Covenant (boyxboy)

Chapter Twelve

The plans for Connor's birthday were set. Location, time, a full service itinerary, and I'd taken the day off work. I had hoped to personally interview Theodiel, the Nephilim the Swan had engaged for Connor's session, but was told that he was too busy. I was allowed to peruse references from several of his clients, however, and they all gave rave reviews.

So I confirmed the appointments, and then we had to wait.

Connor got increasingly excited as the day approached. "What do we wear to a funhouse?" he asked the evening before his birthday, after we'd gotten home from the lab. "Just normal jeans and stuff?"

"It won't matter," I told him. "They have changing rooms. Robes and slippers are provided."

He gave me an astonished look. "Huh? Is there like, a pool in there or something?"

"Jacuzzis, sometimes." And communal baths, but he wouldn't be participating in those on this visit. "We don't need to bring anything. They take care of it all."

"Weird. That sounds a lot fancier than anything we'd have back home. How long does it take to get all the way through?"

The strange phrasing gave me pause. "That depends on you."

"And you too," he said with a grin. "We're doing it together, right?"

That was out of the question.

"I'm going to take you there," I said very carefully. "And we'll be together for the initial parts. But you'll have a private service after that."

His brows drew together. "What does that mean? They're going to separate us?"

"That's how it works. Don't worry, you'll be safe."

He had an uncomfortable, thoughtful look on his face, like he might be reconsidering. And I had to admit part of me was almost hoping he would, though I couldn't have explained why. But eventually he nodded. "Okay. What time are we going again?"

"Two P.M."

"I'm gonna go call Maddy now, then. Tomorrow's a school day, so I probably won't get to talk to her before we leave. Did you know that BHPA runs classes even over the summer? It'll be the first time ever that Maddy has school on our birthday."

"Does that make her unhappy?" I asked.

"Actually she's looking forward to it. Back home, we never got to have the cake and singing and all that with our class. So Maddy's pretty stoked that everyone's throwing a school party for her."

I heard the wistfulness in his voice, though. "This will be your first birthday apart," I said quietly. "I'm sorry."

He tossed his head, throwing glumness off before it could settle. "Nah, it's fine. We're sixteen now, we don't have to do everything together all the time. And anyway, she couldn't come to the funhouse with us, right? Guys only."

"Mm."

"So I'll just go talk to her now, it's cool." He trotted off down the hall.

I unpacked my bag from work, and started loading the coffee table with supplies to brew more blocker formula. All of the counter space at the lab was presently occupied with our other experiments, so this batch would get started at home until it needed to go into the furnace for the curing process.

I had just finished mixing the initial solutions and set one over the burner when Connor's bedroom door slammed. He came stomping down the hall, and when he entered the living room his face was livid pink. I jumped to my feet, as my phone decided somewhat belatedly to warn me that Connor's vitals were elevated.