Chapter 770: Harvard
I said goodbye to Sunny and Uncle Frank, refusing to even talk to them about their own transformations, at least for now. Not after I'd failed with Pannera, had to tread the walk of shame-at least, in my own head-down the throne room aisle, past the watching, grieving vampires until I couldn't stand it anymore.
Lifted Sassafras into my arms, cuddling him close, as I tore open the veil and returned us to Castle Wilhelm.
"I won't pressure you," Sunny said as we touched down in her throne room, "but I want you to consider it."
I nodded, miserable still, Sass's purr only taking the edge from my failure. No, I didn't care I'd failed. I cared Pannera was going to die and there was nothing I could do about it.
Yeah, she'd been my enemy once. But damn.
Hell of a way to go.
Sebastian took my elbow in one hand as I tore the veil again for home.
"I'd very much like to speak to your mother," he said.
Whatever. He could have traveled on his own, couldn't he? Still, it was nice to feel the warmth of his hand on my bare skin and, with a shrug, I brought him through the veil with me to Wilding Springs.
Not Harvard. Not yet. My heart hurt and I needed a dose of love from a certain little boy.
Found him sleeping in Shenka's arms in the living room while she watched TV. My second rose the moment I approached, eyes a little wide as she nodded to Sebastian.
I set Sassafras down, took Gabriel from her, kissed his soft cheek. He stirred in his sleep, but didn't wake. That was okay. Just holding him in my arms made me feel so much better.
I turned, cheek pressed to his soft, blonde hair and gave Sebastian a wry smile. "You haven't met," I said, keeping my voice low.
The handsome former vampire shook his head, but he smiled, too. Came closer, fingers soft on Gabriel's cheek. Sassafras hopped up on the arm of the chair Shenka vacated, putting himself in the middle ground between me and Sebastian and fixed me with his amber gaze.
"Don't you have work to do?" His thick, silver tail lashed once. Galleytrot's soft groan almost made me jump as his big head lifted from the other side of the chair, black eyes flickering with red fire.
I looked down at my sleeping son and made a decision.
"I do," I said, turning and heading for the stairs. "And I'm taking Gabriel with me."
Mom would love that.
No kidding. As I walked into my bedroom, Sassafras trailing behind me, the heavy, unhappy tread of the black hound's big feet thudding on the carpet, I reached for Mom.
It was early yet, just past 9:30 in the evening. She latched onto me the moment I touched her mind, as though I was a lifeline she desperately sought.
Syd. Was that panic in her mental touch?
Mom. Okay, now my heart was pounding. What's wrong? Oh. My. Swear-
Her touch softened immediately. Nothing, sweetheart, she sent. It's just, you never... oh, dear. She giggled mentally.
Way to work me up, Mom.
We're fine, I sent. But I have someone who wants to see you.
And I can't wait to see him. I could feel her reaching for Gabriel like a greedy sponge seeking water and blocked her.
Not him, I laughed. And he's sleeping.
Her disappointment came through crystal clear.
Mom, Sebastian is here. I grabbed the papoose, remembering it was Charlotte who gave it to me as a shower gift-among the dozens of presents she'd loaded Gabriel down with since he was conceived-and slipped his warm, sleeping body inside. It was nice to carry him against me like that, all snuggly...
Is he all right? I caught a glimpse of Mom moving from her office toward the kitchen in her quarters at Harvard.
Of course Gabriel was-oh. Right. She was talking about Sebastian.
We're coming for a visit, I sent. I'm going to let him fill you in.
Mom's hope was so badly hidden it bordered on pathetic.
Yes, Mom, I sent. I'm bringing Gabriel, too.
Can't wait. She cut me off with so much eagerness I knew I wouldn't have much time to cuddle my son after all.
"I'm joining you," Sassafras said. Eavesdropper.
"And me." Galleytrot's deep voice rumbled like a thunderstorm.
