Page 22 of Above Cursed Winds

Jeremiah’s heart broke. He couldn’t imagine the type of isolation Myko’s gift would demand from others, the type of loneliness it’d bring about without intention. At the thought of what this child suffered through every day, all Jeremiah’s trouble seemed miniscule.

“I am your friend, Myko.”

***

Myko’s mouth never stopped moving. Like his feet, once unleashed, the lad wasn’t easily exhausted. His every thought burst from his lips like he’d been saving them up for just this occasion, filling Jeremiah in on the state of the clan’s newest residents, Nero’s plans for an elementary school, and how Myko would have to help with all the new kids because he was ‘more mature’.

Jeremiah was enjoying himself immensely.

Regardless of how abrasive the Elemental might’ve seemed to any other adult, he genuinely enjoyed chatting with the youngling. Their discussion took them into the dome first, where Jeremiah started a diagnostic on their physical security systems. It would run in the background for several hours—and most importantly, didn’t need his attention until later.

After Myko’s whirlwind tour of clan lands, they ended up back at the lighthouse near Jeremiah’s condo.

“And this—this is the lighthouse.” Myko’s cheeks finally took a break from grinning. “My mom says I shouldn’t play around here because I’ll die a horrible, bloody death on the rocks below.”

“I’d tend to agree with your mother.”

“But it’s so cool! My dad once told me that it was like four stories high, which is like as tall as a brachiosaurus. Did you know they were actually warm blooded? And they weighed sixty-two tons?”

“Nah, I didn’t little man,” he said, impressed. “You’re super smart.”

“My mom says I’m a smarty pants.”

Myko cocked his head then, the telltale prickle of electricity spiking up Jeremiah’s spine. They both stopped walking as the youngster frowned and nodded—a telepathic conversation.

“My mom said I have to come home for dinner.” Myko’s face fell for all of two seconds before it resumed its previous glow. “You should come home with me! My mom said that if I ever wanted to have a friend over for dinner, I could. You’re my friend, right?”

“Of course I am, little man.” Jeremiah clapped a hand on Myko’s shoulder, bracing slightly against the vision that slammed through his mental barriers and breached his thoughts before he righted himself. “But only if your mom says it’s okay.”

Beaming, Myko took off sprinting. Jeremiah cursed beneath his breath, then took off after him. It was only a quarter mile before he halted in front of a two-story, its driveway and sidewalk paved, but the front yard barren of grass.

“Mom! Momma!”

Myko threw open the door, Jeremiah lingering on the porch, hesitantly scouring the area for any signs of adult life. He wouldn’t waltz into anyone’s home before he knew what he was entering.

“I made a new friend, mom! Can he stay for dinner?”

Chapter Eleven

Zia’s heart swelled at the prospect. A grin that matched the rare one on her son’s face swallowed her features as she looked at him. “Of course your friend can stay, Boo! I have fresh breadsticks for you two, fresh from the oven!”

“Okay!”

Her heart caught in her throat at the merriment in Myko’s voice, her son happier than she’d heard in ages. Setting the tray down, she slipped off the hot pads and rounded the corner to peek her head toward the porch.

And then gaped.

A tall, red-haired Elemental was crouched down at her boy’s level, beaming at Myko’s excited chatter.

Happiness effectively doused, Zia’s spine straightened as she stiltedly walked toward the door. She knew the second Jeremiah recognized who owned this house, whose child Myko was. And darned if she didn’t take pleasure in the panicked expression on his face when she glared at him.

“Mom! This is Jeremiah, my new friend!”

The look of intensity she’d given Jeremiah transitioned seamlessly to affection when she glanced down at Myko. “Yeah? And where did you guys meet?”

“We played soccer together! And then we walked around the ter’tory and talked about dinosaurs and the new babies and the lighthouse.”

Softening at the notes of pure joy in Myko’s voice, Zia gently cupped a hand to his cheek, brushing her thumb across his soft skin.

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