Page 19 of Starlight

“And?” Those words meant nothing to him.

“My sister would be able to explain it far better than me, but basically, our paths will keep crossing until such time it has been balanced.”

“That didn’t explain anything.” He stirred the oats. Why was he asking an oversized moth for life advice?

“You’re stuck with me until the karmic scales are balanced?”

Cole glanced at him. “Or we call it even and go our separate ways.”

Akai frowned. “It doesn’t quite work like that. You can’t just say you’re done.”

“I think you’re making shit up. Besides, there’s no way for me to go back to what might have been seven years ago.”

“What makes you think the path you were on seven years ago is the path you would’ve stayed on?”

“I don’t believe in fate because that means I was meant to end up here.” It also meant he had no control over his life, which was kind of depressing. At the same time, it also lessened the burden of his responsibility to do something because there was nothing he could do if he was meant to end up here.

In his cabin with the monster.

And if this was where he was supposed to be, what the fuck did that mean?

CHAPTER TEN

Akai stared up at the tree where his nest was perched between branches. Even though he knew it was up there, it was still hard to make out.

“Are you sure this is the tree?” Cole walked around, peering up between branches.

“Yes.” He ran his finger over a marking in the bark. It let people, monsters, know that it was his. Or at least that it was one of the nests his family had created and used. These days, it was mostly him.

Cole glanced at him. “And you want me to climb up there to retrieve your bags?”

“You said you would, since I can’t get up there.” They had discussed it over breakfast while sitting on the deck.

“You can climb the same as me.”

Akai grimaced. He didn’t want anyone in his nest…no, that wasn’t quite right. But inviting someone into his nest was kind of serious. He’d never done it. And while he wasn’t inviting Cole into his nest for reasons, it still wasn’t how he’d imagined the first invitation going.

Cole’s gaze narrowed. “Why are you being so fidgety?”

Akai was trying hard not to be fidgety, but his toes kept flexing into the dirt, and his wings kept moving, which hurt.

“What’s up there? No bullshitting.” Cole crossed his arms. After breakfast, he’d gone into his bedroom and dressed. Unfortunately, he’d closed the curtains so Akai couldn’t watch. He only wanted to watch because he was curious about humans. What did other monsters see in them?

They were kind of small and hairless and had no claws, which made Akai want to do everything he could to keep Cole safe. He was pretty sure Cole would refuse all help. Not only that but sending him up a tree was not exactly keeping him safe.

“My bag…which is full of the jewelry I’ve made.” And his phone and some snacks. Things he didn’t want to leave up there unattended.

“And?” Cole prompted. “That’s not why you’re twitchy.”

“Inviting someone to my nest is a mating thing.”

“A mating thing?”

“You know…um…” He looked away. Cole had already invited him into his nest, which is why this was so confusing and probably why he was more interested than he should be. “A sex thing.”

Though that wasn’t quite right either because he’d had plenty of sex that didn’t involve his nest.

“Oh.” Cole blushed.