Choices and Their Consequences

Suuzu’s truant nestmate not only stayed out all night, he turned up the next morning around mid-high with a hitching gait, a brave smile, and an entourage.

“I’m trying not to panic. Last night, I wasn’t thinking straight—lord, that’s almost funny—but this morning, when Anjou was—ah, I’ll spare you the details—but it dawned on all of us that we were too reckless and there might be out-of-the-way consequences. So they rushed me here. Can you check? Will you be able to tell?” Jacques fumbled with the ties of his dressing gown.

Suuzu quickly dropped to his knees, anxious for a look at the sprig, but he was keenly aware of Sonnet, whose skirts rustled when she joined him on the floor.

“Ignore the scratches. The bruises are similarly incidental. I know I’m redolent, but … lord, don’t swoon.” Jacques took a pleading tone. “Steady on. Please, Suuzu. I haven’t harmed this little one, have I?”

Suuzu had been looking after Jacques ever since his return, but now, with a wolf looming at his side, he trembled to touch.

Sonnet leaned close and reinforced Jacques’ request. “Please, love. We’re on tenterhooks.”

That we seemed to include Anjou, who’d taken possession of Jacques’ hand.

Suuzu knew he was blushing badly, but he pressed his hands to Jacques’ belly, already sure that he could allay their fears. Warbling soothing notes, he performed a careful inspection of the tendril that had coiled further around Jacques’ navel.

“I don’t know what came over me,” Sonnet whispered, all contrition. “His scent’s changed, and it’s really very affecting.”

“Hmm.” Suuzu had taken Jacques into his nest, and that came with responsibility. “Are you using his allure to excuse your behavior?”

Sonnet’s eyes widened. “Oh. Oh, my. No, Suuzu. I know this seems precipitous, but last night was the culmination of a longstanding attachment.”

Suuzu angled his head toward Anjou.

“An admittedly recent adaptation. You see, our den has a hearth.” Sonnet tugged at his sleeve. “I like how that sounds. Don’t you? It’s homey.”

The feline quietly complained, “This is bad for my heart. Please, good phoenix. How is our baby?”

“Safe,” Suuzu quickly promised, meeting Sonnet’s gaze, then Anjou’s. “Jacques carries a tree’s blessing. I can show you what your bondmate needs, but perhaps we should visit Dr. Naoki. He and Dr. Perrine are monitoring our progress. They will want to know that you have taken responsibility.”

“Bondmate,” murmured Sonnet, clearly pleased.

Anjou began purring.

Jacques ruffled Suuzu’s hair. “Glad to be rid of me?”

“Indeed no.” Suuzu stood and pulled Jacques’ free hand until it was pressed over his heart. “A nestmate is here and always will be.”

“Lord, you’re cute.” Jacques gathered him close, even going so far as to pull his dressing around Suuzu’s shoulders. In avian terms, it was shockingly possessive. “I love you. I do. And I’m not done needing you.”

Jacques’ breezy confidence and charisma had always been fascinating from a safe distance. Up close, with the recent addition of impish allure, the radiance of his happiness was putting a wobble in Suuzu’s knees. He managed a faint peep.

“He’s awash,” warned Anjou.

“Give him to me,” said Sonnet.

Jacques steered Suuzu into the wolf’s motherly embrace. Her sniffing and crooning had him relaxing. And a little relieved. Wolves weren’t the sort who liked others meddling with their mate. But Sonnet radiated so much contentment, there was more than enough to share.

“You and Akira are precious to Jacques,” she said. “May I consider you family?”

“Such generosity.” Suuzu wasn’t sure he deserved it. He’d been an awkward nestmate at best. “I was supposed to make any suitors woo Jacques away from me, but he flew to your side without a backward glance.”

“I am willing to court him.”

“Unnecessary. Although you may yet answer to Lord Mettlebright for taking his man to your heart and to your hearth.”

Jacques said, “I’ll want a word with Akira.”

“You shall have it.” Suuzu reminded, “He will insist on attending our exam.”

“I need a wash.” Jacques hurried to his armoire, and Anjou slipped into the en suite. The sound of running water came a moment later.

Sonnet cupped Suuzu’s cheek, lifting his face. “You’re carrying, too, aren’t you, love?”

