Page 7 of Asher

“Yes. Of course.” I don’t hesitate. “My understanding is that they’re not made aware of other species until they’re school age?”

“It’s not a rule,” Jesse interjects. “We’ve looked into it, and some have been read stories with other species, or talked to older siblings. We haven’t deliberately prevented them from knowing about the community.” He sounds a little anxious, and I understand why. As a species leader, he’d be aware of the events several years back, where it was discovered that a cult was isolating species and indoctrinating them in an attempt to overthrow the government. It’s not information that was widely shared, but with two cousins working directly for the lucifer, I sometimes hear things others don’t. Elinor contacted me at the time to ask about the anthropological implications.

“I never thought you had,” I assure them all, looking around the table and making eye contact with everyone. “We can set up a weekly playgroup of sorts, if you like? With the three of us representing three different species, that should enable them to get an idea that people can be different to them.”

“What would it involve? We have babies and toddlers.”

I look at Sid, whose doctorate was in early childhood development. This would be a good area for him to take the lead on.

“We’d let the children play—us just being in the room will be a new experience for them. Some won’t immediately notice the differences in us, but they’ll start getting used to our scent. There are some stories we can read that might begin a discussion, and if a few weeks pass without anyone asking any questions, Garrett could shift and show them his hellhound form.” He slides me a sideways glance and sticks his tongue firmly in his cheek. “Few children can resist a puppy.”

I refrain from smacking him, because it’s true. And the few who do are usually afraid of dogs, which can be overcome by shifting back and showing them that I’m a familiar person. “The younger children will find it easier to accept us,” I promise the council. “And of course we’d want parents or caregivers there as well.”

That seems to satisfy them all, and their questions after that are more cursory. I think they didn’t have a true agenda for this meeting, just wanted to meet us and get a feeling for our personalities.

Finally, Damaris says, “I think we can leave it there. School begins week after next, so you have a few days to settle in before you need to start lesson planning.” She makes it sound like an order, and I bite my tongue to keep from telling her that our lesson planning has already begun. “I hope you’ll all join me this weekend at a welcome party. Nothing too big, of course.”

It’s phrased like a request, but it’s really not. She also doesn’t sound happy about it, though I’m not sure if I’m just reading her wrong. “That sounds lovely.” I manage not to add “ma’am,” which is quite a feat given the tone of voice she used. It will be a good opportunity to meet some more people, anyway.

She stands, and that seems to be the cue for everyone to leave. I really need to find out—discreetly—more about her. Even if it means a call to Alistair.

Dammit.

CHAPTERFOUR

Asher

I strollout of the teleport room in the house I share with my cousins. As always, I spare a smug thought for the other species, schlepping places on foot or by car, plane, or other transit. Seconds ago I was in my apartment in Zurich, and here I am nearly a hundred and fifty kilometers from there. I’m fresh, relaxed, and ready to get on with my day.

The kitchen is my first stop, since I can smell coffee. It’s been hours since I had a cup, and I need a hit before having dinner with Grandmother. I may have gotten out of her setup for this weekend, but that doesn’t mean she’s given up.

My cousin Micah looks up from his stool at the counter as I beeline for the coffee maker. “You’re back,” he says. Micah’s always been one to state the obvious. “Grandmother said you were coming, but Zac and I figured you’d make an excuse at the last minute.”

I pause with my coffee halfway to my mouth. “Why would I do that? This is my home.”

He shrugs. “Yeah, but aren’t you avoiding her while she’s on her ‘get Asher married’ streak?”

Oh. Now I get it. “There’s no avoiding it. She tried to set me up with the daughter of a friend who happened to be in Zurich this weekend. I figured I may as well come home and enjoy that, at least.”

He makes a disinterested sound and goes back to the architecture magazine he’s reading.

When the settlement moved fifty years ago and this village was built, Micah, Zac, and I decided to live together temporarily so there would be houses ready sooner for families. We thought about living with Grandmother, but that seemed a little too selfless… and stupid. This was a compromise we could live with. And we just haven’t bothered to change things since. I’m in Zurich a lot of the time, and it’s not like we don’t all get along. We’re the best of friends. The house is large, and we have a cleaner in once a week to keep us all in line. Until and unless one of us decides to marry and start a family, why bother to upset the status quo?

I slide onto a stool next to Micah and pull out my phone, settling in to enjoy twenty minutes of coffee and the financial blogs before I go to Grandmother’s house for dinner with the family.

* * *

“Asher!”Chloe, my baby sister, hurls herself at me while I’m still in the doorway. “You’re back!”

I pick her up, even though at seven she’s started telling people she’s too big for that now, and give her a squeezy hug. “I’ve only been gone two weeks,” I tease. “And we Zoomed four times.”

“I still missed you.” She smacks a kiss on my cheek. “Nobody else reads with all the voices like you do.”

Giving her a little jostle, I drill my forefinger into her ribs, the resulting squeal of laughter making me smile. “Ah, so the truth comes out. It’s not me you missed at all.”

She squirms to be put down, and I obey. “Don’t forget, story time later,” she orders.

“Chloe,” our father chides, “you can read to yourself now. Let Asher have the night off.”

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