Page 11 of A Fate of Blood and Magic (Fated #2)

“I’ve never seen a beast quite so peculiar,” Delaney said.

“Careful, or you’ll hurt his feelings, and he’ll end up headbutting you,” I said, only half joking.

“He understands the traditional language?” The shock in her voice made me chuckle.

Traditional language was what they called English. I wasn’t sure what their native tongue was called, but I loved it when Elias spoke it. Especially when he called me mo elma. My soul.

“I think so,” I said. “He’s pretty smart for a donkey.”

I ushered the girls into our cabin where they brushed their teeth and put on their pajamas.

Javier and his friends followed me into the kitchen, where I tucked the drawing of Nalari in one of the clear sleeves Elias had given the kids to put away their homework.

I tapped the drawing twice, taking my time looking at it before I left it in a corner of the countertop we rarely used.

My lips tilted up in an easy grin as I opened the refrigerator and pulled out two boxes of fruit bombs and another box of assorted pastries.

Once I faced the older kids, I handed one of the boxes of fruit bombs to Aidas and set the other two boxes on the countertop.

Fruit bombs were a strange but delicious treat with a sweet flavor that resembled peaches. They were coated in a honey-like jelly and wrapped in a pastry shell, then fried and covered in powdered sugar. If heaven had a taste, I was certain it tasted like fruit bombs.

The four older kids dug into the boxes with abandon. It made me happy to see how comfortable Javier was with them, and how comfortable the others seemed in our home.

“Take this with you.” I patted the box I’d given Aidas. “I bought it in case Elias came back today, but it’ll end up going to waste here.”

With his mouth full, he uttered a thank you .

“We have water, different juices, and milk,” I told them. “Grab whatever you want.”

Delaney wiped her mouth. “You should be careful offering such an invitation to Aidas.”

Javier snorted, pushing Aidas playfully.

Once I heard the girls finish in the bathroom, I tucked them into bed, with Hee-haw taking up most of Victoria’s bed.

I went back to the living room, where I grabbed a book I’d gotten from the public library and my violet blanket, which I tucked around myself as I settled on the couch.

Before I could start reading, Kieren sat beside me.

He lifted his eyebrows. “Do you mind if we talk? Am I interrupting?”

“Of course not.” I tucked the book to the side.

Scratching his nose, he nodded. “It’s none of my business, but I wanted to talk to you about something.”

His knee bounced, betraying his nerves.

“Okay,” I said gently, encouraging him to continue.

“My magic , it allows me to see when someone is lying or telling the truth, and like I said, it’s none of my business.

I feel like I should apologize before I even start.

” His fingers twitched as he brought them to his mouth, hesitated, then dropped them again.

“But I know you’re hiding something from everyone.

Javier said something at dinner. He knows too and he’s worried. ”

My chest tightened.

“I don’t know how his parents died,” he continued, voice softer now. “But he’s worried whatever you’re hiding means you’re sick or dying.” He swallowed hard. “Aidas is an empath. He tried to reassure him — said it didn’t feel like anything bad. I know I’m only 114, and I’m just a kid, but ?—”

“You’re not just a kid, Kieren,” I said.

He was 114 years old and considered himself a kid. It was almost laughable how insane how far away that felt from the human timeline I used to measure life by. Once, I’d thought forty was old.

But he wasn’t just a kid. He was a loyal friend, a perceptive one brave enough to have this conversation.

“You’re Javier’s friend, a damn good friend. I’m glad he has you looking out for him. He’d have your back too if you ever need it.”

The smile he gave me was small and bashful, but it reached his eyes. He turned to look at the kitchen.

“We should go.” I realized he’d spoken to everyone when the small group stepped out of the kitchen. It was a neat trick I hoped I’d be able to learn.

“Mama Teddy,” Aidas said, reaching an arm out for a hug while he kept his box of fruit bombs tucked in his other arm, “thank you for the pizza and dessert.”

“Anytime y’all want to come, you’re more than welcome.”

“That’s another scary invitation you should reconsider,” Delaney teased.

I lightly tugged on her shoulder-length hair. “I’m glad I had the chance to get to know y’all some tonight.”

With a small wave, Delaney tucked her hand in Kieren’s arm and in a single blink, they all disappeared. Javier followed me to the couch, and when I handed him my blanket, he wrapped it around himself.

