Текст книги "Berries and Greed"

Автор книги: Lily Mayne

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Текущая страница: 32 (всего у книги 33 страниц)

I grinned, tugging her closer. “Well that wasn’t exactly what I was picturing, but still romantic.”

“What were you picturing?”

“Maybe like… you ripped off your apron in the middle of your shift and climbed onto the bar to announce that you had to go home right that second to tell your amazing boyfriend how much you love him. And then everyone clapped.”

Beryl burst out laughing. “I can go back and do that if you really want. I’ll get Ron to film it for you.”

“No.” I yanked her closer and started pressing kisses all over her face. “Don’t go anywhere. I got you Chinese food.”

“Is that what’s on the front of your onesie?”

My ears fluttered. “Okay, look, I wasn’t expecting you home so early. Trust me, you could’ve walked in on a far worse sight than—Oh shit, wait.” I peered around. “Where’s my phone? I actually had a text from Agma, which makes more sense now.”

Beryl reared back, leaning on my chest. “She texted you?”

“Yeah, but I haven’t read it yet.” I looked at her. “I could just delete it without opening it.”

She made a face and sat up. “Greid, you should do whatever you want.”

“Well, I don’t really care about what she has to say, but…” I struggled upright and slid to the edge of the bed to stand. “I guess we could read it.”

After retrieving my phone from the living room, I launched myself back into bed and wriggled as close as possible to Beryl as I opened my texts and tapped on the waiting message from Agma.

I met your new girlfriend. I’m sorry for the way I acted about certain things during our relationship. And I’m sorry for telling my friends private details as well.

I didn’t feel much of anything as I read it, before handing the phone to Beryl. “She apologised.”

“Well that’s something.” She glanced at me. “Are you going to reply?”

I made a face and took the phone from her to dump it somewhere on the bed. Then I lay down and tugged her on top of me, making sure the sheets were bunched at my hips because I was definitely going to get hard again.

“I’d much rather use my hands for something else.” I waggled my eyebrows at her suggestively. “If you catch my drift.”

She wrinkled her nose with a laugh. “Shockingly, I do, despite the very subtle way you’re squeezing my ass.”

“I can’t help it.” I squeezed again, just because. “I’d like to request that my coffee comes with a free ass squeeze every morning. As payment.”

“What?” Beryl laughed. “How is that payment? I deliver your coffee and my payment is getting my ass grabbed?”

“Grabbed by me.” I gave her a wide grin. “You love me.”

“How about I get to grope your ass every morning?”

“Deal,” I said immediately, my grin turning smug as I shut my eyes and relaxed into the bed. “You got played, berry.”

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Chapter Forty-Eight

Beryl

“Okay. Nuni, Laki, Daga, Kiti, Sorin…” My mind went blank as I ticked the names of Greid’s siblings off on my fingers. I glanced over at him in panic. “Fuck, I’ve forgotten the other two.”

He chuckled, hand shifting on the steering wheel as he turned the car onto a quaint suburban street lined with squat, dark demiurgus houses. “Suni and Tuvin.”

“Tuvin’s the guy, right?” I frantically tried to picture the family photo I’d studied at home before we left.

“Yeah. Blue in his hair. Suni has green.”

“Okay.” I wiped my palms over my jeans, ridiculously nervous. “And Daga’s lifemate is called Elern, right? And they have four kids? What’re the kids’ names again?”

“Even I can’t remember that,” he joked, reaching over to palm my thigh. “Chill, berry. It’s not like they’re going to give you a pop quiz when you walk in. The ones you haven’t met will introduce themselves anyway.”

Greid’s mom, Una, had visited us a few more times in the last couple of months, twice with Kiti and Greid’s brother Sorin in tow. Kiti had demanded my number the last time, so now we spoke a lot through text. And she sent me a lot of childhood photos of Greid. The last one had been an adorably awkward yearbook photo, when he’d had braces and a huge pimple on his chin.

We’d been watching TV when she sent it, so I’d shown Greid my phone screen straight away, then launched myself at him when he dragged a blanket over his head with a groan. He was just so cute.

