Chapter 29
Chapter
Twenty-Nine
Franklin
Boone was safe. For now. Crouching in the hall just outside his hospital room, I placed my head in my hands. How in the hell was I supposed to protect him? How was I going to keep Boone safe? Pressure built in my head and chest. I felt like a bomb ready to explode. I’d left Boone with his parents on the pretense of giving them some time alone, but it was really me that needed the reprieve. I needed to be strong for Boone. I needed to figure out a way to shove down the panic eating a hole through my gut and put on a brave face.
I just wish I had a single fucking clue how to do that.
Heavy footfalls met my ears, and I caught the toe of a pair of black loafers out of the corner of my eye. Holland’s deep voice fell on my ears from on high. “We need to talk, Detective. Walk with me.” Holland punctuated that request with a nudge of his foot against my thigh.
Pushing myself up, I used the wall for support until my quivering legs could hold me. Holland was already walking away. I wouldn’t say I quickly followed, but a trot brought me up even with Boone’s pops. My head barely cleared his massive shoulders.
Holland was silent as he maneuvered down the hall. I had no illusion that the stares and side eyes were directed at the towering warlock and not me. I somehow managed to keep pace with Holland until he came to a stop in a small, empty alcove. There were two sets of chairs and a small, round table between with random magazines spread across their tops. Coffee cup rings stained the table here and there, adding their own version of modern art. There was a window at the end of the alcove, overlooking one of the hospital’s large parking lots. Overhead lights dotted the scene below, the vehicles they illuminated appearing small.
Hands clasped behind his back, Holland stared out the window, holding his tongue. I remained silent, waiting him out. The seconds ticked by, turning into a minute and then probably two. With a deep inhale, Holland finally spoke his mind. “You understand the gravity of the situation.” It was more statement than question.
“Probably not, but what I do understand makes me want to grab Boone and haul him to furthest reaches of the Earth. Somehow, I don’t think even that would be far enough if Huxley is what you think he is.”
Holland glanced my direction and smirked. “Then you understand well enough.”
Silence engulfed us again until I asked, “Got any plans to keep Boone safe?”
“Just my son and not you also?” Holland asked. “Tenzen’s most recent phone call to you was not complimentary.”
I shook my head, my gaze following Holland’s to the illuminated parking lot below. “Boone’s more important.”
“Indeed. However, I would hardly think he agrees with that sentiment.” Holland didn’t say that he himself disagreed. “As to your earlier question, I find myself in unfamiliar territory.”
“What, exactly, does that mean?” I had a feeling I didn’t want to know.
“It means that I am uncertain what to do…or if anything can be done.” At my harsh inhale, Holland added, “That does not mean I will stand by and do nothing. Erasmus is my child. I did not abandon him when he was born a necromancer, and I will not do so now. As much as it pains me, I believe we will need the assistance of others.”
“ Others? Like Warlock Kines?” He was one of the few others I knew Holland had contacted in the past.
My suggestion earned a low growl. “Perhaps. Kines has friends as well that could be useful.”
“Fairy?”
“Only as a last resort. Once Fairy is involved, there is no going back and I do not wish to draw any more attention from their queen than necessary. We do, however, have a potentially powerful ally.”
My eyes slipped closed while a groan escaped my lips. “You really think Aurelia will help? Feels a bit like asking a wildfire to aim its wrath in one direction and trust the wind not to change course.”
“What I think is that the djinn might find the situation interesting.” Holland’s heavy gaze settled on me. “Erasmus tells me Aurelia is bored. Perhaps we can liven up her existence.”
“Christ,” I muttered while running my hands over my face. “We’ll need to discuss this with Peaches. He is Aurelia’s master .” Fuck, I absolutely hated that word. “And that will bring Lucroy Moony into the picture which means involving the Southeast vampire nest.”
“This is one of those rare occasions where the phrase, ‘the more the merrier’ is truly applicable.”
I considered Holland’s idea and hated how much I agreed. “We’ll need to phrase our request the right way. Aurelia’s very particular about that kind of thing.”
