Chapter 14

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Is he really the bad guy ?

"Eyes," Castor says, and I cover baby's—even though he's asleep—then close mine so Castor can open his and look at my laptop screen. "Oooh."

Alexios snickers.

"Ahh," Castor adds.

I press my lips together, because it's not funny now, and it wasn't funny the last fifteen times either.

It may, however, be funny the next time, because—I hate to admit it—but he is wearing me down.

"Okay," he practically chirps, and I open my eyes on the black phone case with a white line art of a snake. It is holding a rose. In its mouth. "Yes. I think I want this one. It's lovely."

I smile and snuggle into my couch between Castor and Alexios. In a lot of ways, I should hate everything about this. But I don't. Even though I'm sandwiched between two men I don't know all that well, I'm…eerily calm.

Probably because of my baby. Dipping, I touch a quick kiss to Ash's head where he's sleeping against my chest in his baby wrap. Shortly after I perceived the horror that was Castor nearly swallowing an entire ten-egg omelet whole, my little boy woke up, so I broke out his bottle, then cozied him up in his little wrap.

I am convinced it is the best invention that has ever been made.

"So, we've got the phone, and we've got the case and screen protectors. Xios, are you sure we have enough protein shake options?" I ask as I open my cart and begin scrolling down a list of several different brands across many different flavors.

Shoulder brushing mine, Alexios shudders. "Nauseated at the concept already, snowflake."

"They're great. Like milkshakes."

"I've never had a milkshake."

"I am convinced Pollux only fed you organic quinoa."

Proving my point, Alexios's expression contorts, and he cusses, "—food glitter…"

It's Castor's turn to chuckle, and it's incredibly surreal having him here, like this, while my heart rate maintains decent speeds. He's, graciously, not pressed shoulder-to-shoulder with me, but he is still sitting pretty close. And he is still a male stranger. And, oh yeah, he identifies as a villain .

I simply should not be this chill, all things considered.

"Speaking of Pollux," I say as I confirm the order, "you never agreed to go to movie night, Xios."

"We concluded it was a bad idea, did we not?" Alexios asks.

"Come on. You at least have to go and give Pollux grief for never giving you a milkshake. I'm pretty sure that's abuse."

"I'm certain it isn't."

"It's almost a valid reason for your running away from home."

"What's the issue?" Castor interjects.

Alexios sighs. "Zahra wants me to go to movie night and apologize to the people she has identified as my parental figures."

"Apologize?" Castor's tone levels, devoid of emotion. He toys with the threads on the hem of his long, loose sleeve. "What do you need to apologize for?"

"I disappeared on them when I started helping you with Ash."

"Ah."

"Castor, I have no idea what happened between you and your friends, but consider that Kass has been worried. Kass is my friend. And harm coming to my friends is an offense punishable by death."

Castor angles his face away from me and refuses to reply while Alexios tugs on my shirt. "May I choose my method of demise?"

I hum as I log into Netflix and begin scrolling through the new section. Talking about movies makes me want to watch one. "I guess, but I have to approve it."

"Death by reprehensible seduction."

I squawk a buzzer noise. "Wow. Denied. That is so crazy . "

"Thursday night?" Castor muses.

"Hm?" Ooh. Trolls . I love Trolls . So cheerful. So happy. Such a bonkers premise. We should watch Trolls . The three of us. Right now. What a bonkers idea.

"Movie night is Thursday, isn't it?" Castor asks. "Why don't I watch the brat? Then you both can go."

I forget what I'm doing.

Alexios frowns. "Castor, the goal is no one going . You've misunderstood."

Setting a hand on Ash's back, I find his sweet little face pressed against my heart. "But…you can't watch him. You're not allowed to use your eyes."

"Semantics. You understand what I mean."

"Ummm…" Chilling with Castor and buying him a phone so he can join my LARP group's Discord is one thing… Trusting him to watch my baby when his eyes are deadly lasers? That is something else. "Yeah, I'm not comfortable with that?"

"It is literally my child," Castor says.

I wrap my baby up in both my arms.

"Snowflake," Alexios begins softly, "Castor is capable. He took care of Ash on his own for a week. I only started helping out a few days before I talked to you."

Holding Ash tight, I find Alexios's hand when it lands on my arm. What happened to the goal being for neither of us to go, huh? I drag my attention up to his eyes. A million thoughts tumble through my head, and who knows what emotions they result in as he searches me. Last I knew, we had no idea what Castor needed a baby for. All I have determined is that collateral isn't justifiable since the threat of one life—no matter how innocent—wouldn't be enough to faze Cael.

What if Castor does something to my baby while we're gone?

Lately, I've even been doubting the food Castor gave me for him. It looks like poison and what he said on Friday won't leave me alone.

I wonder what manner of war a baby made of poison could start…

Add the instructions that I not touch, smell, or taste it myself, and…yeah.

It bothers me.

