“For sneaking out. I don’t even know how to address that last part. But for both our sake’s…. He just had a stroke, okay?” Leo and Cinder went in search of pants and keys.
“Okay.” He yawned and followed Leo wordlessly. Maybe he would sleep in the car? Maybe not. Either way, Leo needed to really make sure that Cinder got some more individual attention and love.
“You know I love you, right?” Leo glanced down at the sleepy pup.
“I love you too, Papa. Can we get ice cream?” Cinder squeezed Leo’s fingers.
“Only the Stop’N’Go is open this late. Settle for a slushy?” Leo glanced down, offering his little one a smile.
“Okay!” Cinder grinned wide. “Can I get the big one?”
“Only if you don’t unalive anymore bad guys in the backyard.” Leo sighed heavily and earned a smirk.
“I didn’t do nothing. If he wasn’t shifting and getting all angry and snapping at me, maybe that nail wouldn’t have done all that.” Cinder shrugged.
Leo ruffled his hair. “Right.”
“I’m gonna get Uncle Teige to make this into a bracelet. I like bracelets.” Cinder held up the nail.
“The hell you are. Gimme that, morbid little shit.” Leo reached for it, and Cinder held it away.
“No! It’s mine! Karam and Mahava said I could have it!” Cinder pouted, and Leo shook his head. “It’s either that or turnit into piercings so I can be really neat looking when I become a teenager. Put it in my nose and eyebrows and stuff.”
“Fine!” Leo swung by their rooms to grab some clothes, keys, and wallet. Maybe he wasn’t going to turn out so bad after all.
“Or a wiener piercing…” Cinder’s idle musing expression made Leo blanch.
Nevermind.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Gatlin
Leo, Cinder, and Gaspard sat on the threshold of the family wing; the child and his father tousled and dressed in loungewear, dark circles under their eyes.
“Sup?” Leo offered a half grin as Gaspard swept in, giving Gatlin a long stare before traipsing off.
“Who called you?” The only thing Gatlin could think fell free from his lips in a tumble.
“I did!” Cinder beamed.
Leo glanced around and dipped in uninvited, probably violating a dozen treaties, but Gatlin couldn’t have cared less, eager to get back to his mates.
“I need to—” Gatlin started before Leo cleared his throat as he shut the door.
“I don’t know if it’s wise to say anything but… Uh.” Leo huffed as Cinder beamed up.
“Ass-wind died!”
Gatlin’s heart skipped a beat as Karam and Mahava glanced at one another, relief painted over their pale faces.
“What, h—” Not that Gatlin particularly cared thehowof the situation…
“I’ve been instructed by both Frikka and Gaspard to say…” Leo covered Cinder’s ears. “He broke into the Nielsen estate to overindulge with nestblossoms and in his old age and fickle virility… Stroke… Listen, he hopped himself up on nestblossoms, overdosed, freaked out, and died.”
Gatlin narrowed his eyes as Leo lifted his hands from Cinder’s ears. The gesture entirely performative.
“Uncle Gatlin, can you and Uncle Teige make this into a bracelet for me?” Cinder held up a blood-crusted silver nail—the ones that they put into the Hijada.
