Austin’s body moved instinctively. He moved back into Liam’s orbit, shoving his ear to his chest as he wrapped his arms around him. He focused on the thudding of Liam’s heart. Too fast, but strong.
Liam, stiff and awkward as last time, rubbed Austin’s shoulder.
“Nobody else understands what he was,” Austin said after a long silence. “I saw it in Connor’s face the last time we talked. He didn’t get it.”
“Connor never had to experience him.” Liam’s voice dropped. “Neither did I.”
A thought had occurred to Austin; the longer he was in Tristan’s estate, the more he gained control of his voice and the way it affected people.
“I think I could have stopped him,” Austin admitted. “I used to think my voice didn’t work on him, that he had no heart for me to influence. But now, I don’t think that’s true.” That worm on the beach hardly had anything like affection orempathy for Austin to twist, yet he’d seized control of the thing anyway with one simple, sharp command. “I was too scared to strike out at him.”
“I could have shot him,” Liam offered in return, quietly, guilty.
Liam’s heart gradually settled, and his arms relaxed into a more natural hold. The fire burned through its logs and began to die down.
“They like me here,” Austin said.
Liam’s chest swelled as he drew in a deep breath. “I can tell.”
“Not just Tristan,” Austin added.
“I know.”
“If I move back to the cottage, then I won’t get to see them. They can’t cross the ocean the way Tristan can.”
“You can visit. You have that tail now. Or is it uncomfortable to use?”
“I’ve only changed the once. It wasn’t uncomfortable then.”
Liam let out a thoughtful hum. “And you’re set on Tristan?”
“Do you like him?”
“I didn’t say that.”
Austin tightened his arms on Liam in warning.
“You don’t need my approval; you can date whoever you like.”
Tighter.
Liam grunted.
“He seems alright.”
Austin drew in a deep, deep breath. Let it out slowly, relaxing his arms. “You can stay,” he said. “In Ireland. In the cottage. With me.”
Liam’s heart kicked up.
Boom, boom, boom.
Yes, yes, yes.
“Alright,” Liam said. A great relief flooded through Austin.
“Are you, like…my dad?” Austin muttered into Liam’s shirt.
“Excuse me?”
