AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Merlin shrugged. “More than anything, Sorcha did not want Nox or Lucas to remember her when she was sick and dying. She wanted to leave them with a wife and mother who was brave and loved the world, its people, and its history. I wish we all—Nox especially—had more time with her, but it wasn’t up to me. That was Sorcha’s fate,” he said simply. “I do my best to honor her memory and help Nox find those pieces of her within him. I truly believe she—her light—is why he’s so strong and can hold Him.” Merlin’s gaze was distant as he stared past Nelson’s shoulder.
“What do you mean?” Nelson asked, giving him a gentle nudge.
“Nothing! But Clancy never could accept Sorcha’s decision to leave and die far away in a rainforest instead of here with us. It must have been horrible! My poor girl!” Merlin’s face crumpled and he grabbed Nelson’s arm for support. “They said it was tuberculosis and the cancer,” he choked out as he leaned into Nelson.
“That’s— I’m so sorry,” Nelson said, patting Merlin’s back and attempting to comfort him. Nelson was devastated for all of them—Nox, Merlin, and Clancy. “It wasn’t your fault.” He gave Merlin an affectionate squeeze, then attempted to ease him back. “And she’d be proud of how Nox has turned out, thanks to you,” he added awkwardly.
“I’ve done my best,” Merlin muttered with a dismissive sniff and a wave of his handkerchief. “But that cunt, Clancy, would never listen and he thinks I happily pushed her out the door and Lucas off a mountain so I could have Nox to myself.”
Nelson coughed and nodded. “That’s the impression I got as well,” he said quietly, earning a weary sigh from Merlin.
“I have no feelings towards that man. If he wants to hang onto old, made-up grudges, I say let him and let his bitter soul fester and rot.”
“Come on, Merlin,” Nelson scolded. “We both know you’re hanging onto grudges of your own and they were Clancy’s family too. Maybe he hasn’t been able to grieve the way you and Nox have.”
“No,” Merlin said angrily. “He has never accepted that Lucas and Sorcha could be killed by something as insignificant as a curse.”
“He didn’t believe in it?” Nelson asked, but Merlin shook his head.
“Oh, he believed. He still does. He’s just a supremely arrogant prick who believed that he mattered more to the powers that be and that the four of us—him, myself, Lucas, and Sorcha—could have found a way to defeat the curse.”
Nelson pushed out a hard breath. He was beginning to understand Merlin and Clancy better, but he was still frustrated and torn. “This feud is ripping what’s left of your family apart.” He went to the stove and took the kettle off the burner when it started to whistle. “But I can’t fault Clancy for having a broken heart or you for being mad.”
“They were mine too,” Merlin said heavily. “I’ve loved that child more than—” He stopped, pointing toward the study.
“I know!” Nelson promised as he opened the tin of tea Nox had blended for him and filled a strainer. He’d learned from watching Nox every evening and the ritual soothed him just as much as their moonwater showers and sex. “That’s why I’ve put up with your bickering and done my best to keep the peace between the two of you. Nox remembers when you were friends,” he added, but Merlin snorted in protest.
“What did I say about a child’s memories, Nelson?” he asked facetiously.
Nelson held up a hand. “I’m not touching that. I have to make heads or tails of this feud between the two of you because we keep tripping over it and it feels like part of the puzzle.”
“Does it?” Merlin asked, sounding pleased as he studied Nelson. “Perhaps you should ask Clancy why that is since he’s so willing to dredge up the past. Although, his memory is curiously selective…” He tapped his chin and glanced at Nelson. “Did you ask Julian Sherwood about his time at Georgetown and his old anthropology professor?”
“We did. And we questioned Clancy about it.”
“And?” Merlin’s brows rose expectantly.
“Julian said he barely talked to Clancy before he dropped out and Clancy barely knew that Julian existed,” Nelson said, earning another caustic snort from Merlin.
“And I could fly home on a broom,” he said and signaled that he was done with the conversation by offering Nelson a regal bow. “I think it’s time for me to depart. You two can decide for yourselves how much of a coincidence it was and whether or not Clancy has anything to answer for. Goodnight, my lad.”
Nox intercepted Merlin at the kitchen door. “Hold on! Are you leaving?”
“It’s getting late and you’ve had a long day,” Merlin said dismissively, then paused, narrowing his eyes at Nelson. “Stay with him,” he urged and Nelson nodded.
“Of course. Where would I—?”
Merlin held up a hand, shushing Nelson as he backed into the hallway. “Whatever you do, you must stay with Nox. Our Nox.”
Their Nox’s lips twisted in confusion. “Our Nox? Why would you say something so cryptic and then leave without explaining?” he asked but Merlin shushed and clicked his teeth as he left them.
“We are in the realm of the cryptic now, Nox, and I wish you both well,” he called from the hall.
“That wasn’t helpful either!” Nox complained, leaning as he watched Merlin go.
“I don’t know how sarcastic he was being,” Nelson whispered. “Can he fly on a broom?”
Nox smirked and shrugged. “I’ve never known him to, but I wouldn’t put it past Merlin. He’s full of bizarre secrets. He usually travels in a Bentley, though, and his driver’s name is Jeff.”
