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“I have never shared these moments with Cael. His efforts to remedy such situations would be wearisome.” And involve hugging. Pollux was uncertain whether or not he wanted hugs from Cael. Pollux was so unfamiliar with love he did not know what his love language even was.
Touch, though, unnerved him more often than not. Only his daughter’s and Kassandra’s touch felt enough like his own to be safe.
As though privy to his thoughts, tiny arms wrapped around his shoulders from behind. Andromeda’s cheek rested against his back. “I don’t think Mrs. Role hates you, either. She married you.”
By accident. She married him by accident. Because the soulmate bond interfered with her judgment before she even knew why.
He needed to get over this and apologize to her.
He was an ancient dream eater. He was more than used to making kids wake up in tears as he stowed away with their fear in his belly. He should have shrugged this afternoon off, rolled his eyes, and gone to the corner to wait for their feeble emotions to blow over.
Purposeless fear bothered him, but it was not worth breaking down over.
If he was hurt that Kassandra’s children didn’t love him at a depth that naturally overrode the effects of what he was, he really needed to get over that. He’d known them a single week. Even Willow had yet to entirely shirk the effects of what he was, and they had been fostering a friendship for over a year now.
Love that was strong enough to counter him did not come as easily to those who were not blessed with the gift of encompassing the emotion itself. Love, especially for humans, was hard.
Huffing, he released his bee, rolled, and captured Andromeda in his arms.
She squealed. “Yama-nii-nii, help!”
Alexios leaned a shoulder against the doorjamb and smiled. “No, I don’t think I will.”
Pollux muttered, “Sometimes adults need to cry themselves to sleep after an eventful day, Meda. Both of you should respect that.”
“Mood,” Alexios said.
Andromeda crossed her arms while Pollux squished her close and let the tension in his stomach unravel. “Mood is going out of style, Yama-nii-nii.”
“Pity.” Alexios’s teeth flashed in a wicked grin. “In that case, tell your father to quit acting mid.”
Andromeda’s little hands flew to her face as she swore. “Stoppp.”
“At least I’m not trying to make fetch happen.”
Andromeda writhed, tucking herself securely under the blankets. “May I have a breakdown with you, Daddy?”
He mumbled into her hair, “Of course.”
Alexios hummed. “If you’re both going to have breakdowns, I’ll meet Kassandra before she reaches the house and see if I can’t get her soul tonight.” He straightened up off the doorjamb and monitored something outside the window fixed behind Pollux’s back.
A moment later, the sensation of Kassandra crossing into the glamour Pollux kept around his home traced a fingertip up his spine. He swallowed.
He had not yet prepared an adequate apology for his behavior. According to his research, a sincere apology had three key points.
Understanding the victim your actions harmed.
Taking responsibility for your actions.
Making an honest offer in order to correct your actions in the future.
Pollux was more than willing to accept responsibility. He was uncertain if he could manage hearing how he’d hurt Kassandra and the children right now in order to understand her. Also, if Kassandra never trusted him around the kids again, he would never be able to do better. One out of three was a failing grade.
In spite of those facts, Pollux dragged himself upright, snarled at Alexios, and marched from his bedroom to greet Kassandra before the yamachichi had a chance to.
“Atta boy,” Alexios called as Pollux plodded down the hall. “I’m so proud.”
Pollux released a heavy sigh as he realized, once he’d made it to the bottom of the stairs, that he’d grabbed his bee for emotional support.
