Page 101 of Inked in Bloom
“Four years.”
“What made you decide to do that?” I tuck a few strands of wind-tousled hair behind my ear, certain after our ride here that it’s standing in all directions. “Were you a professor before then?”
“Yes. At first, I did two springs each year, but then I started teaching and only did one for the last handful before becoming a Radix.” He clears his throat. “I knew I wanted to live in The Nest and raise sprouts like how my parents had done with me, Corrigan, and Dani.”
“Do you have kids?”
There’s a stutter to his step, but only because he stops walking and meets my stare. The vivid lavender of his irises twinkles under the lamplight.
“I do. Four daughters.” Pride shimmers through his tone and he smiles. It’s so warm and natural, effortlessly paternal. “Taylor, Lilliana, Millie, and Juniper. They are ten—going on thirty—seven, and four. The seven-year-olds are twins.”
“And you’ve raised them by yourself?”
I expect him to be more nervous telling me. Maybe because that’s how single fathers tend to be in the mortal realm—at least the ones in their thirties and forties ondating apps. Didn’t want to deter a prospective match, I suppose. And to be fair, I’d never dated one. Not that I dated much at all after Jay.
“I wouldn’t sayby myself.” His brows lift and he chuckles a bit to himself. “My parents and siblings have been there for us every step of the way.”
“It takes a village.” After all, I had parents, but it’d taken more than their support to grow into the woman I was today.
“It really does,” he agrees with a nod.
We start toward the row of shops and restaurants, and he tells me a bit about each of his daughters. The joy rolling off him is infectious. As we stroll along the row, I notice there are no signs. Instead, each door is outlined in vibrant flowers with a narrow corridor leading to the back of the building. You’d only be able to see what each one is by physically entering. I try my best to peek as far back as I can into each one.
“Do your siblings have children as well?”
It’s strange to think of him as a parent, but mainly because I fought thinking about him at all for so long. Giving in to any curiosity about Briar’s life would’ve felt like an invitation formore. Something I’d refused to entertain. Now, it seems essential to learn as much as I can about the harbinger I’m mated to, even if I’m still not ready to commit to the bond between us.
“Nope.” And from his wide-eyed grimace, I gather they don’t particularly want them. “They prefer fun auntie and Didi status.”
I hold back my laughter, picturing his sister as a fun auntie after spending a season under her watchful eye. That was something I’d have to see to believe. In Dani’s case, I could see them enjoying being dubbed cool in the eyes of their nieces. “Did you always know you wanted to be a father?”
“Sort of.” He shrugs and slips his hand into his pockets. “As difficult as it was coming to terms with being separated from my earthside parents, I had parents here who loved me and gave me a great life. I consider myself very lucky in that way. It seemed like a no-brainer to want to give beautiful childhoods to those who had little to no time earthside.”
I blink back the prickling sensation behind my eyes, willing myself not to start off this non-date with tears. “It must have been hard being stuck so far away from them.”
My voice cracks and I nibble my bottom lip.
“It was. My girls are everything to me, and it was the longest I’d ever been away…but I knew they were in great hands,” he says with a sigh. “My family and friends stepped in until they could get me back. That’s why Dani was punished, assuming when I didn’t make it back that the Storms had taken me.”
My steps halt. “Taken? Like kidnapped?”
All the cryptic warnings make a lot more sense now.
“There have been some disappearances over the last few years. It’s why we’ve been keeping such a close eye on the Blooms who are out bringing spring. The Rescue Riders have always existed, but it was for a couple stuck harbingers here and there. Not for this.”
He begins strolling down the row again. There are only a handful more doorways ahead.
“Seems like having to repeat training was a bit of a steep punishment.”
“Not really.” He stops and his voice lowers, as if he doesn’t want anyone else on the nearly empty side street to hear. “Fate wanted to talk with the Storms’ leadership, but Dani was impatient. They traversed into the mortal realm on their own and went after the Storms. As you can guess, it didn’t go well.” Briar gestures toward the next door with his hand. “Here we are.”
Spices waft into the corridor as we enter the building, familiar and mouthwatering. There are a few other harbingers seated at tables. In front of them, various mismatched bowls are spread out and piled with food.
“Is this—Thai?”
My stomach rumbles. Loudly.
“Is that okay?” Briar’s attention dropsto my abdomen and concern crosses his face. “I assumed from all the takeout it was your favorite.”