“Want me to light the fireplace?” I asked, nodding toward it.

“Nah,” he said. “I’m good. Thanks again for today. I had a good birthday.”

“Good.” I nudged his shoulder with mine.

He gave me a small smile.

“I know I’ve been acting weird, and I’m assuming you know something’s up since Ryenne wouldn’t shut up about it,” I blurted out, before I talked myself out of it.

I wasn’t sure if Kieren wanted Javier knowing he’d spoken to me, so I kept that to myself.

Javier tucked his legs to his chest beneath the blanket, arms banded tight around them. The wary look on his face broke my heart.

“I’m pregnant, Javier,” I said on an exhale. “I wanted to tell Elias first but he wouldn’t want you to worry about me, and if I’m being honest, I’m scared. Terrified, actually.”

He blinked a few times before his lips ticked up the tiniest bit. “Why are you scared?”

I didn’t want to tell him about my worries with Elias, so I chose the obvious fear. “I’ve never really been around babies, and in eight months, I’m supposed to suddenly care for two of them.”

His smile widened. “Two of them?”

Still not believing it myself, I pressed my lips together. “Twin boys.”

He threw his head back on the couch. “Finally, some more testosterone in our home.”

Hearing him call our cabin his home, made some of my anxiety ease. Although very different from Colina Verde and our human realm, this was our home. Not because of the cabin itself, but because of the kids and Elias. They made it feel like home.

I grabbed a cushion and pushed it against his face. When he lowered it, his eyes no longer held that haunted look but glimmered with what looked a lot like joy. He kept the cushion on his lap.

“I was seven when Jasmine was born and eleven when Mom had Juanita,” he said.

“I didn’t help with Jazz, but Mom got sick after Juanita.

I watched her a lot so Mom could sleep or when Dad had to take her to appointments.

” He rubbed the back of his hand under his nose.

“It’s been a while, but I think I’d remember how to take care of a baby.

I mean, you’re not going to do any of it alone.

Elias will spoil those babies more than he does the girls, but I could also help if you wanted me to. ”

This kid. It was completely his fault when I caught him off guard and hugged him.

“You’re a good egg,” I said, my voice thick. “You know that, right?”

His hold on me tightened before he let me go to clutch the cushion to his chest. “I wish I could’ve been better when my parents were alive.

” His tongue poked at the inside of his cheek.

“That’s all my dad wanted from me. Mom was sick, and he needed me to help with the girls and the house and to be a man, and I let him down so many times.

I’d get in trouble at school or wouldn’t make dinner or get the girls to bed on time. ”

My heart splintered. “Javi, you were a kid. You’re still a kid.

” I wrapped an arm over his shoulders, and he leaned into me, resting his head on my shoulder.

“I didn’t know you before, but everything I’ve seen?

You’re an incredible young man. You took care of your sisters and kept them safe.

You still take on so much when I’d be more than happy to do it. ”

“They’re happy with you.” He paused. “I am too.” His voice dropped. “I don’t want us to be a burden.”

“A burden?” I squeezed him tighter. “That’s the last thing y’all are.

I can’t tell you how many times I woke up in Colina or here and was grateful you were here.

Not because you help around the house or with the girls but because of who you are.

You’re . . . incredible. I’m so damn happy to have you in my life.

From what I know of you, I know your parents must’ve been proud of you. There’s no way they weren’t.”

With his head still on my shoulder, he tucked his knees closer to his chest.

“Jazz was sick the day Dad died,” he said slowly, his voice trembling.

“He’d asked me to get medicine for her fever from the gas station, but I didn’t have enough money to buy it.

I thought about going anyway and asking if the owner would let me have it, and I’d pay him later.

He was cool even though he caught me stealing once, but Mom was really sick that day too.

She had these ulcers in her mouth that would start bleeding when she vomited, and it scared both Jazz and Juanita.

With Jasmine being sick, I couldn’t take them with me, and I also didn’t want to leave Mom alone.

She was dizzy and tired, and I was scared she’d fall and hurt herself if she got up without my help. ”

“Oh, Javi. You had so much on your shoulders. It must have been awful, having your mom and your baby sister both so sick.”

He sniffled. The grief he carried was suffocating. To watch his mom slowly die . . . I knew that pain all too well.

