Page 41 of Grave Beginnings

The last thing I wanted was for Ivan to have the police shoving more guns in his face. “What about his parents?” I asked.

“They have already forfeited their parental rights,” Xavier said. “For variants, it’s a matter of signing a few pieces of paper.”

I reached up to rest a hand on Ivan and stroke his soft fur. “But they are still downstairs? Will he have to see them?” Would he have to witness their rejection again? I hated to come face-to-face with them myself, and I’d had more than a decade of burying the pain.

Red took off his blazer and draped it around my shoulders, buttoning the top two and hiding Ivan beneath my coat. He glanced back at Xavier. “This one smells like another shifter.”

“I work for SED,” I said, in case he’d missed the badge on my belt. “My partner is a shifter.”

“Sadly,” the blond said, “that doesn’t mean much these days.” His gaze went to Xavier. “We’ll follow you back to his place.”

“Huh?” I asked.

“I will ensure you get the kitten home safely,” Xavier said.

“Do you think I’m going to dump him on the side of the road or something?”

“Wouldn’t be the first time,” Red said as he hefted the suitcase and made his way downstairs. The blond followed. Xavier motioned for me to walk ahead of him, and he took up the back.

I heard arguing before we made it to the bottom.

“You can’t take anything,” my father shouted.

Red ignored him, walking out the front door with the suitcase. The blond had a backpack too, which I hadn’t noticed at first. More of Ivan’s stuff, I hoped.

I met my father’s gaze as I headed toward the door, hoping it was the last time I ever had to visit this house. He glared at me,eyes flicking down to see the glow beneath the blazer shining through. My variant. Maybe not a fluke, since both Ivan and I had them. My mother refused to look at any of us, staring out the distant window instead while an EMT spoke to her. Maybe Ivan had bitten her. I found I no longer cared.

Xavier kept moving and I did too, unwilling to give these people more of our lives. There was something terrible about being hated for existing that really tore me up inside, but I couldn’t change them any more than I could change what they hated in me.

“You’re safe now,” I whispered to Ivan. “You have me and Grandpa. I know it’s not much, but we’ll make it work. Oh, and Peanut Butter. You liked Peanut Butter, right? I know he loved snuggling with you.”

The duo loaded up a van, which was parked behind my car. I turned to Xavier, hoping to thank him and get rid of him. That heavy, otherworldly presence of his made it hard to breathe with him this close. He glared at my car.

“What? It’s safe. Well maintained.” I didn’t have a car seat or carrier, or anything to put Ivan in to keep him safe. Maybe that’s what the irritation was for.

“I’ll ride with you.”

“What?”

He leaned down to stare me straight in the eyes, an act that made my heart race. “I will ride with you. Ensure your space is safe for the kitten.”

“I’m a cop, you know,” I said weakly.

“AndIam well aware that forty percent of police officers perpetuate violence on family members. Hiss and spit all you want. If you want what is best for your brother, you’ll let me ride along.”

I hated that stat, but knew for myself just how terrible some cops could be. “Fine.” I waved at my car. “Might be a squeeze. You’re probably the tallest person I’ve ever met.” The lockbeeped under my thumb, and I made my way to the driver’s side.

Xavier folded himself into the passenger side, shoving the seat back as far as it would go, but was still forced to slouch and shove his knees against the dash. “I don’t have a carrier in here for Ivan,” I admitted. “Should we figure out how to belt him in or something?”

“He’ll be fine,” Xavier said, clipping his belt into place.

Ivan dug his claws in, and I knew I was bleeding, but as long as he was safe, I’d deal.

“Sylas and Keanan will follow.”

“The creepy twins,” I muttered as I steered the car away from the scene and toward home.

“What makes you say that?” Xavier asked.