Page 59 of Zachary

“No, I get it,” I assure her. “I’m glad. He needs friends that put him first. I’m not asking you to spill secrets, I swear. I just want to know what I fucked up so I can fix it.”

“It’s a good thing you’re not asking me to spill secrets because I wouldn’t. I’ll talk to him, see if there’s something going on.Ifthere is, I’ll encourage him to talk to you about it. But I’m not going to go behind his back to tell you anything. Whatever it is, either he’ll talk to you, or you’ll have to find another way to figure it out.”

It’s not perfect, not the answers I was hoping for, but it’s better than nothing. “Thank you, Zoe. I’m grateful. He… It really felt like things were working out for us, you know? He loves being here now, and he’s talking about working part-time atthe museum as a guide and part-time for Greta baking, and I thought all the roots he was putting down meant he wanted to stay here with me. But maybe he just wants to stay here, and I’m not in the equation.”

“Aren’t you supposed to be the level-headed cousin?”

She hangs up before I can reply.

I stretch out on my bed, thinking. I still don’t have answers, but I have a lead… kind of. In the meantime, something Zoe said tweaked my brain. I scroll through my contacts and hit another number.

“I wish I had never given any of you my number,” he answers, and I grin.

“Hello to you too, Murder Baby. Having a bad day at work?”

Gideon grunts. “It was fine until you called. What do you want now? Did you set Grandmother’s house on fire?”

I blink. “Did we— No! What the fuck, Gideon? Why would you even ask that?”

“Why. Are. You. Calling. Me?”

I give up. He has no patience. “I need you to ask Ronan’s brother when their birthday is.”

The line goes so silent that I pull the phone away from my ear, wondering if the call dropped out. It hasn’t.

“Hello? Gideon? Can you hear me?”

“Unfortunately. You want me to what?”

“I need to know when Ronan’s birthday is so I can make sure it’s celebrated properly. And I can’t ask him—you said yourself his childhood was fucked-up. I don’t want to trigger anything.” I hesitate. “Could you ask Steffen about that too? If a birthday party and gifts would be painful for Ronan?”

“Fuck my fucking life,” he mutters. “Let me make sure I understand this. You want me, in the middle of my workday, to leave my office and go to the office of another government to askSteffen Draco, the most paranoid being alive, when hisbirthdayis? Information that could hypothetically be used to steal his identity?”

I hear someone in the background say, “What?” but I ignore it in my hurry to remind him, “And ask if a party would trigger Ronan. Don’t forget that.”

The cursing that fills my ear is impressive but a waste of time. He could be halfway there by now. Still, knowing Gideon as I do, the best option is to wait him out. He gets cranky if you interrupt him.

He’s mid-word when his voice fades and someone else says, “Hello? Who’s this?”

I wince, recognizing the voice. “Zac. Gideon’s cousin. Is that Alistair?” I met Garrett’s cousin for the first time at Asher’s wedding. It was… memorable. I’ve seen him a few times since, mainly to do with the cave and vault, but also when Cam was kidnapped. He was like a completely different person that day.

“Yep! What’s this about Steffen’s birthday?” His ridiculously cheerful demeanor is… daunting.

“Uh, it’s actually Ronan’s birthday I’m interested in. We’re dating. But I don’t want to ask him, and since he and Steffen are twins—”

“Say no more. I’m in! Surprise parties for the win, am I right? Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered.”

“You… do?” Why am I suddenly worried?

“Sure. We’re family now. Cousin-in-law of my cousin, and all that. I’ll talk to my bros, and we’ll get the details on when Ronan’s birthday is.”

“And…” Shit, does Alistair know as much as Gideon? How much can I say? I’m not supposed to know any of it. “Some people don’t like surprises, and I get the feeling Ronan’s childhood wasn’t always great. So could you find out if he’s okay with birthday parties?”

Alistair makes a humming sound. “That one’s gonna be trickier. Might actually have to talk to Steffen. But don’t worry, I’ll get what you need. Give me your number.”

I do, wondering if it’s a mistake.

“Leave it with me. This is going to be fun.”

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