I turned on the pair of them and shook my head. "Not this time," I said. "I'm going to see Mom, for goodness sakes. You two stay put for once."
Sassafras grumbled while the big dog's eyes glowed with red fire.
"But-"
"But-"
I giggled.
And left them there to sulk.
Maybe it was mean of me to leave them behind, but honestly, Mom was going to be bad enough. And if she let Erica know I was coming... Mom's former second and my representative on Council would be disgusting in her need to hold my son.
Sass and Galleytrot had him almost 24/7. A little distance wouldn't hurt them any.
And I'd been away from my son forever.
Okay, an hour.
Still.
Sebastian waited for me at the bottom of the stairs. Shenka raised one eyebrow at me, a tiny smirk on her lips as she kissed my cheek, then Gabriel's head.
"Have fun," she said. Try to find some free time with hottie here, she finished.
Blush. Ing.
I opened the veil, now totally self-conscious about Sebastian's hand in mine as I took it and strode into the veil.
Didn't help I was having unclean thoughts myself.
Growl.
Ahbi hugged me, cooed at Gabriel. I hadn't considered my demon grandmother might not be as willing to let my baby sleep. As we stepped out the other side into Mom's kitchen, Gabriel woke with a soft sigh and a surge of love for Ahbi. She embraced him with her energy before reluctantly sealing the veil shut again.
Mom's soft cry of happiness immediately preceded her stampede to my side and, as I expected, Gabriel was removed from my person and mauled heartlessly by my over-eager mother.
Okay, fine. She cuddled him and kissed him and he giggled.
Sheesh.
I turned to drop the papoose on the table and caught sight of Mom's secretary, Maurice, hovering, peeking through the crack in the door, watching my son with his beady eyes.
Was his gaze narrowed as he chewed his bottom lip? Glared as if Gabriel was to blame for some personal fault.
Creepasaurus. Anger flared inside me as I stormed to the door and slammed it in his face. Overreaction? Maybe. But I hated the way he always hovered when I was at Harvard, sneaking around, listening in on my conversations with Mom. Her secretary and I had never gotten along. Partly because he was a slimezilla with a serious case of the asshats.
Mom didn't seem to notice, still murmuring nonsense to Gabriel, though Sebastian's eyebrows lifted in question. I shrugged at him, temper draining away now Maurice's prying was cut short.
Mom looked up, cheeks pink, eyes laughing, met mine. "Thank you for bringing him," she said.
I shrugged, gestured at Sebastian. "Did you even say hello, Mom?"
She flushed brighter, bobbed a nod at the handsome former vampire. I really needed a new handle for him. Thinking of him as a former vampire was going to get old, fast.
How about yummynomnom? My demon growled her suggestion.
I like tauthawtness, Shaylee giggled.
Ahem, my vampire sent. I prefer Captain Delicious.
Oh. My.
Seriously?
Sebastian approached Mom, bent to look in Gabriel's eyes. Now awake and aware, my son said something in his very garbled language, as though expecting an answer from my friend. The earnestness on his baby face made me press both hands to my heart as it swelled beyond the ability of my chest to contain it.
"It is my great pleasure to meet you," Sebastian said.
That seemed to satisfy Gabriel who laughed his beautiful laugh and reached out both arms to Sebastian, almost flinging himself from Mom's grip. Sebastian took him without hesitation, repeating the happy little bounce most people started up as soon as they had my son in their arms.
Gabriel seemed to examine Sebastian closely before snuggling his head against my friend's shoulder and sighing with a smile, eyes falling closed.
So. Freaking. Cute.
No more so than the look of shock, and then amazed contentment, on Sebastian's face.
Hmmm.
Maybe he was daddy material for real.
All of a sudden, Shenka's suggestion I spend a little alone time with the delicious former vampire-I refused to call him Captain anything-seemed like a really, really good idea.
Following him and Mom to the kitchen, "for a snack," she said, made my mouth water.
And not for food.
How could anyone's ass look that good in jeans?
Growl.
***
