Page 8 of Zachary

“We can manage without Garrett,” Micah declares brightly, which has me turning an incredulous look on him. Since when is Micah cheerful about washing dishes?

“Yep!” Asher adds. “We’re big, strong demons. The three of us can handle anything.”

Cam and Garrett practically flee the kitchen while I accept that this is a setup and I’m now officially trapped.

“Well?” I ask my cousins, who are both watching me patiently. “I swear, if this is because those two”—I tilt my head toward the door, where I’m pretty sure they’re both listening—“have found someone they want to set me up with, I’m going to—”

“What’s going on with you?” Asher’s quiet voice cuts through my threat.

“What? Nothing.” Fuck. I should have known they wouldn’t let this go. It’s been a week since they cornered me in the cave, and I thought I was in the clear. Stupid.

“Zac.” Micah folds his arms. “C’mon.”

“Don’t, okay? I’m fine. I know I’ve been grouchy, and I’m sorry. This winter’s getting to me, I guess.”

“You’ve said that before, but we know it’s bullshit. Usually when winter starts to make you feel hemmed in, you go camping in the snow.”

He’s right, and I think longingly about how great that would be—digging myself into a snowbank and creating a cozy little burrow. There’s something spectacular about camping in conditions like this. At this altitude, so far from any chance of help, only a demon with teleport ability who’s also highly experienced in the wilderness could ever expect to be able to do it safely, and it feeds the part of me that loves this planet so much.

“Yeah, well, it’s not like there’s been any opportunity for that this year.” The second the bitter words leave my mouth, I regret them. My cousins exchange a glance. It’s true that between the hubbub of Asher’s wedding, the plans Garrett was making even before we discovered the cave, and then everything that’s happened since, life hasn’t exactly been able to run in its usual smooth track. Not for us, anyway, not with Grandmother insisting her family be involved in every aspect of the village. Butit’s not just me who’s been affected, and nobody else is whining about it.

“Grandmother’s been unfair to you,” Asher says, shocking me. “She’s always expected us to drop everything and leap to her bidding, but you most of all.”

I shake my head. “No. She’s hard on all of us.”

Asher looks like he wants to argue, but Micah interrupts. “She was still wrong to saddle you with Ronan, especially after Brandt offered last week to have an elf assigned to transport him.”

That’s true, but… “One of us would still need to be there. The elves and dragons aren’t familiar with the area or the altitude.” The last thing we need is for our visiting representatives to get sick or injured up there. Although, I wonder if dragons can even get altitude sickness.

“And it could have been one of us,” Asher counters. “Garrett and Cam are going to be spending a lot of time up there. But we don’t want to argue about this. We just want you to know that whatever’s wrong, you can tell us.”

“Cam’s worried about you.” Micah raises a brow at me, knowing that will pile on the guilt. Cam’s been through enough this week without having me to worry about.

I sigh. “I’m not happy with the way Grandmother just assumes my time belongs to her or the village or whoever she thinks needs it,” I admit. “It bugs me. And I hate that if I push back, she throws duty in my face. I’ve done my duty for years. I’mdoingmy duty. I’m not trying to avoid it. But sometimes I just want…” I trail off. They’re nodding. They get it. If anyone understands, it’s them—they’re in the same boat.

Maybe I should tell them what Grandmother said about the ski resort plans. With their support…

No.The part of me still stinging from the rejection pushes down the urge. The cave takes priority for now, along withthe need to attract more people from other species to live in Hortplatz. There’s a lot to do and a lot of expense involved in getting things ready for what Garrett has planned. Once the thaw sets in and the snow starts to clear, I’m going to be rushed off my feet with the additional tasks on top of my usual job. The ski resort is a pipe dream and needs to stay on the shelf for now.

“If you want to take a few days, go camping, we can cover for you,” Asher offers. “Grandmother doesn’t have to know.”

I snort, and Micah laughs outright. As if anything happens around here that she doesn’t know about.

Asher shrugs sheepishly. “I mean, she’dknow, but we wouldn’t have to tell her,” he defends.

“Thanks, but I’m okay. I think I’ve convinced Ronan to take weekends off from now on.” Or I might be able to, once I’ve apologized for my comments this afternoon.

They exchange glances again. Oh boy.

“What?” I ask.

“Why do you hate him so much?” Micah spreads his hands. “Garrett says you turn into Mr. Hyde around him.”

It takes me a second to understand the reference. “Evil murdering criminal as opposed to mild-mannered scientist? How flattering.”

“You know what he means. From that first day when he got teleport sick, it’s been clear you don’t like him. And fine, whatever—you don’t have to. But do you have to make it so obvious?”

“It’s not that I don’t like him.”

---