“It was horrible,” he whispered. “Mom told me to put a cool cloth on Jazz’s forehead and under her armpits, so that’s what I did.

I don’t remember if it helped, but I didn’t end up going, and when Dad got home from work, he was furious with me.

He had to go back out, and because we didn’t have the money to pay for it, he went to the food bank.

” His breath hitched. “He died there because I didn’t get the medicine like he told me to. ”

The pain in his voice tore through me. “No,” I said. “No, sweetheart, he didn’t die because of you. ”

He died because Elias and George thought he’d been trying to kill me.

The truth lodged like glass in my throat. My eyes burned with tears I didn’t want to shed. I wasn’t sure what to say, so I shifted to hug him better. His body trembled as he buried his head against my shoulder. I rubbed circles across his back and let him cry.

I wasn’t sure how long we sat there, but I held on to him, wishing there was a way to make this right.

If I’d just let his dad take the medicine and some canned soup, he’d still be alive. Instead, I wanted to fill up his cart. I wanted him and his family to enjoy a baked ham for Easter, not knowing if his wife would be around to celebrate the following year.

And when that stupid refrigerator fell on me, he’d tried to push me out of the way. He’d stayed and tried to free me.

Because of that, because of the way I’d pleaded with him to stop, the way I’d told him he was killing me, Elias had killed him.

It was all so screwed up, and I wasn’t sure how to tell Javier any of it.

When he went to pull away, I kissed the top of his head. He let out an embarrassed chuckle before he wiped his eyes and settled his head back on my shoulder.

Emotions warred inside me, and I knew I couldn’t stay quiet. It wasn’t fair for Javier to blame himself when he’d done nothing wrong. I was terrified of hurting him further or losing him when he learned the truth, but this was the right thing to do. Right?

“That night, your dad tried to save my life,” I said, my voice shaky.

Javier’s body jerked, his reddened eyes wide with shock .

“I didn’t know he was your dad when I went to your place that first night,” I continued, not sure how to say any of the things I didn’t want to say.

“Hell, I didn’t even remember that night for a long time, but I thought you should know he tried to save my life.

He stayed with me when things got . . . scary.

” Not sure what to do with my hands, I ran them through the length of my hair.

“You were there?” he asked, a single tear falling down his cheek.

“I should’ve told you once I realized you were his son, but I didn’t know how,” I told him honestly.

“He’d come in to get medicine, and I offered to fill his cart with food.

I remember him telling me how his oldest was back home taking care of his wife and daughter.

He was tired, but he also sounded proud when he said that. ”

“You said he tried to save you. Is that true?” he asked.

I pressed my lips together and nodded as my heart punched against my ribs.

“I’m glad he was there with you. I-I—” He pressed his palm against his stomach. “I don’t think I want to know anymore. Is that okay?”

“Whatever you want,” I said quietly.

“He stayed with you,” he repeated, nodding. “You’re okay because of him.”

While that wasn’t exactly true, I didn’t have the heart to correct him.

“That’s all I need to know,” he said. “Maybe I’ll want to know more one day, but right now, I don’t.” He swallowed hard. “He helped you, and maybe he guided you to us.” A wobbly smile broke through.

“Maybe he did,” I said. “If so, I have a lot to thank him for.”

Javier turned to give me another hug, holding me tightly around the neck. With my arms around his midsection, I gripped the back of his shirt, wondering if I’d been right in sharing the little I’d told him or if I’d further hurt him.

After another tight squeeze, he let me go. While tears streamed down his face, he gave me a small smile.

“Did he really sound like he was proud of me?” he asked.

I cupped his cheek. “Yes. There’s absolutely no way both your parents aren’t smiling down on you right now, proud of the young man you’re becoming.

” I paused. “For what it’s worth, I don’t just think you’re pretty cool.

I’m also really proud of you. You’ve experienced more, you’ve overcome more than most grown-ass adults are capable of. ”

“Thank you, Teddy. For everything.”

I couldn’t help but wonder how his parents felt about me. If they were relieved their children were with me, or if they’d rather their kids live with someone else.

I was doing my best, though. Both Elias and I were doing our best to right a wrong that could never be truly fixed. And somewhere along the way, these kids became ours. I loved them as fiercely as I loved the twin boys I hadn’t yet met.