“Yes.”

“Glad news.”

“Hmm.”

Sonnet was quite prepared to go on. “Akira must be beside himself. To think! A baby phoenix will certainly brighten things up.”

Suuzu leaned into her touch. “Akira is like your Anjou, calling this child our baby.”

“My Anjou,” she echoed shyly.

Again, she sounded so pleased. Full of delight and properly possessive. It made Suuzu restless to belong to Akira in the same way. To share a nest, yes. But also its delights.

Suuzu’s gaze drifted to where Jacques sat on one of the other examination tables in the healers’ suite. The man was totally surrounded—Sonnet and Anjou, Elara and Akira. Even Nonny had barged in partway through his checkup, demanding details.

“Feeling left out?” asked Naoki, who eased up onto the cushioned table beside Suuzu, letting his legs swing.

“No.” Suuzu admitted, “In some ways, it is a relief not to be the center of attention.”

“Well, you have mine. How are you feeling?”

“Well enough.”

“Appetite?”

“Mmm. I do forget to eat. But I am often reminded to try.” He curved a hand over his abdomen. “Are there signs of malnourishment?”

“No, no. Nothing like that. But you really do need to eat more.” Nodding toward his son, he said, “Akira will make sure of it.”

“Yes. He has been very attentive.”

Naoki eyed him closely. “And yet …?”

Suuzu tucked his chin.

“I am willing to listen, even if it means learning that my son has been remiss in some way.” Letting his shoulder gently bump Suuzu’s arm, Naoki added, “Why so despondent?”

“Are you and Hajime …?”

Naoki waited patiently for Suuzu to fill in the blank, but Suuzu wasn’t sure how to ask if Naoki was like Akira. It was indelicate to ask, yet … who else would know?

Finally, Suuzu asked, “Are you Hajime’s brother?”

“That is not my role, no.”

“Yet you share a bond.”

Naoki inclined his head. “Are you curious about our story? Or perhaps my years? Or about the children we loved and left behind?”

Suuzu blinked.

“Or are you hoping that the nature of our relationship will give you insight into the bond you want to share with my son …?”

That was closer to the truth, but Suuzu found himself asking, “Other children?”

“Akira is the youngest of many.”

Which begged a very important question. “What became of Lady Mettlebright’s seed?”

“Ah, yes. You of all people would think of that.” With a sheepish look in his son’s direction, Naoki said, “I don’t think you’ll judge me too harshly. You see, we were on the run, so putting down roots wasn’t an option. But Keishi was a good place, and raising a family there sounded nice. So we risked it, and Tsumiko was born. And because I’ve always believed siblings are important, I wanted to give her one. Akira is what became of Tsumiko’s seed.”

“You took her seed?”

“Yes. I took it and I swallowed it and I carried another child. We had done it before. Many times. We think that is part of the reason why I stopped aging, although it is only a guess.” Naoki solemnly said, “That seed Akira holds now, the tree that springs from it will finally take root and flourish and know their brother’s love.”

“How many times?” Suuzu whispered.

“Ah. I’ve always loved children.” Which wasn’t a number. “A long while back, when it became important, we established a family registry. Older siblings would quietly bring in younger ones so they wouldn’t simply spring from nowhere.” He waved vaguely. “And with sons and daughters starting their own families, Hajime’s legacy spread. Human children. Tree children. Akira’s siblings are scattered throughout the world.”

Suuzu was staggered by the enormity of Naoki’s transgression. And yet …! As he said, Suuzu couldn’t bring himself to criticize, since Akira was the result.

“Argent knows.” Naoki smiled faintly. “He not only applauded the choices that led to Tsumiko’s birth, he’s encouraging me to try again. Since it’s safe to do so.”

Suuzu didn’t really mean to hiss.

Sonnet turned his way, brows rising, and he lifted his hand in apology. Only after her tail began to sway again and her attention returned to Elara did Suuzu give Naoki a sheepish look.

“With a new seed,” the man clarified. “Hajime is happy, and that always leads to fruiting. Who can say? If you or Akira decided to add to your family …?”

Suuzu allowed himself to imagine such a future. He whispered, “Truly?”

Naoki laughed and said, “Trees do love to be generous.”