Page 48 of Changeling
“Yeah, play something with us, Nathan!” echoed Sasha.
It tore Nathan up a little to look down at the pair, finding them so innocent and oblivious, and just wanting his attention, but he had to concentrate on the mission. “Sorry, guys, but I can’t right now. We’re working on getting you two back to normal, remember?”
They immediately sat up on the carpet, wearing matching puppy pouts.
“Hey...look,” Nathan said, crouching down in front of them, “Shiarra and I are gonna have to go out to solve this, okay? But I asked Ula to check in on you. You like her, remember? She actually said she’d be ‘pleased as punch’ to keep an eye on you two for a few hours.”
She had used that exact phrase, too—pleased as punch.
“You’ll be fine. I promise,” Nathan assured them. “When you guys are back to normal, I’ll play with you whatever you want.”
Jim’s bottom lip looked way too big to be natural. “That’s silly. We’ll be grown up. We won’t wanna play anymore.”
“Dude,” Nathan couldn’t help laughing, “trust me, we play. It’s just…a different kind of playing. Adult playing.”
“Isn’t that an inappropriate thing to say to a five-year old?" Shiarra commented. "Especially considering you’re sleeping with my—”
“Hey!” Nathan cut in, standing swiftly and grabbing Shiarra’s arm so he could pull her in close and whisper more discretely, “Ix-nay on the ex-say in front of the ids-kay, will ya?”
Shiarra blinked. “Did you just speak pig Latin to me?”
Nathan held back a laugh at her tone and expression, but he had to think seriously right now. “Let's just get going, okay?”
“Good luck, Nathan!” Jim called from behind him, and suddenly there was a large body right there and long arms wrapping around Nathan’s waist.
After catching his breath, Nathan carefully turned within Jim’s tight hold to make the hug more proper. It was getting to be a bit much for him, all this open affection, but he could allow and enjoy it right now because he knew how much Jim needed it. “It’s gonna be okay, buddy,” Nathan said, sensing Jim’s anxiety. “Big brother Nathan to the rescue, right?”
Jim giggled shakily and hugged Nathan harder, pushing his face against Nathan’s neck. “Nah-uh, Nate.I’mthe oldest.”
“And I never forget it.”
When they pulled apart Nathan saw how Sasha was hovering close by. He knew the redhead was looking for that same kind of reassurance, so he stepped up to Sasha and pulled him close for a quick hug too, holding the back of Sasha’s neck and breathing in that familiarSashascent.
“Shi and I got this covered, so just sit tight and have a good time with Jim and Ula.” Nathan felt Sasha nod and then heard a breathy whisper against his ear.
“I wanna be grown up for you, Nathan.”
An ache tore at Nathan’s heart to hear that. He couldn’t even be sure if Sasha understood the full weight of saying those words, but God, Nathan wanted that too. Feeding time for the incubus was so much more than just a mutual agreement between friends.
After that Nathan couldn’t get out of the room fast enough.
“So,yourwifegotin this morning?” Ula asked warmly when Nathan and Shiarra stopped by the front desk. “That’s wonderful. You two have…some kind of serious business in town today?”
“Something like that,” Nathan said. “Ula, this is Shiarra. She’s actually Sasha’s…sister.” Nathan was glad he caught himself because ‘aunt’ would not make sense. “It’s how we met, taking care of our boys. Right, sweetheart?”
Shiarra just laughed politely, but Nathan could have sworn there was a hidden threat in the sound somewhere. “It’s nice to meet you,” Shiarra said, and Nathan was immediately taken aback by how young she sounded. “Nathan said you were really good with the boys before. I hope we’re not putting you out.”
“Oh, of course not. I’ve babysat for years. Oh,” Ula brought a hand up to her mouth, “I probably shouldn’t call it that. Adult sitting maybe? I know they’re not children. I’m sorry.”
There was no end to how much Nathan wanted to tell Ula the truth right then if only to stop her from getting so flustered. “I told you,” Nathan smiled, “they’re like five-year-olds. You’re not going to offend anyone for thinking that way too, especially not us. But…we better go. Thanks again.”
Ula was all beaming smiles, her face only slightly flushed like maybe she couldn’t help it half the time. “Don’t worry about a thing,” she said. “Have fun!”
Right, Nathan thought.Fun.
He had sent Walter to the Animus House again, if only to be sure they covered all of their bases before going after this Faust guy, and he had told his Spirit Guide to meet them there once he was finished scouring the ruins one final time. Nathan just hoped they got a lead somewhere, because if he didn’t discover something soon, there might not be anything left to find.
Chapter 20
