Page 90 of The Fake Divination Offense
“You and me? It’s real. For me, at least. What can I do to make it real for you?”
He balks. “It can’t be real for you.”
“Why?”
“Because—because I’m only meeting your parents as a PR stunt, and I’m only moving in with you because you agreed to be my handler. You don’t want me tomove in with you. Tomeet your parents.Not the way you said it to Roesia.”
“Ah. Okay.” I turn on the seat as much as I can to face him, then take both his hands in mine. “Belzaroth—crap. What’s your last name? Not Warden? Vossen?”
Though having the surname linked with Galaxrien Vossen would’ve painted an even bigger target on him over his life.
He sighs. “See? You don’t even know my last name.”
I clamp down when he tries to pull his hands away. “Tell me, or I’ll make something up. Something awful.”
“Orok.”
“Well, that’s a bit serendipitous. But anyway, Belzaroth Orok—”
“Oh my gods, you know that’s not what I meant.”
“Fine, then. Belzaroth Hardmeat, would you—”
He gapes. “You’re not taking this seriously.”
“I’m trying to, but you’re being stubborn. So, Belzaroth FineAss—”
“Fucking hell. It’s Reynolds, okay?”
I pause, head listing to the side. “Reynolds?”
That’s so… not demonic.
Bel grumbles, exasperated. “My great-great-great-grandmother is responsible for this esteemed line of my family tree—she was a Galaxrien worshipper and gave herself up to a horrifically riskyceremony most people don’t survive, all to breed little demonic Galaxrien mortals. That first descendantwasa Vossen. But he had kids with a regular mortal, who had kids with a regular mortal, who didn’twanttheir offspring being the target of a cult, and thank the gods it gave me at least one normal thing. Can you imagine if I had to go around as aVossen? It’s bad enough my mom named me Belzaroth.”
I keep my head tipped, silently prodding for that explanation, too.
He sighs and talks quickly, like he’s trying to speak past any emotional connection. “My mom was a human who fell for my dad. He carried the Galaxrien line, and he and my mom were certain it was their destiny toreawaken our lineageand bring about Galaxrien; don’t worry, neither of them raised me, so I’m not broken up about this. Anyway, before an adventure party captured them, they had me. Thus, Belzaroth Reynolds. Thus, you know my last name.Thus, can we get going now?”
He tries, again, to get his hands free, but I tighten my fingers and smile. I love these moments when he cracks open some of his past for me; I want more, want it all.
“Belzaroth Reynolds,” I say. “Would you meet my parents and move in with me?”
He stops fighting and gives me an annoyed look. “I already agreed.”
“Not for a PR stunt or anything like that. Would you meet my parents because you’re the person I want to experience all the sappy relationship firsts with?”
Surprise chases away his irritation. “I’d be the first person you’ve introduced to them?”
“And I want you with me after next week’s game,” I say. “Because playing the Chimeras is going to suck, and having you there will make it better.”
A small, pained grunt. “Orok—”
“And would you move in with me,” I press on, “because I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you since you sang in that bar?Would you move in with me because you’re enchanting and kind, and your strength puts every other instance of strength in this world to shame?” My tone shifts; my words come harder, more desperate, and Bel’s face matches it, severity sneaking up on him. “Move in with me because I don’t want to spend another minute away from you. Because I look at you, and all the noise stops; that’s what you do for me. You’re my calm. Move in with me because I need you.”
Bel’s breathing stutters. Mine does, too.
He frees one hand and touches my cheek, fingertips ghosting over my skin. That’s where he looks, not in my eyes; he can’t seem to, not with what I’ve said.
