Chapter 19
Maxim had listened to Jason and Raven embarking on their journey to Heath’s office, sure that Bryan would ensure the elevator got them there.
He’d managed about five minutes in the reading corner upstairs before he’d moved downstairs with his phone and a book.
It’s not as if he needs me to welcome him home, but better to be where he can see me than to make him wonder where I’m hiding.
Bryan came up to clear away the empty cups and plates that remained from the previous night soon after, looking sharp in his green suit jacket.
“Are they having a good time?” Maxim asked the Lar.
He shrugged. “I left some aspirin out for Heath. I hope he’s taken them. You know how he gets when he’s not feeling well.”
Maxim did, and he would have loved to soothe his son. But with him having grown up, it was better, Maxim knew, that Bryan had set out the aspirin for Heath.
“Bryan, that’s so considerate of you. I shall make sure Heath thanks you properly.”
Bryan piled the dishes on his arm so that he wouldn’t have to look directly at Maxim. “You don’t have to do that. He’s busy. And he really doesn’t like blood, you know.”
“Hmm, I do know that. Always very fussy in that regard. You should sneak him some cookies once Raven leaves his office. Or red velvet cake. No one would know the difference with red velvet cake.”
“Red velvet. Yes, that’s a good idea.” He looked at Maxim with bright eyes. “Can I order some? I heard the donors talk about this place that apparently has very good cakes. They were very excited when they talked about going, and I happened to look at the bakery website. They deliver.”
“Don’t you have a credit card for such expenses? You don’t have to guard that card like treasure, dear Bryan. Let them eat cake, I say, but buy it for them and hand it out for free.”
The Lar brightened. “I do have the card, but it should be guarded unless it’s for hospitality or improving the household.
He’s not feeling well though, so for the sake of the household, I think I can make an exception.
I can order some for the entire office. To improve morale, which also improves the household. ”
Maxim twirled the end of his braid around a finger. “That’s the right way to approach this little problem. Is this why you let my baby boy drink himself into oblivion last night? I appreciate the forethought and the tender cunningness so evident in it. You’re like a spoonful of sugar, Bryan.”
Bryan’s brow furrowed. “That’s not—he was trying to be supportive! He’s really difficult to stop when he’s supportive.”
“I’m teasing, my dear, although you really are a spoonful of sugar.” Maxim opened his phone to order a fruit basket as an apology. It appears I’m distracted enough to hurt Bryan’s feelings.
He glanced at his book. Howl’s Moving Castle. It was a favorite—sill, perhaps, but beautiful. I need a distraction from being distracted. It should do the trick.
Bryan straightened, holding the dishes better than any server might.
“Okay. But…I don’t want anyone to think—Clement.
I don’t want that dull excuse of a Lar to think I can’t take care of the household properly.
He’s already dropping hints all over the place.
You don’t think—there’s truth behind the best jokes, isn’t there? ”
Maxim sighed. “Not this one. Would I have brought you here with us if I thought you were a bad influence on Heath? Or on anyone, for that matter?”
“You’d have left me back in Europe. Dropped me in a well maybe, or sealed me in a cave.”
“Exactly.” Maxim’s phone dinged with an incoming text. “Now, go on and splurge on that cake, hmm?”
“I will. Can I get you anything?”
Maxim shrugged. “A dog bed. Maybe a few toys.”
“I’m not sure I like having a dog in the house. Dogs make people leave the house because they need to go on walks all the time.”
Maxim chuckled. “But if he has a nice dog bed, he’ll always want to return to it. Dogs love their creature comforts as much as anyone. He’d be another resident.”
Bryan loved having residents; as many as possible.
Maxim had realized quite early on that the Lar would get restless if the household was too small, if there were not enough moving parts for him to occupy himself with.
He was much like Heath when it came to doing what he was very good at—high volume and high precision.
Bryan nodded and left, the place pristine once more. I wonder, does that make it easier when there is chaos in your heart and gut? Is that why cleaning my blades relaxes me? Perhaps I should clean my blades, but I cannot have Raven returning here and seeing me polishing swords and things.
He dismissed the idea and looked at Heath’s texts.
Okay so I hired Raven
Like for temp work
Idk, it was Jason’s idea
That’s okay, right?
I think I picked the wrong phone for him. He wants to pay me back for it.
I told him it was a gift for becoming a vampire, which maybe was insensitive.
Of course hiring him is okay. Paying your way is admirable. ??Let him.
It’s not insensitive to mark a change in your life, and I don’t think he’ll ever think you insensitive, darling.
Doing your taxes is also admirable, but that’s never stopped you from complaining about it.
Okay, I guess we can find work for him.
He can catalog my things.
Maxim typed it out and sent it without thinking it through.
Your things? What things?
Maxim hesitated, but only for a second. Heath knew how fast he could type.
The old boxes on the thirty-second floor you have been trying to get me to throw out for years now.
You’re such a pack rat.
At least let him throw out the weird old stuff, okay?
Also
I mentioned doing therapy again.
Was that bad?
I don’t know how to do this, and I got him a really high-end phone.
Maxim smiled at the screen. Darling, your kindness makes you shine.
You did?
Yeah. Got Jason one too, but he had to suggest it. But still.
You got everyone a nice phone?
Everyone except that weirdo dog.
No thumbs.
And me? Heath, darling, must I continue to work my thumbs raw on this ancient machine? It hums and thrums and beeps when I would rather that it sleeps.
User error, and I just set you up with a new one. Seriously. Look, I gotta go before either of them asks me what I’m doing on my computer, okay?
Also Raven now has my number, and he’ll call me if you do weird shit.
Don’t do weird shit.
??
Maxim sagged back on the couch, leaving the phone just within reach.
He picked up his book, opened it to a random chapter, and started reading the well-familiar words without really taking in their meaning.
In the end, he just sat staring at the page while his thoughts wandered to his own past, a past he kept close to himself, hidden.
The sun had rounded the building and settled into its early afternoon position by the time the elevator pinged, shaking Maxim out of his memories.
He turned to see Raven enter, walking like a mouse afraid to be caught stealing cheese.
“Welcome back, Raven.”
It took no more than that to scare him. Maxim saw it as if a shadow had fallen over the fledge’s face. He had no idea where the barb of fear had bitten into Raven’s mind.
“I—I was just…” He hugged himself, jaw working desperately as if the words were caught in his throat.
Maxim was on his feet, closing the distance between them within seconds. “Don’t be scared.”
Raven’s eyes were wide with fear. “I—I…”
Maxim forced himself not to move, not to hug Raven like he’d done last night.
“I will protect you from everything that aims to harm you in this world, but my power is nothing against these scars that hurt you. If there is anything I can do, I’ll do it. You just have to let me know what.”
Raven shivered but was able to shake off a fraction of the fear. He managed to look at Maxim. Then he came forward, let his arms drop out of the self-soothing gesture, and instead wrapped them around Maxim’s middle, slow and careful, as if he were testing shaky ground.
Maxim let it happen, feeling confused himself. When you feel alone in the world, all you want is a safe harbor.
Raven rested his head against Maxim’s chest. Maxim flexed the fingers of his right hand.
“May I touch your head?”
Raven didn’t react at first, and Maxim remained motionless. After a few moments, Raven nodded though, almost furiously so, his chin pressing against Maxim’s ribs.
Slowly, Maxim raised his hand and cupped the back of Raven’s head. He kept the touch soft, only enough to let Raven know that this was okay, for now. To let him know he was not being cast out over what had happened to him.
Then he waited and didn’t move, making himself an anchor.