Chapter 78
Cyrus popped the grape into Ender’s mouth as he said, “Brock.”
“Mm, no,” the Gorgon drawled after swallowing.
They’d mostly lazed about since Ender had given birth early yesterday morning, with random people stopping by to see Ender and the eggs.
Currently, the man was in his Gorgon form, curled up in his nest, wrapped around their eggs.
He was partly cuddled up to Cyrus’ left side, while Killian rested against Cyrus’ right, with a tablet in hand, recording every name they came up with.
It being mid-day, they had gotten a good start on three ever-growing lists; Like, Maybe, and No.
“Avier,” Killian mused.
“Oh, I like that one,” Ender chimed happily, before cutely opening his mouth and waiting.
Smirking, he pulled another grape off the bunch and tossed it in. “What about Bricker?”
The Gorgon wrinkled his nose. “Absolutely not.”
“I agree, that’s…mm, no,” Killian tsked. “You know, Cyrus, maybe it would be best if you take over recording the list and leave the name suggestions to us?”
“Mine aren’t that bad,” Cyrus huffed.
Ender snorted. “I’m pretty sure most of the ‘No’ names are yours.”
“They are all his,” Killian corrected way too sweetly.
He sighed. “This is bullying.”
The Gorgon snickered. “Pointing out the truth is not bullying.”
“Some truths are best left unsaid,” Cyrus grumbled.
Killian giggled. “Most of the names on the ‘No’ list would have been better off unsaid.”
Cyrus sighed heavily, and resigned himself to the fact that he likely was going to lose every argument in the future, when they were on the same side.
“Come in,” Ender called out when there was a knock on the door.
It opened and Soren walked in, tablet in hand. “Thought I’d give you a report from the latest meeting, as there are a few things I need you to approve before setting them in motion.”
Ender groaned. “Nope, not today. Try again tomorrow—or better yet, how about Cyrus takes over for a bit!”
“What?!” Soren squawked, at the same time he did.
“Well, I mean, maybe don’t do anything too illegal for a few weeks.
What you can handle on your own, do it, of course.
But like, I know there is some work that needs to be done on the helpline, so have him work on that!
” the Gorgon chimed, before adding, “You can just save the rest of the fun illegal shit for me, when I’m ready to deal with it. ”
Cyrus snorted. “Fun illegal shit?”
“Yep!” The Gorgon smirked at him.
Killian just snickered, as Soren sighed. “Fine.”
Cyrus held back his laugh at the Harpy’s disgusted expression. The Cryptid was no doubt fully aware that all this would amount to was likely more work for him.
“Glad we got that settled. Though, while we're still on that topic, Cyrus won’t be joining you this week. So, proceed however you can until next week.”
The Harpy sputtered, “W-why? Last time I checked, he wasn’t the one who gave birth!”
“Because I’m cold,” the Gorgon huffed, as if it was obvious.
Cyrus chuckled, and more firmly tucked Ender against him, knowing ‘I’m cold’ was Ender’s way of telling them he wanted to be held.
Soren scoffed in disgust, shaking his head as he turned and left.
Closing the door of his room behind him, Zenny walked only a few steps down the hall before stopping to stare at the closed door of Killian, Ender, and Cyrus’ bedroom. When lines that ran from the door to him showed up, a smile spread across his face as he counted them.
Five in total. Zenny’s smile only grew wider when he reached the two new lines that had appeared yesterday.
Red in color, they looked how all new family lines did, not as deep or solid.
But their appearance confirmed what he’d already decided to be true, that he was where he needed to be, because this was where his family was.
Home—Zenny was home. He finally had a place he could actually call home, with people who wanted him there.