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“That’s one of Daga and Elern’s rugrats.” Kiti leaned in closer and muttered, “They’re too young for me to tell them apart.”
“Oh, don’t be ridiculous, Kiti,” Indi scolded. “There were eight of you and we could tell you apart from the moment you were born. Especially our little kushka.”
She pinched Greid’s cheek, making him squirm and mumble, “C’mon, Auntie.”
“Oh! And this is Daga’s lifemate Elern, with…” Indi peered closer at the baby in the demiurgus guy’s arms as he wandered into the room. “Well, anyway. Elern, this is Beryl.”
“Hey.” He looked a little frazzled as he bounced the baby. “Nice to meet you. Hey, Greid.”
“Hey.” Greid had barely got the word out before Indi was ushering us along, through a wide archway and into a steamy kitchen.
I was introduced to Greid’s sister Daga, who had a baby on each hip, and his brother Tuvin, who was stirring something on the stove while Una barked orders at him as she fed Jake chunks of beef. Then I was swept through a side door and outside to the back porch, where Laki and another of Greid’s sisters, Suni, were lounging on the ice-crusted garden furniture and sharing a joint.
“I’ve already met Beryl, Auntie,” Laki said when Indi tried to introduce me, lifting a hand in salute with the joint clasped between their fingers. “How’s it going? ’Sup, Greid. Want a toke?”
“Hell yes.” Greid tugged me forward. “We’ll be back inside in a minute, Auntie.”
Indi tutted. “Fine. I have to go and help your mother anyway. Do you need a top-up, Beryl?”
I’d barely taken a sip. “I’m fine, thank you.”
“Just help yourself when you do.” She squeezed my arm before vanishing back inside, and I took a calming breath.
“Aunt Indi’s even worse than Mom.” Greid’s sister, Suni, sat up straight and extended a hand with a wry smile on her face. “I’m Suni. Nice to meet you.”
“Lovely to meet you.” I shook her hand before Greid pulled me onto his lap in one of the free seats. He wrapped an arm around me tight to keep me warm as he took the joint from Laki.
Taking a small sip of champagne, I looked out at the garden. It was just as jungle-like as Greid’s but looked more purposefully designed, with little walkways meandering between the trees and bushes, most of which were bare. I bet it looked gorgeous in the spring.
“Your mom’s garden is nice,” I told Greid. He gestured at Laki with the joint.
“It’s all Laki.” His voice was tight as he held in a lungful of shade smoke, passing the joint over to Suni.
Laki gave me a wry smile when I looked at them. “I’m a landscaper.”
“Oh, really? Cool.”
“Mom’s already asked me to dig holes for Daga and Elern’s kids to play in when they’re old enough.” They shook their head as they took the joint from Suni. “Gonna fuck up the whole flow.”
“God, I’m so fuckin’ hungry.” Suni rubbed her stomach through her thick coat, slouching low in her seat. “When’s dinner?”
My mouth twitched as I huddled deeper against Greid. They were definitely his siblings, alright.
Chapter Forty-Nine
Beryl
I was considerably more relaxed by the time we sat down to eat, and so was Greid, having shared two joints with Laki and Suni before the cold—and hunger—drove us all back inside.
Kiti made sure I was seated between her and Greid at the table, topping up my glass with fresh champagne and explaining all the dishes as Una, Indi and Tuvin brought them out. Some were pretty standard. A garlicky roast chicken. A fat slab of slow-cooked beef. Steamed vegetables—which none of the siblings touched as they began fighting among each other to load their plates—and dishes piled high with roasted and mashed potatoes.
Others were more unusual, like something called logus that looked like roasted bark. A bowl of grainy, bright orange goop studded with tiny black mushrooms. A glass dish of black nightberry sauce that gleamed purple as it was plopped onto plates.
“Want me to load up your plate for you?” Greid whispered, giving my leg a brief squeeze under the table.
I nodded at him with a grateful smile. We’d ordered from some demiurgus restaurants a few times, so he knew what kind of things I’d like. I didn’t want to risk offending Una by adding something to my plate that I’d end up leaving.
Once everyone’s plates were full, Bax stood up and gave a toast. The moment he was done, Nuni shot up from his seat and gave an even more elaborate toast. And then as everyone finally started eating, it fell quiet for the first time since we’d arrived. Jake squeezed himself between mine and Kiti’s seats to rest his snout on my thigh, gazing up at me plaintively. I gave his head an absent stroke as I took my first bite of chicken.
