Page 194 of Envious Of Fire
After a moment’s thought, Kaleb says, “I see it another way.”
Kyle opens his eyes, turns to him.
Raya just stares down at the bed, jaw tightened.
Kaleb licks his dry lips and measures his words. “I … I see it as an act of … compassion. What Tristan did. I know what you’re probably thinking. It happened a long time ago. But I dreamt of it so often, it’s like it happened yesterday. That night … the fire.”
Kyle keeps watching Kaleb, listening.
Raya turns her head finally, her teary eyes upon him.
“Tristan could have left me,” says Kaleb. “He didn’t. He … He saved me. It wasn’t easy. He saved me from the fire. Vampires are vulnerable to fire. He risked his own life and … and saved me. I could be dead right now. Instead, I got to live so many more years. I got to meet you, Raya. I get to see you again, Kyle, my … my brother.” He smiles as he gazes at Kyle—who has started to gather tears in his own eyes. “I got to hone my violin skills. I got to read so much. Learn so much. Make new friends. My life hasn’t been so bad, not really. And now …” He suddenly thinks on the old man’s words of prayer. Were they uttered yesterday? The day before that? It feels like mere minutes ago. “Now I get a second chance at life. A second life. I’m born again, here with you two. And stronger for it. Tristan … saved me.”
Kyle and Raya peer at one another across the bed.
No more words are shared for some time.
Until Kyle finally takes his brother’s hand into his own, and upon his lips comes a smile that speaks volumes. “My brother …” He glances at Raya once more before turning to Kaleb. “I think it’s time you catch me up. On everything. I’m gonna sit here, right here by your side, and you’re gonna tell me about your beautiful life, every last bit, because from now on …” His smile brightens. “I’m not gonna miss another damned moment of it.”
···
Elias sits on the front step of the clinic, one leg tucked under the other, which is stretched out, foot wagging side to side. It has been a long day. His feet are sore. His hands feel too weathered to even bear the grip of a steering wheel. And though the night air brushes past his face, it feels as stifling as if it were perfectly still.
The glass door of the clinic creaks when Kyle steps outside. “I think he’s asleep for the night.”
Elias peers back at him, chuckles. “You make it sound likeyou just put the baby in his crib.”
“Why not? He can be a baby. My baby brother.”
Kyle hops down onto the step, sits, smiles into the night. Elias peers at his boyfriend, amazed at his level of energy, the change in his face, cheer in his eyes, all of it. Elias puts an arm around Kyle. The two sit like that for a while, peacefully enjoying the night.
“I can’t see many stars.”
Elias nods. “The shroud.”
“Is that what we’re calling it now?”
“Apparently.”
“Magic is weird.”
“Super weird.” Elias puts a kiss on the top of Kyle’s head, lets out a sigh that tosses some bangs upward. “I’ve missed you.”
“What do you mean?”
“Past few days since we’ve been back, everything’s been so … so … crowded.”
“Crowded? What do you mean by crowded? The survivors?”
“No, no. I’m happy they’re here and safe … even if this is … well … kind of like another prison.”
“Temporarily. Until Cade and Layna figure out how to poke a hole in the magic wall.”
“Theshroud,” mutters Elias.
“I still prefer magic wall.”
“By ‘crowded’, I just meant all the stuff going on. With Drake and his restlessness. Cade and her daughter. Jer, who found relief from his perky pecker, but still can’t speak. Everyone in town in a state of confusion, unable to leave, all of them forced to confront the very real presence of supernatural bullshit around them, even the ones who’ve been in denial since the day you came out at the bar. Oh, and the bar,” Elias goes on, laughs at himself, shakes his head. “Leland and Becks, what a blessing they’ve been, but damn, if they wouldn’t just finally fuck and getit over with, all the sexual tension you can slice with a hot knife.”
