Page 56 of Falling in Love with A Tiny Bat

“Speaking of Pollux,” I say as I confirm the order, “you never agreed to go to movie night, Xios.”

“We concluded it was a bad idea, did we not?” Alexios asks.

“Come on. You at least have to go and give Pollux grief for never giving you a milkshake. I’m pretty sure that’s abuse.”

“I’m certain it isn’t.”

“It’s almost a valid reason for your running away from home.”

“What’s the issue?” Castor interjects.

Alexios sighs. “Zahra wants me to go to movie night and apologize to the people she has identified as my parental figures.”

“Apologize?” Castor’s tone levels, devoid of emotion. He toys with the threads on the hem of his long, loose sleeve. “What do you need to apologize for?”

“I disappeared on them when I started helping you with Ash.”

“Ah.”

“Castor, I have no idea what happened between you and your friends, but consider thatKasshas been worried. Kass ismyfriend. And harm coming to my friends is an offense punishableby death.”

Castor angles his face away from me and refuses to reply while Alexios tugs on my shirt. “May I choose my method of demise?”

I hum as I log into Netflix and begin scrolling through the new section. Talking about movies makes me want to watch one. “I guess, but I have to approve it.”

“Death by reprehensible seduction.”

I squawk a buzzer noise. “Wow. Denied. That issocrazy.”

“Thursday night?” Castor muses.

“Hm?” Ooh.Trolls. I loveTrolls. So cheerful. So happy. Such a bonkers premise. We should watchTrolls. The three of us. Right now. What a bonkers idea.

“Movie night is Thursday, isn’t it?” Castor asks. “Why don’t I watch the brat? Then you both can go.”

I forget what I’m doing.

Alexios frowns. “Castor, the goal isno one going. You’ve misunderstood.”

Setting a hand on Ash’s back, I find his sweet little face pressed against my heart. “But…you can’twatchhim. You’re not allowed to use your eyes.”

“Semantics. You understand what I mean.”

“Ummm…” Chilling with Castor and buying him a phone so he can join my LARP group’s Discord is one thing… Trusting him to watch my baby when his eyes are deadly lasers? That is something else. “Yeah, I’m not comfortable with that?”

“It is literally my child,” Castor says.

I wrapmy babyup in both my arms.

“Snowflake,” Alexios begins softly, “Castor is capable. He took care of Ash on his own for a week. I only started helping out a few days before I talked to you.”

Holding Ash tight, I find Alexios’s hand when it lands on my arm. What happened to the goal being forneitherof us togo, huh? I drag my attention up to his eyes. A million thoughts tumble through my head, and who knows what emotions they result in as he searches me. Last I knew, we had no idea what Castor needed a baby for. All I have determined is thatcollateralisn’t justifiable since the threat of one life—no matter how innocent—wouldn’t be enough to faze Cael.

What if Castordoessomething to my baby while we’re gone?

Lately, I’ve even been doubting the food Castor gave me for him. It looks likepoisonand what he said on Friday won’t leave me alone.

I wonder what manner of war a baby made of poison could start…

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