Page 113 of Visions of You

Jaron was glad he had not taken a sandwich for himself because he would have choked on it.

"I think that's between me and your brother," Keegan said.

"Why?" Fei asked.

"You'll understand when you're older," Keegan said.

Jaron wanted to drag his palm down his face. That was the worst possible thing to say to Fei. He'd never stop asking now.

"I'm already old," Fei said. "I'm nine. That's almost ten, and that's two full hands."

Couldn't fault that logic.

"I'll tell you when you're my age," Keegan promised.

Fei's eyes narrowed. "How old are you?"

"79," Keegan said.

"No way." Fei shook his head. "I'm not waiting seventy years to find out. That's too old," he said with emphasis.

"You're only 79?" Jaron turned to Keegan. "Somehow I thought you were older."

Keegan shrugged. "I'm still old enough to be your daddy."

"Ew," Casca said loudly.

Jaron laughed. "Yeah, no. Let's not go there."

Keegan picked up the empty plate. "I'll get you some more, and this time you'll eat something as well," he said to Jaron. With that he left.

Jaron looked after him a moment. If his brothers hadn't been around, he might have said something about Keegan needing a snack too.

Later.

By the time the sun went down, Fei was sleeping again. Casca was still up, however, watching a movie on Keegan's laptop.

Jaron sat down beside him. "Keegan and I are going to head out for an hour or two. Will you be okay watching Fei for that long?"

He didn't love the idea of leaving his siblings for even a minute after he'd just gotten them back, but he knew the whole coven would keep an eye on them, and besides, this was important.

"Where are you going?" Casca asked.

"I need to talk to Mom and Dad," Jaron admitted.

"I want to come."

"I know." Jaron had expected that. "I promise I'll tell you everything in the morning, just please let me handle this tonight."

It was a lot to ask of a stubborn twelve-year-old dragon shifter.

"Why won't you tell me now?" Casca asked. At least he was keeping his voice low so as not to wake Fei.

"It's a long story," Jaron said. "But if you let me do this, you might not have to go back."

He let that sink in while Casca pretended to look at the movie screen.

Casca nodded.