Page 45 of Thicker than Water
For a moment, Cass lets himself think of JJ as part of their little family. “Well, I’m sure he’s recuperated by now,” he says, handing Herman to JJ. “He was babysitting the little dragons all night, so Desi brought him out here to get some rest. He probably wants to see them again.”
JJ’s smile softens. “Yeah. Good call, Cass,” he says, and suddenly, he frowns down at the wyvern. “Wait. So the baby dragons are Hana and Herman’s? Herman is the father?”
“No, no,” Cass says. “Desi wasveryspecific about the fact that they’re Kira and Hana’s. I suspect parthenogenesis or adoption, but I also wasn’t about to debate the sexual and reproductive habits of dragons with a four-year-old.”
JJ throws back his head and laughs. It’s such an open, carefree sound that Cass almost starts with surprise. “Agreed,” he says, eyes dancing. “We should save the talk about ‘the birds and the wyverns’ until she’s closer to middle school than preschool, I think.”
For some reason, the thought of raising Desi with JJ for years to come makes Cass’s throat run dry. Swallowing hard, he takes a measured step back. “Good plan. And, um, Desi’s room is the first door on the right. You want tomato and bacon on your grilled cheese?”
JJ’s eyebrows shoot up. “That sounds amazing. Thanks.”
“Anytime,” Cass says, and as JJ absently hugs Herman to his side and jogs down the hallway, Cass forces his eyes away and strides into the kitchen, trying to remember how to breathe.
So the wyverns have apparently beenverybusy.
“… andthisone is Tybalt!” Desi says proudly, brandishing hereighthbaby dragon plushie for JJ’s inspection. “He likes celery sticks and playing tag!”
“Hey, I like playing tag, too,” JJ says, delicately holding Tybalt in his upturned hands. “I think we’ll get along splendidly. How are you today, Tybalt?”
“Tybalt says he’s great! He’s really happy to meet you,” Desi informs him, and she replaces Tybalt with the final palm-sized dragon. “Andthisis Lucy! She likes campfires and the color green!”
Suddenly, JJ’s throat feels tight. “Oh,” he says faintly, running a fingertip over the felt scales on Lucy’s head. “Hi. Hello, Lucy.”
Desi notices. “What’s wrong?” she asks, frowning. “You don’t like Lucy?”
“No, I—” JJ’s eyes sting. “No, IloveLucy. It’s just that—that Lucy was my little sister’s name. She, uh. She died a long time ago.”
“Oh.” Desi’s eyebrows furrow. “And you—you don’t visit her?”
Belatedly, JJ realizes that Desi probably doesn’t understand the concept of death yet. Sure, her summoner probably forced her to hurt and kill people, and sure, she saw JJ himself cut his way through the militia, but?—
But she doesn’t know that people who die don’t come back. “I would,” JJ says gently, “but she’s somewhere that I can’t visit her anymore. I really miss her.”
For a few seconds, Desi is quiet.
And then, decisively, she closes JJ’s fingers around Lucy the Dragon. “Well, Kira and Hana say you should bring Lucy to watch the movie with us! She really likes grilled cheese, too!”
JJ gives her a small smile. “Thanks, Desi,” he says quietly, pulling her into a one-armed hug. And then, remembering himself, he reaches out to pat Kira’s and Hana’s heads. “And thankyou,Kira and Hana. Lucy can tell you all about our movie when she comes back.”
Desi lights up. “We should go pick it out!” she says cheerfully, grabbing JJ’s arm and tugging him to his feet. “Come on, come on! Bring Lucy!”
Laughing, JJ holds Lucy protectively to his chest with one hand and lets Desi drag him out to the living room. “What movies do you have, Desi?”
“Lots of them!” She jumps onto her little corner of the couch, bounces once, and gestures for JJ to sit next to her. “Cass, is it okay if Lucy has lunch with us?”
“That’s fine,” Cass says, and JJ’s heart stutters as he glances towards the kitchen. Cass is busily flipping their sandwiches onto plates, the smell of melted cheese and crispy bacon wafting towards them. “Has she eaten already, or should I make her a sandwich, too?”
“I think she’s already eaten!”
“And if she gets hungry,” JJ adds, settling Lucy the Dragon comfortably on his shoulder, “she can have a bite of mine. Right, Lucy?”
“Right!” Desi says, hugging JJ’s arm.
Cass walks into the living room with two plates, giving JJ an indecipherable look. All at once, a flash of panic jolts through JJ.
Crap.Demonically enhanced senses. Cass probably heard every word of JJ’s conversation with Desi, heard him get choked up about Lucy and talk with Desi about death and?—
“Lucy likes the crust best,” Cass says, tapping Lucy’s small felt snout with a fingertip. “So keep that in mind, lackey.”