Chapter Four
Anton
I frowned when I saw Jedediah make Keryth laugh. Not because it was Jed making him laugh—he could make even someone as grumpy as Garrick Von Stein laugh—but because I hadn’t been able to make Keryth laugh or even smile since the night we met.
I sighed in defeat at myself and rubbed at my eyes.
If I could just get him to talk to me, to let me explain, maybe I could fix things. But I’d never met a more stubborn person than Keryth Rydel Bixidor. It was like he was determined to stay mad at me and keep me at a distance, and I didn’t understand why.
Didn’t he realize we could be something great, something beautiful, if only he’d let us try?
I dropped my hand and tried my best not to look straight at the fae, but my eyes strayed there anyway.
Gods above and below, he was beautiful. So elegant and almost precious-looking. I wanted to wrap him in my arms and protect him from the world, even though I knew he didn’t need it. From everything I knew about the man, he was one of the strongest I’d ever met.
It took someone special to adopt his four younger sisters at the age of eighteen. Not only did he adopt them, but it was clear the girls were well cared for and deeply loved. They wanted for nothing, and from what I heard, they never had, not even when they were dirt poor.
I’d heard Bel tell stories about his cousin missing meals and working three jobs at once just to pay the bills and make sure the girls could do all the extracurricular activities they wanted.
As if summoned by my thoughts of the girls, the oldest one, Alsira, came over and stood beside me. Keryth might not have wanted anything to do with me, but his sisters didn’t share that feeling. None of them had ever shied away from me, and I was grateful for that.
“Hey, Alsira. How are you doing?”
She smiled at me. “I’m good.”
“This is your senior year this year, right?”
“Yep. Thank the Mother of All.”
I snorted at that. I thought about asking her if she planned on going to college, but I figured everyone probably asked her that, so instead, I asked, “Do you have any concerts coming up?”
That made her smile wider. “I do. I have a school one in a couple of weeks, and I’m actually playing a show with my band right after that.”
“Your band?”
She was clearly excited because she spoke a million miles a minute, waving her hands around animatedly. “Four of my friends and I started a band. We decided to play something in the school talent show last year, and we had so much fun that we decided to really give it a go. We even have a few gigs booked, thanks to Bel. He’s been helping us. He thinks we’re really good, but I dunno if he’s just being nice.” She shrugged. “Ker’s all worried that I’m gonna back out of college and try to tour Gauhala or something, but that’s ridiculous. I’ve worked way too hard to get into a music program, and I want to be in the Sedoba Orchestra one day.”
“That’s an admirable goal. You’re an amazing musician, so I’m sure you’ll make it.” I wasn’t only being nice. She had a true talent I’d rarely seen over my long years. If the Sedoba Orchestra didn’t take her, there was something wrong with them, and I was sure another orchestra would snatch her up in a heartbeat.
“I really hope so.” She offered me another grin, then glanced across the roof to Ker, who was cuddling Zellya close and whispering to her. “You know, he’s just really stubborn.”
My brow furrowed. “I’m sorry, what was that?”
She nodded at Ker. “My brother is the most stubborn person in existence, but I’m sure if you give him some time, he’ll come around eventually.”
I was so shocked by her words that I stood there dumbfounded, unable to respond.
She met my gaze. “I don’t know what happened—he won’t tell anyone—but I do know that something happened, and I can tell that it makes you sad every time he ignores you. So I just thought…” She shrugged again. “Well, I thought you maybe needed to hear this. Ker’s stubborn, proud, and can hold a grudge like you’d never believe. But he always comes around eventually. So, you know, just… keep trying to talk to him. Obviously respect his boundaries, but don’t give up.”
I almost didn’t say anything, but something compelled me to say, “It’s been over two years, Alsira. I’m pretty sure he’d forgive me by now if he ever planned to.”
Her green eyes examined me for a long moment, looking well older than her seventeen years. “Like I said, don’t give up. I have a feeling he’ll come around, and in case you haven’t realized this already, my brother’s worth the wait.” She shot me one last smile before sauntering away, and I couldn’t help but wonder if that was just some kind of sisterly feeling type of thing or if maybe she had a touch of Sight in her.
