Page 82 of Dark Night Golden Dawn
“You like cats?” Harlow asked as she got a bag of treats out of a drawer and handed them to Petra. “He likes these.”
Petra took the treats, wrinkling her nose slightly at the smell, but grinning with delight as Axel took one after another from her hand. “My parents never let me have pets. They think animals are dirty. I’ve always wanted a cat. Some big, floofy monster that would love me.”
Harlow understood then. Petra Velarius had spent her life isolated by her secrets, and by parents who cared more about some stupid illusion of propriety the rest of the world left behind nearly a century ago. Free from that, she was a slightly sad girl, who apparently liked cats, and women. Harlow’s head shook slightly. What a shame that her parents would rather have her rich, perfect and miserable, over the sweet person stuffing Axel with rabbit treats in front of her now.
Axel pushed past the bag of treats in Petra’s hand and climbed into her lap. “He wants you to pet him,” Harlow said. “He likes ear and chin rubs the best.”
Petra obliged, beaming at Axel. When he curled up to sleep, she looked up at Harlow, who had curled up on the bed, facing them. “So, what’s up?” Harlow asked.
Petra sighed. “I… I thought I was helping you when I told you that about Finn.”
Harlow held up a hand. “Please. Don’t apologize. I’m the one who was wrong for getting so angry. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I was pissed… But I lost my temper and made a mistake.”
“Can you forgive him?”
“Have you?”
Petra smiled. “I forgave Finn before he asked me to, and we worked out the rest. When he told his parents to back off us both, it was really brave. I knew the McKays would tell my parents about me. That’s how they are, they follow through on their threats. We both knew and I gave him permission to do it anyways. It was time for both of us to cut the cord. Alaric did it a long time ago when he started his company, though he and Pasiphae are on much better terms than either Finn or I will be with our parents.”
“Wait… What do you mean he told them to back off us both?”
“He told them to go fuck themselves, Harlow. He shut down the bank account they opened in his name, and he told them if they didn’t leave you and Antiquity Row alone that he’d make problems for them. As I’m sure you can imagine, he knows quite a few of their secrets. I tried to get him to come over here and tell you this himself, but he wouldn’t. He told me not to tell you either, which of course forced me to come directly here to do the exact opposite. He’s kind of a dummy about stuff like that sometimes.”
Petra snickered and Harlow couldn’t help herself, she joined her. “Yeah, he is, isn’t he?”
“So will you forgive him now?” Petra asked.
Harlow sighed. “I’m not angry with him. I’m angry with myself. It’s complicated.”
Petra nodded, petting Axel gingerly, so as not to wake him, Harlow supposed. “I get that. But he’s in love with you Harlow. I don’t think he ever stopped being in love with you. He’d move worlds to keep you safe. Make himself miserable, if he had to. He gets a little toofocusedsometimes, and misses what might be collateral damage, but he is a good man.”
“You don’t have to convince me of that, Petra,” Harlow said. “I already know.”
“Okay, well I feel like I started something crappy between you, and I wanted to try and see if I could make it right.” She looked around. “This is a nice place.”
Harlow smiled, a little surprised that Petra liked it, but Enzo was right, she was different now that she was free of her parents. “Thank you. It’s been good for me.”
“Will you come to dinner tonight at Finn’s? We’re meeting to talk about some stuff your sister dug up about the Scroll of Akatei.”
“Did she restore the images in the Merkhov book?” Harlow asked.Why didn’t Thea text her?
Petra shook her head. “No, I think she’s having trouble with that for some reason. This is something else. Will you come?”
Harlow nodded.
Petra looked down at Axel. “I have to go. What do I do?”
Harlow suppressed a smile, taking the cat off the beautiful immortal’s lap. He chirped sleepily as she tucked him into the blankets on her bed. Petra stood, looking around again. “This place isreallybeautiful, Harlow. What a view.”
Harlow thanked her again, walking her to the door.
“Do you need a ride to Finn’s?” Petra asked. “I could come get you.”
Harlow shook her head. “No, that’s okay. Thank you though.”
She couldn’t stand the thought of trying to wrangle her nervesandtrying to make conversation with Petra for nearly forty-five minutes in the car, but there was no nice way to say that. She’d figure something else out.
As Petra stepped out the door, Harlow put a hand on her arm. “Can I hug you?”
