

“I’ll review production timelines.”

Sienna made a strangled sound. “Jamison.”

“What?”

“You cannot say production timelines about babies.”

“Fine. I’ll review the request.”

Mila tapped the Crow dialect across my knuckles with one finger. “What do the weird words say?”

“Crow dialect.”

“I don’t know Crow dialect.” She butchered the word dialect, but I admired the attempt.

“I would be deeply concerned if you did.”

“What does it say?”

Sienna’s gaze moved to my hand. The children waited. Adults waited too, pretending otherwise. I placed my hand flat on the table so Mila could trace the ink without pulling at me. Her little finger moved over the black lines near my thumb.

“It says vengeance for my parents. Blessing over the blood. Protection for those who remain. It is a mark Crows receive when both parents are lost to war,” I continued. “A blessing and a promise.”

“Your mom and dad are gone?”

“Yes.”