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“I do have connections,” Kaphas whispered at him, looking at Butterfly. “We have a special bond. He can feel me, and I can feel him.”
He lowered the baby into Butterfly’s arms as she sucked in a breath, seeing his precious little face, so peaceful now. “Oh my God,” she breathed. “Oh my God, he’s so precious.”
“Meet the little prince of your island of broken treasures,” Kaphas said.
“And he has a kickass name,” Kult informed, getting Butterfly’s happy smile.
“Don’t you dare say it,” Pain ordered.
“Why?” he whined. “It's the perfect name! It's who he is!”
“Shhhh,” Butterfly whispered, smiling at the baby. “Use your soft voices and tell me what his name is.”
“Tell her how you got him,” Kult ordered. “Give her the exacts, don't fluff up the facts.”
Worry stole her smile as she looked at Pain and Kult then Kaphas. “How did you get him?”
“They were giving him up for adoption,” Rowan said, coming forward with a smile.
“Only he didn’t quite make the cut,” Kult added, “so they threw him in the dumpster where he fought for his life and Kaphas saved it.”
Butterfly gasped, looking down at the baby. “They...threwhimaway?”
“What?” Kult cried to Pain as Butterfly’s heart broke. “I'm not letting anybody steal his heroic beginnings,” Kult guaranteed. “He’s a fierce warrior, he survived getting thrown in a dumpster, there will be nothing he can’t overcome.”
Butterfly worried now, “But...can I still adopt him?"
“You can do a hell of a lot more than that,” Kult said. “He's yours tokeep, no paperwork necessary. Once you kill a baby and throw it in the trash, nobody gets a say if somehow he survives, am I right King?” Kult called to Quantum.
“I’d say it falls under the law of abandonment and the forfeiture of rights.”
“That and the law of die if you try and touch him,” Kult swore. “We’ll get the dumpster ID for his birth certificate just for records.”
Butterfly wiped her face on her shoulder and got back to staring at the little miracle in her arms. “You’ll never want for anything,” she strained down at him. “You have a whole fleet of family here. They willalwaysprotect you andloveyou.” She stifled a sob, looking at Kult. “What's his name?” She eyed Pain who let out a heavy sigh. “It’s alright,” she assured.
“It’s not official,” Pain said.
“It's official to me,” Kult muttered, her heart soaring that they were fighting over the name of her veryownbaby. No,theirbaby. He’d belong to each of them, just as she said.
“Kaphas likes it,” Kult said.
“I do,” Kaphas said. “It fits him perfectly. He should wear it proudly.”
“Then tell me!” Butterfly said. “It can't bethatbad.” She eyed all the dreadful faces and laughed.
“Garbagio,” Kult blurted. “Defender of the broken and discarded. Ruler of the ashes. Lord of overcomers. And thefuckingBoss of Badass.”
Butterfly couldn't stop her sobs as she nodded, looking down at their angel. “He's right, little one. You are all those things, aren't you? Garbagio,” she whispered, placing a kiss on his forehead. “Bagio, for short maybe?” she asked smiling at Kult.
He crossed his arms, and she laughed at his distraught expression. “Fine. Garbagio or Bagio. If anybody calls himanythingelse, I’ll donate their tongue to one of Pain’s masterpieces.”
****
KAPHAS WAITED TILLall were asleep in the castle before stealing away to Celeste’s room. He knocked softly on the door, listening for sounds. He made out soft steps before she inquired about her late-night caller. “Who’s there?”
“Kaphas,” he called quietly.
She opened the door and the sight of her in that white gown with her hair down made him forget his original plan. Why was he there?