Laki had also stopped by once to get high with Greid, and I was glad I’d met them in advance of today so I wouldn’t be so nervous around them. They were one of those intimidatingly, effortlessly cool people—tall and lanky like Greid, with gorgeous, turquoise-streaked hair, a nose ring and weird pale tattoos all over their arms.

I’d ended up getting high with both of them. And I’d ended up telling Laki about the cult. Una and Kiti already knew—I didn’t want Greid to have to lie to his family, so I was trying to drip feed them snippets about my past to make it seem less weird.

Laki had been totally cool about it, but I had no idea if that was because they’d been high. They’d just gazed at me with bloodshot yellow eyes and said, “Huh. Glad you’re out of there now,” before stuffing a handful of chips in their mouth.

“Who else will be there?” I asked Greid, my belly jumping with nerves as we approached the house on the street with a lot of cars parked outside it. “Just so I know what to expect.”

“My Aunt Indi—Mom’s sister—and her lifemate Bax. The siblings. Daga’s mate Elern and their kids. Um… maybe some partners of the others? I’m not sure. Kiti usually invites whatever d-bag she’s dating at the time.”

“Kiti isn’t dating anyone,” I said absently, peering out the window at the big, dark stone house. “She told me the other day.”

“Thank fuck for that,” Greid muttered, pulling into an empty spot. “She has terrible taste in men.”

“Greid!” I smacked his arm. “What if some of your family think that about me? You’re dating a human!”

“They don’t care about that. And you’re not a d-bag.” Shutting off the engine, he reached over and cupped my cheeks, grinning as he squished them. “You’re the best. Plus”—he let go of me to unbuckle his seatbelt—“we’re not just dating. We live together. You love me. No takebacks.”

I snorted, unclipping my seatbelt and leaning down to grab my bag from between my feet. Una had choked on her excited gasp when Greid called to let her know we were Officially Together. She’d turned up the next day with a cake. And Kiti.

That was when I’d told them about the cult. Una’s big yellow eyes had gone glassy when I briefly explained my childhood, which had made Greid duck his head and rub his own eyes because he couldn’t handle seeing people cry.

My main worry had actually been Kiti teasing Greid, seeing as we kind of had to explain how we’d met. Surprisingly, she hadn’t. But when Greid had gotten up to go make us all drinks, she’d followed him. I’d excused myself to use the bathroom and left Una in the living room, then crept to the kitchen in case I’d have to jump in and defend Greid.

Instead, I’d found them hugging. Until Kiti pulled back and flicked Greid on the forehead, so he smushed his hand into her face in retaliation.

Taking a deep breath, I got out of the car and almost slipped as my boots hit the icy ground, but Greid was already there to steady me.

“Ugh, god, you’re so embarrassing.” He shot me a teasing grin. “Try not to break any of my mom’s fancy dishes, okay?”

“Shut up.” I shoved his stomach as he opened the back door. “Did the cake survive the trip?”

I’d been practising making cake for the last couple of weeks specifically for today. Greid had told me his mom’s favourite was chocolate beetroot cake, so it’d taken me a while to get the recipe right and produce something that actually tasted good, but Greid had assured me my final practice cake last weekend was amazing. He’d eaten three-quarters of it, so it must’ve been okay.

“Looks like it.” He took out the cake carrier and handed it to me. “You okay carrying it?”

“I think I’ll manage,” I said dryly as I watched him hook six huge gift bags over his arms. “Let me take some of those.”

“No, I’m okay.” He kicked the car door shut with his boot. “I’ll get Jake.”

I huffed. “Well then at least let me take some of the bags—”

“I’m good, I swear.” He skidded as he made his way around the car. “Go inside, it’s cold.”

I clutched the plastic cake carrier tighter and turned to look at the house. There was a wreath decorated with nightberries on the tall front door and fairy lights strung along the front porch. Through one of the windows, I spotted a tall, dark figure crossing a room, bouncing an equally dark but much smaller figure in their arms.

You can do this. They’re just people. They’re Greid’s family, and Greid is the sweetest guy in the world. The cult isn’t going to come up today. The weirdest thing about you will be that you’re the sole human in a big group of demiurgus.

