Page 77 of A Taste of Bliss

“You don’t have a choice,” I say, shrugging. Before I can think better of it, I cross the remaining distance between us and sweep my cousin up in a hug. “I am glad I got to see you one last time. But it’s better if you don’t remember me like this anyways.”

I release him and nod to Evan, who takes a step forward.

Simon shakes his head. “No.”

Evan pauses, looking at me for instruction, but when I turn and see Simon staring Evan and me down defiantly, I find I can’t give the order again.

“I just found you. I’m not going anywhere. Tell me what’s going on. I can handle it.”

“Pisces, we need to wipe his memory,” Shaun says. “It’s better for him.”

I look over to my friend. Maybe he’s right, but— “I can’t,” I tell him. I’m too fucking selfish. “Can’t we tell him? Humans become kindreds all the time, right?”

Shaun shrugs. “He’d need a Born sponsor and he’d have to register and take tests. It’s a long process and we don’t even know he’s cut out for it. Plus, it will put him at risk. Fae society is more dangerous than human society. You know this better than anyone.”

“I don’t care,” Simon tells Shaun. He comes to stand in front of me, looking me directly in the eyes. “I’m staying.” He turns to Shaun. “What’s a kindred?”

Shaun sighs, taking another couple of beers from the cooler and handing one to Simon. “Kindreds are humans who have either grown up in fae families or have become part of fae society. They’re protected and need either a fae guardian, or for adults—a sponsor.”

Simon looks at me. “Okay, be my sponsor.”

I smile softly. “I can’t do it. I’m not Born fae.”

“What the fuck does that mean?” Simon asks, grinning.

“This is going to be a long night,” Benny says with a chuckle.

We settle into the pews, pushing a few around so that we can all face each other, though Benny and Evan sit a little away from us, having their own side conversation about the mural Benny wants to paint.

Shaun explains the concept of Born and Made fae, while I study Simon’s face. He seems to be taking everything in stride. In fact, he’s actually responding to all this information better than I did. Though to be fair, I also had to deal with the new craving for blood and flesh. But that’s Simon, the text book definition of easygoing.

“Simon, how did you find me?” I ask, before Simon can ask any more questions.

“Oh, right.” Simon grins hesitantly. “I followed you back after your show. Took me a while to figure out how to sneak in here, but there’s an open window in the basement.”

“You were at the show?”

He nods, hesitance turning into excitement. “When I heard about a progressive metal band wearing masks to remain anonymous, it made me think of you. I thought, Pisces would eat that shit up. I’ve never given up looking for you. I saw the note you left and it definitely seemed like you’d—” He pauses, clearing his throat, not wanting to actually say it. “Everyone thought you’d done it. Driven your car off a cliff somewhere, or I dunno. But I just didn’t buy it. You had started writing music again. You’d been doing better and had been making an effort to get your life back, so I didn’t want to give up on you.

“And then I listened to some Voracious Maw singles, and I heard your voice, and I knew it was you. I couldn’t quite allow myself to believe it, but I still knew it. So I went to a show. I figured, I’ll go and I’ll see this guy and even in the mask I should be able to rule it out, but then I was sure. Same height, same build, same voice.”

“You seem surprised to see he’s alive, though?” Shaun asks.

Simon nods. “Well, yeah, I mean I knew it, but still,seeingit is something else entirely.” He meets my eyes and smiles at me. “I fucking missed you.”

“I missed you too,” I tell him, putting my arm around him and pulling him in for a hug. Tears streak down both our faces, which makes me smile even more. “So what do you think, mate?” I ask Shaun. “Can we keep him?”

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

PISCES

She never came back.

She walked off inmyhoodie and never came back.

I lean my head back against the hay. Which I regret instantly as it dislodges particles that send me into a sneezing fit again. At least Shaun has some really good quality fae allergy potion. It’s saved me a few times before, when hay fever has struck just before a show.

“Sces? You around here?” Evan asks, just as he rounds the corner to my little section of the maze. “Ah, there you are.”