So I've been teetering between convincing myself Ash is an ent, an Angel's Trumpet, a toxic plant that might need actual poison in his diet, and convincing myself I'm ignorantly doing something terrible to him.

"You know…" Alexios begins, gently, "…you can talk to Castor about whatever is worrying you. If your questions are the sorts he's inclined to answer, he can't lie."

My stomach tightens. Is Alexios crazy? I can't be blatantly honest with Castor . As far as he's supposed to know, I'm the nanny freeing up his time for other devious schemes. I don't get to keep my baby. I shouldn't be so protective of him when he's not mine .

"He's not our enemy," Alexios murmurs.

Maybe. Maybe not. All I know is he's powerful and manipulative, and I have more than enough experience with people who embody those adjectives.

"We don't have to go," I say. "Asking you to take care of Ash defeats the whole purpose of this, doesn't it? You have more important things to do."

Castor exhales a laugh. "Your efforts at tactfully saying what you don't mean are useless against me, Razah. I taste your fear in the air. I hear the apprehension in your heart. I know you don't trust me. I know you intend to keep my child beyond whatever time you believe I've allotted. What you do not know is that I may let you keep him without so much fuss. As you seem content to flirt with reason, let it stand in your mind that you haven't a clue what I intend to use Ash for, only that my purpose doesn't harm him." Distaste sours his tone. "You will incite my ire quite swiftly if you attempt to exclude me from things that affect me."

"You…may intend for me to keep Ash?"

"Perhaps."

My nerves pinch. " Perhaps isn't good enough. Yes or no . According to you, do I get to keep Ash?"

He tosses his head back against the cushions as he barks a laugh. " According to me? You speak as though you expect your other friends to step in and make sure you get to keep him…when you have no way of knowing whether or not they consider him to be yours…or Pila's ."

"Castor," Alexios states.

Castor's tone hardens. " Pick a side, Razah ."

" Castor ." Alexios frees a breath and softens his tone. "We aren't taking sides."

"Charming," he mutters. "And untrue. While you consider yourself neutral in my schemes, you are on your mate's side. Wherever she falls will define your loyalty. You can't stay neutral forever, Xios. At some point, there will be a choice to make. And, perhaps when what you've done comes to light, depending on how the others take it, your side may be chosen for you."

"We'll see about that," Alexios murmurs, icy venom lacing the words. "Unlike you, I am very adorable and, therefore, quite forgivable."

Castor's head whips so fast toward us, I flinch into Alexios's body. "How dare you."

Alexios hand braces at my arm. "You scared my snowflake."

" Pity ," Castor growls. "I'm offended you could say what you just did. How can you believe something so—so cruel ?"

"I can't change facts."

"Mayhaps I ought to swallow you whole."

"Hark." Alexios chuckles, darkly. "He's making my point so well."

"Matters of appeal are purely opinion-based ." Castor scowls down at his folded arms. "Snakes are very adorable to many people."

"Popular belief suggests otherwise. I'm near certain bats would win in a poll."

"Hammerhead," Castor sneers.

" Yawning ," Alexios retorts.

Castor bristles, gripping his nails into his arm through the fabric of his robes.

I don't precisely know what they are talking about, but…it seems we've lost the plot. Again.

I speak up, reiterating, "Castor, do you intend for me to keep Ash or not?"

"Who knows? Do you think snakes are cute?"

My lips purse. "Yes."

He relaxes. "Truly? You aren't exploiting your humanity right now?"

"I follow a little white hognose snake named Marshmallow. Would you like me to bring up receipts?" I regain my composure, move away from Alexios, and open a new tab on my laptop.

"No," Castor says, "I trust you."

My fingers freeze before I can type anything into the search bar. Castor…the villain in this story…trusts me? For why?

"Hognose," Alexios muses, lips curling into a wicked Grinch-like smile. "As in pig nose ? Like what many bats have?"

"Why can't you let me have this?" Castor snaps, exasperated.

"Because, she's mine."

My eye twitches.

"Yet, she's raising my baby."

Why am I in the middle of this? Why are they fighting like children? Either of them, I'm fairly sure, could bring about the collapse of an empire. These are both grown faeries. I require their emotional maturity in order to feel safe.

Alexios recoils. "One day, we'll have a baby of our very own, and th—"

" Xios ." Iron-firm Castor's voice echoes in my ears as my skin washes cold.

Alexios…wants…children?

Wordlessly, Castor stands. "I apologize. It seems I may have overstayed my welcome. I've learned previously that movie night begins at eight. I shall arrive here at seven."

Forcing sound past my closing throat, I start, "I never—"

"Don't fight me. I may not favor children, and Ash may hate me, but I will be a part of his life while he grows up…in your care." Lifting his hand without looking my way, Castor sinks his fingers into my hair. "He is your son, Razah. Yours. And as he is a member of my kingdom, so are you. Know in good faith that I treasure my subjects. Beasties as they may be, life…is precious."

I don't know why, but a tear traces down my cheek.

The ghost of Castor's hand lingers, long after he disappears.