Exhaling a breath that puffed out of my mouth in a cloud of steam, I started walking up the drive. Before ringing the doorbell, I glanced back to make sure Greid wasn’t far behind. He was juggling the gift bags and Jake’s leash, but he was on his way.

About ten seconds after ringing the bell, the door swung open to reveal Una in a green apron with a Santa hat on her head. The demiurgus version of a Santa hat—forest green with a big red plastic jewel on the end.

“Beryl, darling! Merry Christmas!” She grabbed my shoulders and kissed both cheeks, then went still. “Did you bring him? Where’s my baby?”

“I’m right here.” Greid appeared behind me, weighed down by all the bags hanging from his arms.

“Not you, kushka.” She peered around him and gasped. “There he is! Oh, my precious angel.”

“What the fuck,” Greid grumbled as his mom dropped to her knees to wrap her arms around our Borzoi’s neck.

We’d adopted him from the pound at the beginning of December. He was a couple of years old, so already enormous—long and lanky just like Greid, with white-and-tan fur. He was also just as gentle as Greid, and almost as lazy. Some days it felt like I was fighting a losing battle trying to get him and Greid to go for a walk.

“I already have a plate of meat fixed up for you,” she told Jake in a cooing voice as he excitedly licked her face. “Can he have gravy?”

“Probably not.” Greid shifted the bags. “Too salty.”

“My gravy is not ‘too salty’, Greid.” Una stood up and ushered Jake into the house. He trotted inside after I unclipped his leash, tail wagging as he immediately started sniffing everything. “Ooh, is that a cake?”

“Oh. Yeah.” I held it out to her. “It’s, um… Greid said your favourite is chocolate beetroot, so…”

“Oh, Beryl, you are such a sweetheart. Isn’t she such a sweetheart, Greid?”

“She’s alright.” He grinned at me behind his mother’s back as she turned to call out.

“Nuni! Come and help your brother with the gift bags.”

“Oh shit, Grode’s here?” I heard from somewhere deeper in the house.

Grode?

A few seconds later, a tall demiurgus sauntered into the hallway with a big shit-eating grin already on his face. He had long, artfully windswept hair tinted with blue, and was wearing an expensive-looking cashmere sweater with tailored slacks. A chunky diamond gleamed in his earlobe, and there was an equally thick signet ring on his little finger.

Yep, this was Nuni.

“Grode, bro, what the fuck are you wearing?” He snickered as he approached, yellow eyes alighting on me and gleaming with interest.

Greid huffed. “It’s the Christmas sweater Aunt Indi made me last year. Why aren’t you wearing yours?”

Nuni came to a stop in front of us and shrugged. “I look better in this.”

Una tutted, making her way toward the door he’d just appeared from. “You really should be wearing yours, Nuni. All the others are. She spent a long time making them for you all.”

“Sorry, Ma,” he said absently, grinning again and back to staring at me. “So this is Beryl. Nice to finally meet you.”

I fixed a polite smile on my face and shook his huge hand when he held it out. “Nice to meet you too.”

“You’ve been together a while now, huh?” He looked between Greid and me. “How’d you even meet? It’s not like Grode ever leaves his house.”

“Why are you calling him Grode?” I asked, maybe a little too defensively seeing as we’d just met, but I’d heard all about Nuni.

He was apparently oblivious to the hard edge in my voice, because he grinned.

“Oh, just a nickname I came up with when we were kids. Mix of Greid, grody and chode. I’m just”—he shoved his hands in his pockets and rocked back on his heels with a faux-humble shrug, his grin turning sheepish—“a creative guy like that, I guess.”

I gave him my best unimpressed look. “Real creative. But hey, maybe I can come up with a nickname for you.”

That wiped the grin off his face, gaze turning wary as he eyed me. “Like what?”

“I’ll think of something.” I gave him a sweet smile. “Your mom told you to help Greid with the bags.”

His ears fluttered, and after a few seconds he slipped his hands out of his pockets to take three of the bags from Greid, who was watching our exchange in silence.

After Nuni had slunk off without another word, Greid leaned down and whispered, “That was hot.”

