The old man looks miles better today than yesterday.
‘Is there anything specific you’d like for your birthday today, Julian?’
‘No thank you, sir,’ Jules answers respectfully.
Alistair frowns.
Lachlan isn’t prone to theorising without evidence, but he has strong suspicions about the fact that Jules donated a bag of blood, and today Alistair is pretty muchglowing.Every time he learns something new, it sickens him.
‘I know the summer was a hard learning curve, but you understand it was necessary.That has passed now.You are much improved.The medics told me you didn’t even put up a fuss when having blood taken.That’s a significant step in the right direction, son.I’m offering almost anything.Tell me what you’d like, and I’ll have it brought here.’
Lachlan listens, statuesque as always, wants to shake his head but won’t.
The old man will never understand that what Juleswantsis life outside these walls.Human interaction, fun, music, dancing, human connection and the freedom to cast his chaos where he likes without fear of punishment inflicted upon others.That would be a great gift, but Alistair will never grant it.
‘I don’t want anything, father, but thank you.I have all I need.’
‘Need?Come now.What about…’ Alistair pauses, uncomfortable.He has to really think because he doesn’t know Jules.Your books?I’ll have them returned.Your supervised devices too.I could arrange to have Savannah brought here if you like for a month or so.She’s very pretty, isn’t she?’
Jules remains masterfully neutral.
‘Those are generous suggestions, father, but I’m perfectly happy, thank you.’
‘As you say, then.I’m sure your bodyguard will make a fuss of you later,’ Alistair intones, looks away, clearly unhappy.‘Throw whatever kind of party you’d like for yourself when I am gone.Something out in the mud, perhaps.The party I threw for you means precious little, I suppose.’
‘It was a wonderful party, thank you.’
‘You can go.’Jules gets up.Lachlan opens the door, dread curling within.He’s never seen Alistair like this.He’s usually far more unaffected.‘Lachlan, stay behind.’
Lachlan is relieved that Jules gets to leave even though the boy looks at him like he’s debating staying anyway.Lachlan gives a forbidding shake of his head and closes the door once Jules is out of it.
He returns to the desk, standing.
‘Sit,’ Alistair says, crisply emphatic, the way one would speak to a dog.Lachlan sits where Jules did, the seat still warm.‘I suppose you’re quite pleased with yourself, aren’t you?’
‘Sir?’
‘My children adore you.Jessamine would leave with you if she could.I imagine it wouldn’t take much for Jules to be similarly convinced.All the household looks to you.’The old man examines his nails.‘It is a hard thing to see my own instructions play out precisely correct and feel angered by the result.’He looks up at Lachlan, expression glacial.‘I know very well what you think of me, Bodyguard.How you see me.How you feel about my children.I imagine part of you is even planning to free them at some point in the future.’
Lachlan’s heart trips like a boot on a wire.‘No, sir, not at all.’
‘To beground level,’he sneers, gaze moving over Lachlan, ‘like you and Troy.Suchinsectsyou are, and yet I envy your narrow scope, your limited comprehension.How comforting it must be, living as one man with a mission.Do you imagine yourself heroic?’
‘Not at all, sir.’
‘Why not?’
‘I’ve killed too many people.’
‘You give me clever, bland answers and never really tell me anything.Do you not think, given the chance, I would like to perhaps be the one to spend time with them?That it hurts for me to see them look to you instead of me?’
‘It’s…’ Lachlan takes a slow breath, ‘what you ordered me to do, sir.’
‘Yes, I did.You have succeeded greatly and today I hate you for it.Hate is an acidic thing, and I do not typically entertain it but in this moment, Ihateeverything you are and you, beingmine, will let me express that hatred however I want, won’t you, Lachlan?’
‘May I ask—?’
‘It will not involve the children.’
