Page 23 of Curse of Ancients

Julian barked out a laugh. “That was the first thing she said when she met us at the airport. She also confided in us about Christina’s troubles. I wish she would talk to Isabelle. She’s one of the most level-headed females in our Clan, and I don’t doubt she could help her daughter.”

“I get that, but sometimes it’s hard talking to your parents about this stuff. Christina sees everyone else in her family having their shit together. Even Demi has decided to go into medicine. I told her there’s nothing wrong with continuing to take classes until she figures out what she wants to do.”

“Invite her over, and I’ll talk to her,” Kat offered. “I understand how she feels.”

Julian reached over and grabbed his mate’s hand, pulling it to his lips. He didn’t say anything, but he probably didn’t need to. Bayu hoped he and Carleigh would one day know what the other was thinking without words. Julian did, however, change the subject. “Bayu, Carleigh mentioned that you are listed as Juni’s father on the birth certificate. Are you going to now raise him as your son, or do you want him to think of you as his brother?”

“I haven’t given it much thought, honestly. He knows I’m his brother, so won’t me telling him I’m his father be confusing?”

“He’s only three, so does he truly grasp either concept? If you want to be his father, then I would begin using that terminology now. You can tell him the truth when he’s old enough to understand.”

Carleigh reached across the car seat and took Bayu’s hand. “Did Gemi mention in her letter whether or not he called Hariz ‘father’?”

“No. That’s another topic we needed to discuss that she didn’t give me time for. I’m not mad at her for running off. She wanted to get started trying to find Kiki. If she can do that, it will help us know who and where the Black Lotus are.”

“I hope the witchy twins can help you there. Maybe Lilly too. If you’re going up against magic users, you’ll need their expertise,” Julian said.

“Don’t forget Elle and Nekoma. They have their own brand of magic,” Carleigh added. “Did I tell you that Bayu recently bought Carter Stillwell’s property?”

Julian turned down Pascal Road, getting closer to the property and Carleigh’s home. “You’re kidding. Talk about fortuitous. I think the gods and fates may have intervened on your behalf.”

“That’s what I said.” Carleigh released Bayu’s hand as her dad turned into a driveway. Bayu was excited to see where he and Juni were going to live for now.

Julian stopped at the gate, rolled the window down, and said, “Kat is a fox,” which Bayu found odd. The gate rolled back, and Julian pulled through.

“We’ll add your voice to the security system. It doesn’t matter what you say, as you can tell by my father’s cheeky statement. Mom’s maiden name is Fox.”

Bayu grinned when Julian looked at him in the rearview mirror and wiggled his eyebrows. For a male who was over five hundred, one who was a genius, Julian seemed down-to-earth as well as playful. When the house came into view, Bayu could only stare. Carleigh had said it was large, but she downplayed just how big her home was. Julian parked off to the side of a four-car garage, and Juniper drove Carleigh’s vehicle inside. Jon and Silas parked on the other side of Julian.

“Juni?” Bayu gently shook his brother’s leg. “We’re here.” The boy blinked his eyes open, looking around. There wasn’t much to see from the back seat, so Bayu unbuckled the straps and lifted him into his arms. Carleigh had been a trouper on the flight, holding Juni for most of their trip, but Juni was Bayu’s responsibility. He knew how to be a big brother, as he’d spent a lot of time with Kiki before leaving home. He did not know how to be a father, but if he emulated his own and Julian, maybe he could figure it out.

Kat exited the vehicle, then opened the back door for Bayu to get out. When he did, Juni kicked his feet, so Bayu set him down. Juni dropped his stuffy, shifted to his tiger, and took off running.

“Juni! Juni, stop!”

The cub slid sideways, his four legs scrambling for purchase, before tumbling over himself. He got up and ran back to Bayu, shifting when he reached him. “Twees, bruvver!”

Bayu laughed and rumpled his hair. “Yes, there are lots of trees, but you can’t run off without one of us with you, okay?”

“’Kay. We wun now?” Juni bounced on his feet.

Bayu called on Tiger, but there was no answer. He silently begged Baekyo to let him shift, but it was no use. “We need to go inside and see the house first. Carleigh has a surprise for you.”

Juni ran to Carleigh, hugging her leg and peering up at her. “Carwee? ‘Prise?”

“That’s right. Do you want to go see what it is?” She held out her hand, and Juni picked up Harry before grabbing on. Bayu followed them to a side door where Carleigh pressed a series of buttons on a security box before pressing her thumb to a scanner. The lock clicked, and she opened the door, letting Juni run ahead. “I’ll add you to the scanner too,” she told Bayu.

Bayu looked around while everyone else entered the house, most of them knowing where to go. Silas paused next to Bayu and whistled low. Bayu understood. The house was like something out of a magazine while still appearing homey. Jon trudged through with most of their bags, continuing through the house and up the staircase. Carleigh grabbed Bayu’s hand and led him farther inside.

“Juni? Let’s go upstairs,” Carleigh called out. Juni ran back from wherever he’d disappeared to and took her free hand. “Come on, Silas. You’ll need to pick a room. Tabitha had Warren go to the safehouse and gather the things both of you left. She’ll drop them off tomorrow.” The trio walked up the steps together with the bodyguard following, and when they came to the end of the hall, Jon was exiting the room on the left. Carleigh stopped at the door to the room opposite and motioned for Bayu and Juni to step inside. Bayu had helped choose Juni’s furniture, but he hadn’t imagined what it would look like once it was in place.

Juni spun around, trying to take it all in. It wasn’t the furniture that caught his eye. It was the bookcase filled with books and the multitude of plush toys, all different types of animals. It was also the bright mural on one wall featuring those same animals playing among a sea of wildflowers.

“Holy crap,” Carleigh exclaimed when she saw the mural.

“Do you like it?” Juniper asked, entering the room behind them. “Connor said if you prefer something else, he will change it.”

“It’s perfect.” Carleigh knelt next to Juni. “Do you like the picture?”