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“Maybe we should take a break,” Junjie suggested.

“I think that was supposed to be my line,” Xiao Dan said with a sheepish grin that slipped away almost as quickly as it formed.

“We’re distracted. No one can concentrate.”

Xiao Dan slid his sword into its sheath. “True, and it is my job to keep everyone focused. Shifu would have?—”

“Shifu would be struggling too if he were in your shoes,” Junjie cut him off. “I witnessed him lost in thought during those times the emperor was being troublesome. Most of the students didn’t notice because there were so many other teachers whocould step up and help.” Junjie poked Xiao Dan in the shoulder and gave him a weak smile. “You don’t have to figure things out alone.”

“Mn.” Xiao Dan nodded but didn’t return Junjie’s smile.

Junjie swallowed his sigh as he also placed his sword in its sheath. With the last of summer dwindling away, the nights had grown cooler. The fireflies were long gone, and even the chirping night insects had become quieter. The wind rustled leaves, but a new scent was creeping into the air. Autumn was waiting to sweep through the land and Junjie couldn’t wait.

Longer nights. The smell of dried leaves and apples. Cool, crisp nights and soft, heavy sweaters. Trees changing colors, painting the world with bright golden yellows, fiery reds, and brilliant oranges.

He couldn’t wait to see Erik playing in the leaves, a little knit hat covering his head. After more than two thousand autumns, this one promised to be something new.

“Erik has started saying Meimei,” Junjie recalled suddenly.

“Really?”

“Yes, except it doesn’t quite come out as Meimei. It’s more like Meimeimeimei as he toddles after her.”

Xiao Dan huffed a soft laugh, some of the tension at last sloughing off his shoulders as they wandered through the garden. “He seems to have settled into our home nicely. More than once I’ve caught him leading Chen by the hand into the library for story time.”

“He likes to help Ming Yu in the kitchen by tasting everything,” Junjie added.

Xiao Dan nodded. “He also fell asleep the other afternoon on Huli’s tails.”

Junjie’s eyes widened. “The fox didn’t mind?”

From what he’d seen, Huli had kept his distance from Erik since he’d entered the house, as if he expected Erik to chase afterhim and pull his tails. Or worse, steal Xiao Dan’s attention away from him.

“He’s coming around. Apparently, Erik is an excellent audience when Huli wants someone to appreciate his beauty or skills. Recently, I’ve caught him shifting back and forth from human to fox, as if he’s trying to coax Erik into doing the same thing. So far, Erik just laughs and claps at his antics.”

“I don’t know who is keeping who out of trouble there,” Junjie murmured. Leo was also spending more time with Erik, which was a good thing. The little boy needed as much exposure to shifters as possible. He needed to feel comfortable in his own skin, understand that he wasn’t alone in the world. That would not be the easiest task growing up surrounded by vampires.

“I’ve been thinking recently…about what is in Erik’s best interest,” Xiao Dan started slowly.

Everything within Junjie froze solid. He couldn’t move, couldn’t even draw a breath. This was the moment. Since Erik had first joined the clan, Junjie had expected Xiao Dan to declare that a clan of vampires had no business raising a shifter child. But Shixiong had put up zero resistance to the idea of keeping Erik. He’d even argued that their clan had a long history of raising children, educating them, and training them in the martial arts of their sect. Erik would be no different because he was a cat shifter and they were vampires.

“Shixiong…” Junjie pleaded, not knowing what words to say. Was it selfish of him to beg for Erik to remain with them if it wasn’t what was best for the child?

“I was thinking that maybe we should send him to China with someone ahead of the rest of the clan.”

Junjie’s relief was so great, he was lightheaded. He swayed on his feet for a second and nearly had to sit before he fell over.

“Junjie?” Xiao Dan demanded, grabbing his elbow when he noticed Junjie wasn’t doing so well.

“I thought you were going to say that we needed to give him up.”

“No! Of course not. He’s been with us for nearly three weeks now, and it’s obvious this is where he belongs. The entire clan loves him too much to give him up.” He released Junjie’s elbow. “I was thinking that maybe you and he should travel to China ahead of the rest of the clan. Take him out of danger and start getting him accustomed to what will be his permanent home. We’ll have the matter of Jiang Chong and the fae settled soon. Then we’ll be headed home. It just makes the most sense that Erik travel ahead of us. I believe Winter said he’d have the paperwork necessary for the boy completed in less than a week.”

The last of Xiao Dan’s words became a messy blur in his ears. His brain was stuck on an earlier part of his speech—that he and Erik leave for China ahead of the clan. Xiao Dan wanted to send him away.

“Why me?” Junjie asked in a low, rough voice.

“I thought it made the most sense. Out of all the members of the clan, Erik is closest to you. He would adjust to the new home and setting most easily with you.”