The Consumption of Magic (Tales From Verania 3)

Randall and Kevin were with Pat and Leslie, and all eyes were on me as I approached. I tried not to falter in my steps, but I didn’t know how successful I was. Kevin in particular eyed me strangely, and I had the feeling that Randall had filled him in while the rest of us were inside.

“Sam,” he rumbled. “I hear you’ve been busy.”

I sighed, tossing a glare at Randall. “Go ahead.”

He bli

nked at me. “What?”

“Let me have it.”

“Oh really—”

“Not like that. You can yell at me now, if you want. Get it off your chest.”

“I’d rather get off on your chest—”

“Kevin.”

“Fine,” he said, leaning down until his chin was on the snow, his head near me. I felt the heat from his nostrils as he narrowed his eyes. “Don’t do it again.”

“I know.”

“Good.” He breathed a puff of warm air on me.

“That’s it?”

He shrugged. “That’s it.”

“Oh. Ryan got mad at me, and then I had to act out this whole scene with Tiggy and Gary. I just thought there would be more.”

“Eh,” Kevin said. “I’m a lover, not a fighter. If you’d prefer, we could resolve this in a manner more befitting a dragon of my disposition.”

“I’m not going to climb on your junk.”

“So you say now.” He sighed. “Your mother talk to you?”

I frowned. “My mom? When did you talk to—”

“I just wanted to make sure you weren’t confused, champ, when you saw us together again. You know I love Gary very much, but you’ll always be my special little guy. I’m going to make us a family again.”

“Oh my fucking gods,” I muttered. “That will never not be weird.”

“Maybe you’ll get to have a little brother or two,” he continued. “Once Gary gets over this trial reconciliation bullshit. I respect his boundaries, but I can only go so long before I need to stick my tongue inside—you know what? You don’t need to hear this right now, sport. The only thing you need to know is that we both love you very much, and nothing is going to change. Except for all the sex I will be having. With your mother. Who is Gary.”

“Can we please talk about anything else?”

“Have you been doing your homework?”

“I take it back,” I said. “I don’t want to talk about anything at all with you.”

He chuckled deep in his throat.

I patted his nose as I walked past him, the heat of him warming my chilled skin.

But before I could move away completely, he whispered, “I won’t let him hurt you.”

I paused before I turned back toward him.