Chuckling, I took one of the bags from him now that my hands were free. “Now I have to come up with a stupid nickname for him. One that he’ll hate.”

“Pooni.”

I burst out laughing as we shrugged off our coats and hung them with all the others. “Fittingly juvenile. I like it.”

“Whose dog is this?” a voice called, before a demiurgus lady in a fluffy red sweater appeared in the hallway. She looked almost identical to Una, so I was guessing this was Greid’s Aunt Indi. “Oh, Greid, my angel! You’re here! Why are you just standing in the hall?”

She rushed forward and grabbed Greid’s face, pressing a big kiss to his cheek, then turned to do the same to me. “You must be Beryl. Merry Christmas! Aren’t you precious? So tiny. Look at that hair. You’re beautiful. Come on, come in. Do you want a drink? Greid, what does Beryl drink?”

I glanced back at Greid with wide eyes as Indi swept me along, out of the hallway and into a living room. There was a big Christmas tree in the corner decorated with green and gold and red, and—I tried to quickly count—more than a dozen stockings crammed together on the fireplace mantle.

“Everyone, Beryl and Greid are here!” Indi announced. “Bax, get Beryl a drink. Nuni, help your brother with the bags.”

“I already helped him with the fucking bags,” Nuni grumbled. “He can carry two bags, Auntie.”

“Help your brother with the bags.” She tapped him on the back of the head as she passed him, which made him frantically reach up to check his hair. “Now, who haven’t you met yet, Beryl? Daga and Tuvin are helping their mother in the kitchen, and I think Laki and Suni are on the back porch smoking…”

“They are?” Greid asked eagerly, but took my hand with a sheepish expression when I shot him a warning look. He could not just slink off to get high with his siblings while I endured this.

“Honey, maybe Beryl doesn’t want to be paraded around.” A bald demiurgus with a cheerful smile appeared, handing me a flute of champagne. “I’m Bax, Indi’s lifemate and this lot’s uncle. Lovely to meet you.”

“And you.” I took a sip of champagne to calm my nerves and smiled in relief when I saw Kiti ambling over with a grin. “Hi, Kiti.”

“Hi, babe.” She kissed my cheek. “Just let Aunt Indi do her thing then come sit with me and Sorin. Hi, dork.”

“Hi, buttface.” Greid gave her shoulder a weak shove as I peered behind her to wave at Sorin, who was sitting on the couch with a baby in his arms. He wiggled his fingers back, his thumb being held in a death grip.

“That’s one of Daga and Elern’s rugrats.” Kiti leaned in closer and muttered, “They’re too young for me to tell them apart.”

“Oh, don’t be ridiculous, Kiti,” Indi scolded. “There were eight of you and we could tell you apart from the moment you were born. Especially our little kushka.”

She pinched Greid’s cheek, making him squirm and mumble, “C’mon, Auntie.”

“Oh! And this is Daga’s lifemate Elern, with…” Indi peered closer at the baby in the demiurgus guy’s arms as he wandered into the room. “Well, anyway. Elern, this is Beryl.”

“Hey.” He looked a little frazzled as he bounced the baby. “Nice to meet you. Hey, Greid.”

“Hey.” Greid had barely got the word out before Indi was ushering us along, through a wide archway and into a steamy kitchen.

I was introduced to Greid’s sister Daga, who had a baby on each hip, and his brother Tuvin, who was stirring something on the stove while Una barked orders at him as she fed Jake chunks of beef. Then I was swept through a side door and outside to the back porch, where Laki and another of Greid’s sisters, Suni, were lounging on the ice-crusted garden furniture and sharing a joint.

“I’ve already met Beryl, Auntie,” Laki said when Indi tried to introduce me, lifting a hand in salute with the joint clasped between their fingers. “How’s it going? ’Sup, Greid. Want a toke?”

“Hell yes.” Greid tugged me forward. “We’ll be back inside in a minute, Auntie.”

Indi tutted. “Fine. I have to go and help your mother anyway. Do you need a top-up, Beryl?”

I’d barely taken a sip. “I’m fine, thank you.”

“Just help yourself when you do.” She squeezed my arm before vanishing back inside, and I took a calming breath.

