Chapter 36
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
Akai was grateful that he didn’t have to climb all the way up into a nest and that Cole wouldn’t need to climb so high either. Something lower might be a good compromise. They could build it near Cole’s cabin and have the best of both their worlds.
He dropped the bags, not ready to set up the stall yet. He needed to know that Cole had gotten a token and was in before he did anything else—and that included going to see the healer about his wing.
His ass had barely hit the wood to wait when his father swooped past and swung in, using a branch for leverage. “Why aren’t you using a nest? We asked that you be placed near us.”
Akai stared at his father and blinked twice. “I didn’t know you were here?”
“We wanted to surprise you. We haven’t seen you in two years.” His father peered over the edge and then back at him. “You’re practically sleeping on the ground. What’s going on?”
Akai opened his mouth, still trying to process that his parents were here, at solstice, and Cole was about to turn up. This was not part of the plan. Not that there had been much of a plan beyond getting to solstice. He swallowed.
“Well? Are you hurt?”
Akai jumped on the lifeline and held on. “Yes. My wing got damaged a few weeks ago. I need to see the healer.”
“Is it serious?”
“No. It’s been stitched and is healing well.” He opened his wing enough for his father to see.
“Hmm. Maybe she can do something so you can have a proper nest. We’ve missed you. Your mother is hoping to convince you to head south.”
“Dad…I have a life here.”
“I know, but you know what she’s like. She wants the family to be together. Come on. Let’s see the healer then make plans.” His father jumped down, leaving no room for refusal, even though he needed to wait.
Akai wanted to jump down, but he wasn’t ready to test his wing. So he climbed, knowing that his father was watching and worrying about him sleeping so low to the ground. “How did you know I was here?”
He was barely there; he hadn’t unpacked anything.
“I was told.”
Of course his father knew everyone and had no doubt told them all it was a surprise, and bloody Bob hadn’t said anything. What an asshole.
His father walked with him to the healer, filling him in on the gossip about his uncle and Mexico and the harpies down there. And while usually he’d be keen to hear all the news, he was too worried about Cole either not being let in or being let in and arriving at the empty platform.
The healer wasn’t busy, and she wanted to know how his wing had been injured and who had done the stitches.
Akai glanced at his father. If he wasn’t there, he wouldn’t have debated telling her the truth. The lies were stacking up, and he’d be buried alive if he kept going.
“Don’t freak out,” he said to his father. At least it wasn’t his mother standing there. “I was shot at.”
“Shot? You were shot by humans?” His father threw his hands in the air. “That’s it, you can’t keep living here. It’s too dangerous. First your sister, now you.”
“Dad…it’s fine.”
“You were shot—it’s not fine.”
“I escaped.” If falling into Cole’s bed could be called escaping. “And…and…” There was no getting around the next part. He didn’t want to reveal the truth in front of the healer, that Cole was only his fake-mate, but didn’t want to lie to his father. Which was worse? “My mate stitched my wing.”
His father’s eyes widened. They were a darker red than his, and Akai was reflected perfectly—sitting with his back to the healer, hoping that he wasn’t about to get chewed out by both of them.
“You have a mate, and you didn’t think to tell us? Which harpy is it? Are they a harpy? Male, female, other?”
“He’s not a harpy.” Akai gave his father a few heartbeats to get used to the idea that his mate, fake-mate, was not a harpy and male. The latter wasn’t a problem; the former might be. “He’s human.”
“Human?” his father asked as if humans weren’t real. “And he’s here?”
“Yes.”
“You brought him to solstice before you told your parents.” His father put his hand over his heart as if gravely wounded. “Your mother…when she hears about this…”
“I didn’t know you were going to be here. It’s new and…this is…”
“I think what your son is saying is that he wanted to spend the solstice wrapped up with his mate,” the healer said.
Akai covered his face with his hand. That was not what he was trying to say. “Is there anything you can do for my wing before my father tears them off?”
The healer chuckled. “Harpies, always so dramatic.”
“My son has a secret mate.” His father slumped against a wall. “I can’t tell your mother. She’ll rip my wings off.”
“I’ll tell Mom.” And somehow, he was going to have to tell Cole that his parents were here. Ta da! The lie and fate lines were now choking him. “And we can all have dinner together.”
“On the ground. Your mate doesn’t even fly.”
“No, but he drives.”
“I have some enchanted ointment which will speed up the healing, so you’ll be flying in no time,” the healer said, like that was Akai’s primary concern.
“Thank you.” Did she have anything for parents who launched surprise attacks and interrupted his carelessly made plans?