Page 134 of A Thousand Cuts

“Oh my god.”

Family.

Distant and unfamiliar as it was, it sounded…

“You don’t have to do anything with that information if you don’t want to. I understand I’m a stranger to you. I’d like to get to know you, though. For more reasons than one, to be fair. Fix is the closest thing to a child I’ll ever have and someone he loves is important to me. But now, given everything…” She trailed off before restarting with a small shake of her head, crossing her hands in front of her. “Like I said, it’s completely up to you. Fixhas my information. If you’re ever interested in having lunch and just chatting, let me know.”

Liam nodding jerkily, hardly able to control his own movements.

“There is just one more thing I’d like to ask you before I leave,” she said.

“What?”

“Your real name is on a very particular list. Do you happen to know anything about that?”

He felt Fix tense next to him, whipping his head around to look at Gwen.

“A list?” Liam asked in confusion.

Gwen smiled. “I thought as much. Given the fact you didn’t even know you had magic until yesterday.”

“Gwen…” Fix sounded serious.

“I’ll smooth it over with PUMA,” she told him. “They can hardly argue he had something to do with it, given the circumstances. You won’t be hearing from them, so you don’t have to worry.”

The steel in her voice left no room for doubt.

“They’ve all been high-level casters. What does it mean?” Fix asked.

“I fear it will continue to remain a mystery for now.” Gwen pressed her lips together tightly before nodding to Liam. “I’ll let Fix take you home now so you can get some proper rest.”

She turned and headed toward the door, and Liam felt like he’d break in half.

“I want to!” he called after her.

She turned back. “Hm?”

He felt himself blush. “Get to know you. Family would be nice.”

“It really would.” She gave him a warm smile. “Recover. Fix knows where to find me once you’re all better.”

“Okay,” he said, and she left the room, a small smile visible in the corner of her lips.

“I have family,” Liam said, turning to look at Fix.

Fix smiled at him. “You already did. You have me and King, and the rest of the team. But Gwen being your blood family is incredible, honey.”

“Can we go home now?”

“Yeah, we can go home.”

Neither of them commented on the fact that home meant wherever Fix was.

Fix helped him get dressed and held him gently around the waist as they left Nexus with King at their side. Their steps echoed around the empty hallways, and Liam wished he was in a better state of mind to take it all in. The magic dampener was heavy around his neck, and Liam felt it warm against his skin. He touched it gently and looked up at Fix.

“Is this safe?”

“I wouldn’t risk you,” he said, making Liam warm all over. “I wouldn’t even think of walking you out of here if I thought there was a risk, honey.”