Page 34 of Finn's Solace

"Your parents?" Papa asked hesitantly, and I blinked, realizing I'd never asked Levi about them before. If he had told me back when we were kids, I didn't remember.

"They're alive and well, as far as I know. But I haven't seen them since I was, oh, fifteen," Levi said, then smiled sheepishly. "I ran away from home. I used to live on an island of mages, but I didn't like how they treated some of the mages."

Oh, now I remembered. It was why I'd trusted Dad after he and Papa adopted us. I'd heard him mention leaving Ravenshire and remembered what Levi had told me. I'd thought, 'If this man also left that place, then he must be a good person like Levi.' I couldn't believe I'd forgotten about that. Just how much of that time had I hidden away from myself?

Levi

"You're from Ravenshire," Raphael said, and I shrugged.

"I was. I haven't thought of that place as home in a long time."

"Neither have I," he said with a sad smile. Oh.

"Wait," Finn said, and I glanced over at him. His brows were furrowed, his green eyes a bit distant as they met mine. "I'm not sure if I'm remembering right, but didn't you say you left because you saw a kid being mistreated?"

I nodded, the memory clear in my mind even now despite all the shit that had followed. "Yeah, he was maybe ten or so, and he was telepathic. They treated him like he was the freaking devil."

Finn and his dad shared a glance, and I nudged him. "What is it?"

"That kid you saw? He's here too."

"What? Really? He got out?" I demanded, my food forgotten as I turned to face him.

"Yep. His name is Micah, and he's mated to Cam. He's the dragon's son."

"Wow," I said, shaking my head as I thought about the small, dark-haired kid I remembered. He would be what, twenty-five? Twenty-six?

"It's strange how many strings tie you to this town, isn't it?" Penny asked, and all I could do was nod. It really was strange, in the best way.

"I'd like to meet him at some point. I doubt he remembers me, but." I shrugged, and Finn placed his hand on my knee below the table, squeezing softly.

"Don't worry. Sooner or later, you're gonna meet everyone in Mistvale. And I do meaneveryone," Penny said with exaggerated wide eyes, and I laughed.

"I'll look forward to that."

The rest of lunch passed with companionable chitchat, and Finn's dads turned out to be great. I'd figured as much since they'd earned Finn's trust, but it was good to learn it for myself.

After lunch, I was almost sad to mention I had to get back to work, and Jai sent me off with a few Tupperware boxes full of curry to pass on to Noel and Rebba. He told me not to keep one for myself because I could just come over for a meal if I got the craving.

I'd never experienced complete acceptance like this before. Finn's dads had been nothing but nice to me, and they were so damned caring. I didn't even remember my own parents caring about me like this, and I was just starting to get to know Jai and Raphael.

Greta decided to hang around for a while, and since she knew the way back home, I left her under Finn's care and made my way to the packland, where Noel gave me a tight hug when I showed up at his door with the curry.

After giving Rebba her share, I returned to the construction site, where Caleb eyed me for a full five minutes before I realized Noel's scent must be clinging to me, and spent the next few minutes overexplaining myself to avoid getting mauled by a possessive wolf.

Caleb let me talk, and talk until my mouth went dry. Then, he patted my shoulder, and said, "Calm down, Levi. I trust my mate."

Then he walked off while I stared after him with a short-circuiting brain and a desperate need for water. My boss was going to be the death of me. I just knew it.

Me: Who do I go to for some dirt on my new boss, Caleb?

Finn replied within minutes, and I quickly unlocked my phone once I was sure the topic of conversation wasn't around.

Finn: I don't know about dirt, but if you'd like to prank him, Cam's the guy. He grew up pranking Caleb, and he still does it every chance he gets.

Me: That's Micah's mate, yes?

Finn: Yup. He's off on a late honeymoon with his mates, but he's supposed to be back soon.

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