Covenant (boyxboy)

Chapter Fifteen

I opened the front door and was met with the fist of my grinning nephew. We bumped knuckles as he said, "What's up, Uncle E?"

"You've gotten tall," I observed with some surprise. Had it really been that long since I'd seen him?

"Yup," he said proudly. "Two more centimeters and I'll be Reserved."

I met Ruth's eyes where she was standing behind him. Baraquel was probably still too young to understand everything that was going to mean.

Ruth inclined her head slightly. I'm preparing for a sabbatical next year, don't worry.

That was good. If Baraquel did end up Reserved, he only had a handful of years left to experience the world in its full scope. After that, he'd spend the rest of his life restricted to Nephilim communities like I was.

I stepped back to let them in, turning toward the kitchen. "Connor?"

Connor emerged in an apron, wiping his hands with a dish towel, his hair pulled into a ponytail that he'd spent extra time gelling back. He ignored me; I was being punished with silence the last few days for locking down so many of his favorite phone apps. But he had a bright smile for my sister. "Hi, