Page 111 of Seared Fates

I laugh as Vidar sweeps me into his arms.

Chapter forty

Vidar

“Why do you have a box full of figure skating magazines from the 80s and 90s?” Kai asks, carrying over said box he found while going through my wardrobe.

Since coming into this new home, I hadn’t bothered to look through my possessions, and I was more than happy for Kai to snoop to distract him from the growing pain at his centre.

I only intervened when he discovered my weapons trunk. My blood chilling when he swung my axe around with no regard for the very sharp edge.

“Vidar?”

“Sorry, little prince,” I say, shifting so I can give him my full attention from where I’m seated in an armchair. “What did you ask again?”

While he’s been busy, I met with Summer, and she confirmed that while unpleasant, his pain is expected, and he needs time to recover before we cut him open again.

My hands itch for Emma’s throat—and worse, I know exactly where she is. Summer easily located the blood mage in a two-storey house on the outskirts of the city. I sent Rurik and Sen to keep watch for any movements, which happened to be none.

If it wasn’t for the foul, rotted scent of blood magic, the place would’ve appeared abandoned.

“Why do you have over a hundred of these magazines?”

Grasping his slim waist, I slip my fingers under his beige hoodie and draw circles at his hip.

“Vampires like to collect, a quirk of our species. We slip into communities quietly, picking up languages and customs as if we’ve always been there, then leave without a trace. An innate camouflage. But this can create cracks in our core personalities, and collecting things that remind us of who we are soothes our psyches. Even at the depth of my apathy, my instinct was to stay close to my family, those who knew me best. Even though I treated them terribly.”

“So this collecting is like an impulse?” Kai leans into my touch.

I nod absently, half my thoughts still with Emma.

“And you like figure skating?” Kai asks, no judgment.

“I’ve never really watched it.” I shrug and tug him between my spread thighs.

I glance away from the box and up at Kai to find his bright smile, like he’s figured something out.

Kai places the box down on the side table, and for half a second my lungs seize up when he reaches for one of my magazines. But then Kai handles each glossy, icy blue magazine as if they’re precious. I let go of my exhale, warmth spreading through me.

“You’ve really got a lot,” he says, sounding impressed.

“I’d search for every edition, even if I didn’t buy them all. Something called to me about these specific ones,” I tell him, proud Kai noticed my hard work.

Kai perches on my lap; he winces. But before I can ask if he’s okay, he quickly says, “When you were in the other mansion, what made the apathy start to recede?”

I’m so surprised by his sudden change of subject, I pause.

“Well…” I begin, trying to gather my thoughts. “Golden had broken in, and I was curious about him.”

Kai nods wisely, like more pieces are coming together. I want to ask what he’s up to, but if this keeps him distracted from the discomfort, then I’ll gladly let him tangle my mind into knots.

“Did no one else try to sneak in before?” he questions, voice soft.

“A few homeless, I suppose. A couple of teens wanting a place to drink.” I sort through those long, empty years. “No one else that really stands out.”

Kai strokes my hair with his long artist fingers, nudging closer so I can breathe in his calming lavender scent.

“You treat Ramy really differently from your other offspring.”