“Aunt Indi’s even worse than Mom.” Greid’s sister, Suni, sat up straight and extended a hand with a wry smile on her face. “I’m Suni. Nice to meet you.”

“Lovely to meet you.” I shook her hand before Greid pulled me onto his lap in one of the free seats. He wrapped an arm around me tight to keep me warm as he took the joint from Laki.

Taking a small sip of champagne, I looked out at the garden. It was just as jungle-like as Greid’s but looked more purposefully designed, with little walkways meandering between the trees and bushes, most of which were bare. I bet it looked gorgeous in the spring.

“Your mom’s garden is nice,” I told Greid. He gestured at Laki with the joint.

“It’s all Laki.” His voice was tight as he held in a lungful of shade smoke, passing the joint over to Suni.

Laki gave me a wry smile when I looked at them. “I’m a landscaper.”

“Oh, really? Cool.”

“Mom’s already asked me to dig holes for Daga and Elern’s kids to play in when they’re old enough.” They shook their head as they took the joint from Suni. “Gonna fuck up the whole flow.”

“God, I’m so fuckin’ hungry.” Suni rubbed her stomach through her thick coat, slouching low in her seat. “When’s dinner?”

My mouth twitched as I huddled deeper against Greid. They were definitely his siblings, alright.

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Chapter Forty-Nine

Beryl

I was considerably more relaxed by the time we sat down to eat, and so was Greid, having shared two joints with Laki and Suni before the cold—and hunger—drove us all back inside.

Kiti made sure I was seated between her and Greid at the table, topping up my glass with fresh champagne and explaining all the dishes as Una, Indi and Tuvin brought them out. Some were pretty standard. A garlicky roast chicken. A fat slab of slow-cooked beef. Steamed vegetables—which none of the siblings touched as they began fighting among each other to load their plates—and dishes piled high with roasted and mashed potatoes.

Others were more unusual, like something called logus that looked like roasted bark. A bowl of grainy, bright orange goop studded with tiny black mushrooms. A glass dish of black nightberry sauce that gleamed purple as it was plopped onto plates.

“Want me to load up your plate for you?” Greid whispered, giving my leg a brief squeeze under the table.

I nodded at him with a grateful smile. We’d ordered from some demiurgus restaurants a few times, so he knew what kind of things I’d like. I didn’t want to risk offending Una by adding something to my plate that I’d end up leaving.

Once everyone’s plates were full, Bax stood up and gave a toast. The moment he was done, Nuni shot up from his seat and gave an even more elaborate toast. And then as everyone finally started eating, it fell quiet for the first time since we’d arrived. Jake squeezed himself between mine and Kiti’s seats to rest his snout on my thigh, gazing up at me plaintively. I gave his head an absent stroke as I took my first bite of chicken.

Una watched us all shrewdly for a few seconds, then breathed a sigh of relief and leaned back in her seat as she gulped down her glass of nightberry wine.

“It’s really good, Ma,” Laki mumbled around a mouthful, their eyes heavy and bloodshot from the shade.

A chorus of murmured agreement sounded around the table. Daga and Elern were the only ones not shovelling food into their mouths as they tried to eat while balancing two babies each on their laps.

Una’s yellow eyes shone with happiness, but she waved her hand dismissively. “Of course it is.”

This was what it was like, then, to have a proper family. To have a parent who ran themselves ragged just to make their children happy. A flash of guilt went through me the moment I thought it, making me squirm in my seat. That wasn’t fair. Violet had been a parent to me, and she’d tried her hardest.

But… it still hadn’t been a normal childhood for me. It hadn’t been like this.

We’d made plans to see Violet in the new year. Greid had visited the cult before Christmas to ask if he could escort her into the city to visit me. I knew he’d been incredibly nervous, and he’d shifted anxiously in his three-piece suit as I’d kissed him goodbye before he left. It’d made me love him even more.

I was both nervous and excited to see my aunt. Nervous, because we’d be telling her that we were a couple—though now that I thought about it, I was pretty sure she already suspected I’d felt more than friendly toward Greid for a while.

