Page 94 of Grave Beginnings

“Yeah, Ivy,” I said, using Grandpa’s nickname for him. “I’d like that. But I think school is important.”

“We can work out a transport schedule,” Xavier said. “Ivan is old enough to get a license, but I wouldn’t advise it until he has better control of his cat.”

Was it dumb to ask why? I glanced at Angel, who answered, “Our vision is a lot better in cat form, but the spectrum of color is limited.”

“So, it’s hard to see lights and signs, and stuff?” I asked.

“And easier to see tiny distracting things that could take focus off the road,” Xavier agreed.

“Wild,” I said. “I’m learning a lot. Are you okay with all this, Ivy?”

“Yeah.”

Okay, then. I offered Xavier my hand to thank him, but he stepped back, his power locked down hard as I couldn’t feel him at all. Angel stood at my side, hand on my hip, possessive, though it didn’t bother me.

“I should get Ivan home and fed.” What time should teens go to bed? Was there a pamphlet in that folder on ‘How to Not Screw Up Your Magical Little Brother’? Or Managing Teens With Shifter Abilities For Dummies? Maybe I’d have to hit up the bookstore.

Xavier pointed at Ivan. “Call if you need something.”

Ivan nodded. Xavier nodded in our direction and left.

“Let me grab my bag and we can go,” I said, rushing back intothe room to stuff everything in my bag and bury the dirty shirt on the bottom. I hated the idea of calling it a night, but also had to take care of Ivan. Being an adultier adult sucked. “Maybe we should pick up food on the way home? What sort of things do you like, Ivan?”

“How about you take Ivan home and I meet you there with food?” Angel offered.

I looked back at him, surprised he wasn’t tired of me, but also sort of not wanting the evening to end. “Is that okay with you, Ivan?” Fuck. Was it dumb to ask my kid brother if it was okay if I had my… what? Boyfriend? Lover, over?

“Thai?” Ivan asked Angel.

“Sure, I know a place. How spicy you want it?”

“Extra,” Ivan said.

“Oh.” Well, if they were going to get along okay, I was all for that.

32

I leftAngel at the front desk to return his key and got Ivan into the car. The fact that he was coming over settled some of my worry over our fast-growing relationship. The few hours of play had really helped the growing anxiety over my variance, the new job, and the relationship between Angel and me. Running around like a kid among a bunch of shifters had lightened the unease.

Angel gave us an hour and fifteen minutes to get home and settled before he’d be there with dinner. While I enjoyed the anticipation, my chest hurt as soon as I got in the car, as if the distance from him actually caused pain. I rubbed it absently as I pulled on my belt and made sure Ivan put his on. I was falling fast and hard. Fuck.

“Did you call Grandpa today?” I asked Ivan.

“No,” Ivan said.

“Can you call him while I drive? I texted him earlier, and he sounded okay. I bet he’d be happy to hear from you.” I hoped he hadn’t given away all his food again as I wouldn’t be able to visit until Sunday.

Ivan unlocked his phone and dialed Grandpa, who greeted him happily. I let the two chat as I guided the car through the Veil on my own with my hands gripping the wheel and heart pounding in my ears. The section of the highway stretching through part of the Veil was empty and silent.

Once out of the Veil and on the highway, I took a deep breath and navigated us toward home, the traffic knotting up the roads almost immediately. At least we only had a few miles of bumper-to-bumper before getting off on a side road that would take us to our place.

“Tell us about the online school thing?” I asked.

“Oh, that sounds good. You kids like online stuff, right?” Grandpa asked.

Ivan sighed. “Yeah, it’s just school. Xavier helped me register for classes today. I had to do a test.”

“You have classes every day, then?” I wished I’d had that option when I was his age.