Starfire (Grim Gate 2)

“Allow me,” Nikolai offers. “Though I don’t know what to feed them.”

I laugh. “Don’t worry about it. Just have some coffee ready for me when I get back in.”

“Of course, my lady.” He gives me a bow and I pull on my coat and step into my boots. It’s sunny today and is going to be warmer than it’s been in a while. Hunter walks along with me as I hurry to the barn. It’s warmer than yesterday but still cold, and I’m shivering already.

I toss everyone their hay and then give the horses grain. Thankful I filled hay bags last night sine I knew I wouldn’t want to do it this morning, I take them to the pasture, hanging them on the fence. I intend to let everyone out once the horses are done eating their grain but spend a few minutes brushing them instead. It’s really easy to lose track of time in the barn.

Ethan and Nikolai are deep in a conversation when I get back into the house. I slowly take off my coat and gloves so I can listen, smiling when I hear Ethan telling Nikolai about how we fought off the Pricolici together. I get a plate and am just about to join them when the doorbell rings.

“Is that your brother?” Ethan says, getting up.

“Oh my god, I almost forgot!” I exclaim and follow Ethan into the foyer.

“Hey, man,” Harrison greets Ethan, stepping into the foyer. He sets his bag down and I rush over, pulling my twin in for a hug. “And hey, sis.” He hugs me back.

“You’re here earlier than I expected.” I let him go and step back.

“Traffic wasn’t bad, and I woke up with the intention of working out but I’m a little hungover.”

I laugh. “So, I’m guessing you had a good dinner with the clients?”

“Yeah, we had some celebrating to do.” He takes off his shoes and then greets Hunter, who’s patiently waiting his turn for attention. “Hey, buddy. Yes, I missed you too.” Hunter’s tail wags and he licks Harrison’s face, acting like a normal dog and not an ancient familiar.

“Are you hungry?” Ethan asks. “There’s plenty of breakfast left.”

“Starving, and please tell me there’s more bacon. I smelled it as soon as I stepped inside.”

“There is.”

We go into the kitchen and Harrison stops short when he sees Nikolai, who’s getting a fourth place setting out for him.

“Harry, this is Nikolai,” I introduce. “He surprised us with this feast this morning.”

Harrison’s eyes go from Nikolai to me to Ethan and back again. “Did I interrupt some sort of throuple thing?”

“No,” I say pointedly. “Nik used to date Aunt Estelle years go. Like when we used to stay with her.”

“You were like a kid then,” Harrison says to Nikolai.

“Actually, no.” I take my seat at the island again and pick up the coffee Ethan must have prepared for me since it has the perfect amount of creamer in it. “Do you remember him at all?”

“Greetings, Harrison,” Nikolai says with a smile. “It’s been years.”

“Holy shit.” Harrison takes a step back, confusion apparent on his face. “You…you haven’t aged. But it’s daylight so you can’t be—the fuck?”

“He’s have faery,” I say casually, getting more enjoyment out of this than I should. “And they age slower than humans. He’s over a hundred years old.”

Harrison looks at Ethan, certain he’s going to laugh and say I’m pranking him. But he doesn’t, and Harrison shakes his head again.

“Eat before the food gets cold.” I pat the barstool next to me and it takes Harrison a few seconds to shake himself and join us. An awkward silence falls over the room, and then Ethan asks Harrison about work, thank god. The tension leaves and we get through breakfast talking and laughing as normally as we can.

Harrison’s flight back to New York isn’t until tomorrow afternoon, so he takes his bag upstairs to the guest room, following behind me.

“Nikolai is in that room,” I tell him when he starts for the room he stayed in when he visited over Christmas. “I’m not sure how long he’ll be staying.”

“Your life is in-fucking-sane, sis.”

I shrug. “Most of the time it’s not that exciting. But lately…” I stop, shaking my head. There’s no need to worry my brother or bog him down with demon details when I don’t have anything concrete to tell him in the first place. “Lately it’s been busy. Nik showing up last night was a surprise.”

“And you trust him?” he asks quietly. I open the door to the second guest room. This one isn’t decorated all nice like the other but has the basics.

“I do,” I say and step back into the hall, opening another door. Romeo comes bouncing out and I scoop him up. “I need to get a friend for you, don’t I?” I kiss his head and go into the guest room with Harrison. “Ethan was worried just like you, so we gave him a truth potion last night and questioned him. He’s harmless.”