I knew that when I saw her, I’d be tempted to ask her to leave the cult. Greid had already offered for her to live with us, in my old bedroom. But I didn’t think it was fair to pressure her like that. I knew she liked it there, liked the quiet, peaceful life it gave her, free from any trouble.

I also knew that I wouldn’t be able to avoid the cult forever. Violet would most likely stay there, and eventually she’d grow too old and frail to make the journey into the city, even with Greid helping her down the steps from the compound. One day, I’d have to go back when there was no other option to see her.

But I knew I’d have Greid with me when that day did come. So while it still stirred up uncomfortable feelings within me, it didn’t scare me. I was brave. I’d be able to do it as long as Greid was right there holding my hand.

“You okay?” he whispered, tangling our fingers together under the table.

I squeezed his hand and smiled at him with a nod. He gazed at me for a second longer, then leaned in to kiss my cheek.

“You two are so gross.” Kiti gave my arm a teasing nudge on my other side.

“They are not gross, Kiti,” Una piped up immediately, gazing at us from the head of the table. “They’re precious. So in love.” Her eyes grew glassy. “My little baby.”

“Jesus, Mom,” Greid mumbled, slouching lower in his seat.

“You never told me how you two met,” Nuni said, looking at us from across the table as he shovelled mashed potato into his mouth.

I went stiff, heat spreading over my face. Greid gave my hand a comforting squeeze and took a breath—no doubt to tell some unbelievable, long-winded lie—but Kiti spoke before he could say anything.

“None of your fuckin’ business, Pooni.” She gave my arm a conspiratorial nudge. “By the way, everyone, Nuni’s new nickname is Pooni.”

He sucked in an affronted breath and almost choked on a bite of mashed potato. Ears twitching, he shot me a betrayed look, clearly remembering my threat from earlier. “What the fuck, Beryl? I thought we were bros.”

Kiti slung an arm over my shoulders. “You haven’t earned the right yet, dickface. Beryl’s my bro.”

Nuni shook his head. “Not cool, dude.”

Sorin, seated beside him, shoved the side of his face. “Quit whining, Pooni.”

Laki snorted, grabbing a dinner roll and launching it at Nuni’s face with unerring accuracy. “Yeah, shut up, Pooni.”

“Dude!” Nuni snatched up his napkin and wiped at his cheek furiously. “That had butter on it! If you make me break out, I’ll kick your ass.”

“Children, please.” Una pinched the bridge of her nose, eyes fluttering shut in exasperation. “Not in front of Beryl.”

“Why am I getting roasted for asking how Beryl and Gro—Greid met?” Nuni shot me a quick, wary look before glancing around the table expectantly. “It’s a valid question. I’m just asking.”

“You’re getting roasted because you’re an asshat.” Kiti held out a hand. “Can someone pass me the gravy?”

“Kiti,” Una said wearily. “Your brother is not an… ass hat. Nuni, why don’t you tell us how work’s going?” she added, clearly trying to put an end to the bickering.

The idea of talking about himself perked Nuni right back up. “Pretty good. Record turnover in the last quarter. We’ve got our ten-year anniversary coming up, so we’re planning on holding a big event for it.”

“Ten years!” Una reached over to squeeze his arm. “I’m so proud of you, darling.”

“Thanks, Ma.” His chest puffed up, but he gave a self-deprecating shrug that wasn’t at all convincing. “It was a team effort.”

“Yeah, Team Nuni, right?” Tuvin huffed, then shot Nuni a sly grin. “Sorry, Pooni.”

Nuni lunged for the dinner rolls. “I swear to god, asshole—”

“Who’s planning your anniversary event?” I blurted quickly, because Una was pinching her nose again.

Nuni sat back and shot me a suspicious look. “Why? You an event planner? Am I allowed to know that?”

“No, I’m not,” I said calmly, “but my friend is. She’s really good.”

“Who is it?” Sorin asked with interest.

“Corva nir Feris.”

Daga gasped, staring at me from across the table. “Seriously? She’s not just good, she’s the best.” She nudged Elern. “You remember when we looked at that manor house outside the city when we were planning our matehood?”

“Uh…” Elern winced as one of the babies grabbed his ear. “Kinda.”

