Page 7 of Artemis

“Apparently, the trick is to know when to protect myself,” Finley said with a chuckle. “It’s a good thing I’m a quick healer.”

Maddie winced. “Sorry.” She took Lyta from him. “Why don’t you try teaching some headstands now? Alexander is the youngest, with blond hair, and Damien is the oldest, with black hair.”

“Alexander,” Finley repeated. “Damien.”

“You’ve got this big guy,” Maddie cheered him on.

Finley headed over to the two little boys. He’d never felt so tall as he did today. They didn’t even come up to his waist. “Hey,” he said once he was close enough to be heard. “Looks like you’re having fun. Can you teach me how to do a cartwheel?”

“Yes!” Damien exclaimed.

“Start with one leg out,” Alexander said. “And hands up!” He demonstrated.

Solemnly, Finley followed suit.

“And then you put your hands on the grass one at a time, jumping a bit,” Damien continued. He bent and put his hands on the ground and hopped, his legs getting barely off the ground. He stood up, beaming.

Alexander fared no better, and Finley had to bite back a smile. He nodded and copied the boys exactly. “Like that?” he asked.

“Noooo,” said Alexander slowly, frowning. “That’s not what Maddie’s looked like. Her legs went straight up in the air.”

“Hmm,” said Finley, pretending to concentrate hard. “Like this?” He did a handstand. “Now what?” he said, still upside down. “I think I’m stuck like this!”

“Lift a hand!” Damien suggested. “You’ll fall down.”

Finley shifted his weight onto one arm and lifted the other. “I’m still stuck!”

“Put your feet down!” Alexander said.

“Oh, that’s better,” Finley said after putting his feet down and collapsing in an exaggerated manner onto the grass. “I’m Finley. I’ll be looking after you when Maddie’s busy.”

“Hestia too?” Alexander asked.

“Hestia will still be here, no worries.”

“Gus too?”

It took Finley a moment to realize that Alexander meant Augustine. “Yes, Augustine and I will be taking turns. He’s my brother, did you know that?”

“I have a big sister,” Damien volunteered.

“You don’t look like Gus.”

“Well, no, we don’t have the same birth parents,” Finley admitted.

“Then how is he your brother?” Alexander asked.

“Do you know how adoption works?” When both boys shook their heads, Finley continued, “It’s when you become a family with someone who isn’t your parent by birth. My brothers and I became a family.”

“You have more than one brother?” Damien asked.

“Jaden is my other brother. Have you met him?”

“Maddie’s Jaden?” Alexander’s gray eyes grew wide.

“That’s right.”

“Can you teach me to stand on my hands?” Damien asked, changing the subject abruptly.

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