Page 54 of The Syphon King

“Ah yeah,” he said, shaking his head. “Saint Sahvrin.”

Bishop stared before him, not fucking getting it. “Why do I get penalized for loving my own brother?”

The locusts and frogs carried on in the silence for a bit. “I’m envious of the brotherhood y’all share but not for reasons you think.”

Bishop contemplated it. “I’m too weary to unravel that one, help me out.”

Another stretch of silence filled the gaping void between them. “I’m...” He took a breath and let it out, staring before him. “I’m not... worthy to be your brother.”

Bishop stared at him for a while, his chest clenching at the pain in those words. “Who in this filthy world is worthy of anything?”

His lowered head shook for many seconds. “You are.”

Pain punched him in the chest at the sudden tightness in his words. He reached over and held his neck. “You can tell me anything. I’ll always be your big brother and you’ll always be my baby brother. You hear?”

“I betrayed you,” he barely whispered. “With Katrina. And your real brothers know, that’s why they hate me, they fucking hate me as much as I hate me.”

“Hey.” Bishop pet his head. “I was a naïve young man back then, but I wasn’t blind. I knew.”

“Fuck, I’m sorry,” he barely strained out. “I’m so fucking sorry.”

Bishop put his arm around his shoulder and pulled him into a hug. “Fuck that’s old news, brother,” he said. “You were younger than me. A little piss ant.”

“There’s no fucking excuse.”

“No, there isn’t, but it helps,” he assured with a chuckle. “And it is hella hard to give even a drop of damn about it now.”

“I’m sorry I was jealous of your angel.” He shook his head. “Not anymore. You deserve her and I’m fucking happy you got her.” He aimed his tormented blue gaze at him. “You believe me?”

“I do,” he swore. “Just like I believe your angel is coming too.”

“Ah fuck,” he chuckled shaking his head. “Not sure I’m ready for that.”

“I think you should get ready. These angels they have a way of falling out of the sky.”

He gave a real laugh and Bishop joined him. “I been cleaning my actup.”

“I’ve been noticing.”

“Yeah?”

“Yep. But if there’s something you want to do for me,” Bishop said, getting Zep’s groan.

“I am not a good role model for no kid.”

“So, he’ll help you become one,” he said. “Think of it as the crucible that burns up all the bullshit these angels don’t like to fuss with.”

“You know I will,” he said, shoving him with his shoulder.

“And I’ll put in that angel request immediately to the man upstairs.”

“Bon Dieu, give me at least six weeks before you kill me with this much mercy.”

Bishop laughed, ruffling his hair and shoving him. “Come on back with me. Fucking swamp ark isn’t gonna build itself.” He stood, holding his hand out to him.

He eyed it and let Bishop pull him up from the swing into his bear hug.

“Didn’t fucking see that coming,” he muttered hotly at his neck as Bishop patted his head.

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