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My mother watched me eat, motherly affection in her gaze. “I know the final part of your journey didn’t end well, but whatabout everything that came before it? You must have seen some amazing things.”

“We did. We traveled far to the west and found these beautiful, warm beaches. We took a long respite there just because the fruit from the trees was so good. We had been on the verge of getting scurvy, and it cured that really quick. Met other pirates who said they were searching for the treasure of an old king…doubt they’ll ever find it. We also headed far to the north and found snow. I’d never seen that before.”

“I hate the snow.” She grabbed a fork and took a bite.

“I kinda liked it.”

“I’ll take the warm beaches over the cold any day.”

“It was nice to lie by the fire in a cabin and watch the snow fall outside.” While I was there, the rest of the crew had headed into the main city to participate in the Tournament of Cards. Apparently, one of the champions was a snake. I’d stayed behind with Viper, and we’d hardly left that cabin for weeks.

“Sounds cozy.” She took another bite and gave me a look. The kind full of playful accusation. Like she knew something, even though she’d been halfway across the world. “The only thing better than a warm blanket in the cold is a hot man…”

“Mom.” I set down my fork, so red I couldn’t take another bite.

“Just sayin’.” She smirked then took another bite. “So…was there a blanket or a man?”

“Did you really just ask me that?”

“Sweetheart, you’re an adult now. I’m not your mother anymore.”

“You’ll always be my mom, no matter how old I am.”

“Alright, then. Forget I said anything.” She continued to eat.

“No, that’s not what I meant,” I said. “When I was lost out there, all I wanted was Dad to fly through the sky and help me. I’ve been an adult for years now, but there will never be a time when I don’t need you guys for something. When I don’t get scared…or want a sweet potato casserole.”

She dropped her guard and smirked again. “I’m still your mother…even after all these years.”

I heard my father talk about his parents sometimes, his brother Silas. He kept their memory alive. “Well…there was someone else in that cabin.”

Her eyebrows rose, and that knowing smile was back. “You don’t say…”

“His name was Viper.”

“And what was he like?”

“Hot,” I said with a chuckle. “Big and muscular. Strong and silent type.”

“That does sound hot.”

“And he was a vampire.”

She was about to scoop her fork through the casserole when her eyebrows jumped up on her face. “What did you just say?”

I chuckled. “Want to go back to being my mother?”

She ignored what I said. “As in, one of those blood-sucking monsters that feed off humans? That can turn you into a soulless monster?—”

“None of that happened, so we’re good, Mom.”

“Fuck me…” She took a second to compose herself, to let the terror pass by. She had dark hair like I did, and her green eyes had been passed down to me. I had a little bit of my father in my appearance too, but it was subtle. His attributes were mostly in my soul and personality—and my temper.

“It was fun.”

She rolled her eyes. “I bet it was.”

“He didn’taskme to stay, but he wanted me to stay. Now, I wished I had. If I’d just waited another week, perhaps we would have skipped all that tragedy.” And I wouldn’t have met a god who was both my enemy and my savior.