“It was all done up for a wedding that weekend,” Daga told me. “It looked incredible. Super high-end. I asked the manager who the event planner was and he said it was her, but that weddings weren’t her usual gig. Whoever was getting mated had paid through the nose specifically for her.”

“Oh, well.” I shrugged. “She is amazing.”

Nuni was watching our exchange closely. “So she’s the best, huh?” He focused on me again. “Can you give me her details? Please,” he added hastily.

“Sure. She’s usually booked up pretty far in advance, though…”

“I’ll get her.” He sat back in his seat and sipped his drink.

Greid coughed beside me, leaning in to murmur, “You should probably warn her.”

I snorted, picking up my champagne flute to whisper behind it, “I’d pay money to watch him try and hit on her. It will not go well.”

“Kushka,” Una suddenly piped up. “Did you tell everyone about the news piece?”

Greid sat back and picked up his fork. “The what?”

Una tutted. “The article about the lady you made a headpiece for in the fall. There was a big picture of her wearing it and they were giving suggestions on how to recreate the look. I texted you about it last week.”

He cringed, sinking lower in his seat. “Oh. Yeah. I didn’t, um, open the link.”

“Why not?” she demanded. “Everyone else did. I sent it to the whole family.”

Greid squirmed. “Why, Ma?”

“Because I am proud of all my children’s achievements and they deserve to be celebrated,” she declared.

“Even I opened the link,” Nuni piped up. “And you didn’t, Grode? C’mon, bro. Let Ma be proud of you, at least. The headpiece was decent.”

“I liked it,” Laki added between mouthfuls of beef.

Sorin nodded. “Really nice, Greid.”

I beamed with pride as Greid slouched so low in his seat that he almost slid completely under the table. Squeezing his thigh, I leaned in to bump his shoulder with mine. “See?”

“Nngh,” he mumbled, keeping his head down.

Una seemed to notice his discomfort, because she quickly said, “Well anyway, my darling, I just wanted you to know how proud I am of you. Now, where’s Jake? I want to feed him the scraps from my plate.”

“You probably shouldn’t do that, Ma.” Greid seemed relieved to move on from the subject of himself as he looked around. “Uh…”

“He’s here.” Jake’s snout was still on my thigh, so I looked down to give him a fond smile as I stroked the top of his head. “He’s been such a good boy. Who’s my good boy?” I cooed.

“I am,” Greid said automatically on my other side, rendering the entire table utterly silent.

Trying to keep my face blank, I looked up to see Laki staring at us with their fork raised halfway to their mouth. Daga’s lips were twitching as she looked down and fussed over the babies on her lap. Elern didn’t seem to have heard as he winced, trying to free his ear from a baby’s grasping fingers.

Nuni was frozen in place, his chair still tipped on its back legs, before it thudded to the floor as he sat forward. “Dude. What.”

Oh dear. I forced myself not to look at Greid—and I absolutely could not bring myself to look at his mother—as I frantically tried to think of something to say.

After a couple more seconds of silence, I let out an easy laugh. “What, you’ve never heard of that before? Greid and I answer for Jake all the time.”

“You what?” Nuni’s eyes darted between us.

“Yeah. Like, if Greid asks him if he wants to go for a walk, I’ll be like, ‘Sure, Dad! Sounds fun!’ Loads of people do it with their pets.”

There was another pregnant pause, before Nuni leaned back in his seat with a snort. “That’s so dorky.”

“I know, right?” My voice dripped with sarcasm. “So dorky to love your pets and treat them like part of the family.”

Nuni’s ears fluttered as Daga chuckled.

“We do that with the munchkins. Even put on silly voices for them. Don’t we?” She nudged Elern.

He glanced up. “Huh? Oh, yeah. Made these two have a full-blown conversation yesterday about which type of wood to use for the table I’m building at work.” He shrugged. “Helps me think through it.”

Greid let out a shaky, near-silent breath beside me as the conversation moved on to Elern’s job. I reached under the table to squeeze his thigh, hiding my grin behind my champagne flute.

I tried to help clear the table when dinner was over, but Una and Indi shooed me away and told me to go and relax with Greid and the others.