I couldn’t help but hope it was the latter.
As she passed by Jedediah, he asked her, “Did you give my dad some good advice?”
“I think so.”
He grinned at her. “Good. He needs it.”
She giggled, and Jed made his way over to me as I rubbed at my temples.
“Man, Daddio, what did you do to that poor guy?”
I dropped my hand to find Jed staring at me expectantly. “What makes you think I was the one who did something?”
He lifted a brow. “Because I know how awkward you are with people you like, and I can tell the little fae over there is hurt.”
I winced at that. “You got that from him?”
He patted his chest. “Yes. I felt it. He’s hurt, but… he’s also pining for you. The only time he takes his eyes off you is when you’re looking at him, like he’s afraid of being caught staring.”
Jed’s vampiric powers had been growing over the centuries, and I knew he could pick up on others’ strong emotions. So if he said Ker was hurt, he wasn’t only guessing. He’d actually felt it.
And that made my own chest hurt.
I’d somehow hurt the very person I was made to protect so badly that even over two years later, he was still feeling it. How could I have been so stupid? And inconsiderate?
And how in all the hells could I possibly fix it?
I needed to apologize. I wanted to.
But I could only do that if the fae would let me near him. If he would listen to me.
I glanced over at Alsira, who was collecting Gemma and Saranor so the family could leave. Maybe she was right. Maybe I shouldn’t give up. Maybe I should try to apologize to the man again. But he wouldn’t let me in person, so… what if I wrote him a letter?
My eyes widened. Why hadn’t I thought of that sooner? A letter was the perfect solution. I’d simply have to pray that he’d read it.
I watched Keryth, his girls, and the fae teenager leave, and since I really wanted to get started on that letter, I gathered my children soon after, and we headed out as well.
Phaeron decided he wanted to drive, so I slipped into the passenger seat, and the moment all the doors were closed, Jed said, “Your new family is really great, Daddy.”
I sighed. “They’re new family members, but stop making it sound like I’m replacing you. I’m not, and I never will.”
Jed and Katja both chuckled at that, and Katja reached forward to pat my shoulder. “We’re only joking.”
Looking over my shoulder, I snorted at them and shook my head, earning more snickers before the radio caught my attention.
“Former Speaker of the Tower, Aaron Ralodove, is still at large. The police and tower agents aren’t giving us updates, but they do claim to be investigating the incident and searching for him. A government source says they’re now expanding the search outside of Sedoba, and they’re offering a reward to anyone with information on his whereabouts.”
Phaeron reached over to change the channel, saying, “I can’t believe they haven’t caught that guy yet. It’s been over a week, hasn’t it?”
“Yep. I can’t believe it either,” Beshiro said. “I heard Garrick and Roman whispering about it tonight. They both sounded really pissed about it.”
“You shouldn’t be eavesdropping on conversations like that, Shiro,” I said with a click of my tongue. “Especially on family.” My children may have been very old indeed, but that didn’t stop me from treating them like children at times. I couldn’t seem to help myself. To be fair, if they didn’t act like children, I wouldn’t have to scold them.
“I didn’t do it on purpose. I was sitting down, and they walked closer to me. Not my fault.”
I waved him off, then reached into the back seat to give his knee a little squeeze so he knew I wasn’t actually upset with him.
He shot me a smile in response.
“Is anyone hungry or are we heading straight home?” Phaeron asked.
“We ate at the party,” Jed said, and I nodded along with him even though I hadn’t actually fed on any of the blood they’d had there. It had been a kind gesture on Tan’s part to have a selection available for us, even if I hadn’t partaken. I was, in fact, hungry, but nothing sounded appetizing at the moment.
Actually, that wasn’t true.
There was one sweet fae who I knew would hit the spot just right.
There was no way that was happening anytime soon. If ever.
Keryth clearly felt I had a lot to make up for, and even though I’d love to feed from him, that was the least of my concerns. I wanted to gain his trust. I wanted to befriend him.
I wanted to hold him and kiss him and make him mine.
That wouldn’t be happening anytime soon either.
But maybe writing him that note was a start.