“I will leave the specifics to you and my son. Tact is not a quality I was born with.”
The bark of laughter that escaped my lips was loud and sharp. Thankfully, Holland didn’t seem offended. “This is a clusterfuck.”
“You shall receive no argument from me.” Holland sounded horribly resigned.
Our gazes returned to the darkness beyond the window. Our reflected images were hazy and ghostlike. The silence was comfortable and yet my mind raced while my stomach churned. My thoughts did a one-eighty, turning away from our topic and yet at the same time, fueled by it.
I probably should have remained silent, cherishing this brief moment of connection with Boone’s pops. Was this the time and place? Absolutely not. Was I a complete moron for what I was about to do? Undoubtedly. But if there was one thing the last twenty-four hours had taught me, it was that time was precious and we never knew just how much of it we had.
Later, I’d blame my idiocy on leftover adrenaline and the fear of losing Boone.
“I’d like your permission to marry Erasmus,” I blurted. There was absolutely no context to the request.
As if in slow motion, Holland’s head slowly turned my direction. Given his height, he had to look down to stare me in the eyes. For once, that gaze didn’t hold its abnormally high level of arrogance. Raising a single, dark eyebrow, the edge of Holland’s lip twitched. “You’re asking for my permission? To propose to my son?”
My heart pounded. If I couldn’t get it slowed down, we might be in for a reenactment of the movie, Alien . “I am.”
“And if I say no?” Holland’s opposite eyebrow rose to join the first.
I started to say something, but only an incoherent stutter came out. Obviously, I hadn’t thought this through. What would I do if Holland said no? When I seriously considered the question, I answered, “Then I will have to find a way to make you see reason. I know I’m not what you envisioned for your son. You hoped he’d fall in love with a longer-lived species, that he’d gain their life span through a mating bond.” I looked down at my feet and shook my head. “I can’t ever be that for him or you. I’m human. My time on this earth is just as finite as Boone’s. And while I’m very sorry about that, I can promise you that I will make the most of the years Boone and I are allotted. I love your son with every ounce of my being, and I will spend every second of every minute of every day making certain he knows that.” My shoulders were pushed back, chest puffed out, and mind certain as I pled my case.
Holland’s face was expressionless, but his gaze was dark and fierce. A tick formed in his jaw and with a single nod, Holland answered, “If all humans were like you and Lydia, the human race would not be nearly so irritating.” With a deep inhale, Holland’s shoulders relaxed. “For what it is worth, you have my permission and blessing. I love my son, and it is beyond obvious that he loves you. To deny your request would damage Erasmus and that is the last thing I ever wish to do. You are very perceptive, for a human. Your ability to see my son’s worth despite his species is…impressive.”
I found it sad that my acceptance of Boone was one of the main issues I had going in my favor. “Boone is worth everything.” I meant those words with every fiber of my being.
“And that, my dear human detective, is your saving grace.” Holland’s fingers tapped inside his clasped hands. “Do you have a ring? I believe that is the common human tradition.”
“I’ve got the engagement ring. Or, at least, it’s ordered. I wanted to discuss his wedding ring with you.”
“With me?” Those two words were a mixture of curiosity and disbelief.
I took a deep breath and dove into the deep end. “I want his wedding ring to be more than a pretty trinket. To be honest, I’m not exactly certain what I want except for something that helps to protect him.” I hoped Holland understood.
The answering grin lighting up his face told me he just might. “That is an interesting proposition. I have a few ideas. Give me some time and I’m certain I can come up with more. Executing those ideas will be challenging. Thankfully, I am more than capable of rising to such occasions.”
And just like that, Holland’s arrogance returned as if it hadn’t just ducked out for a mini vacation. A few weeks ago that arrogance would have annoyed me. It was interesting how time and circumstances changed one’s opinions. Warlock Nikodemus Holland was supposed to be arrogant. He was supposed to be self-assured and briming with confidence. That was the warlock that we needed. That was the father that would save the necromancer I loved.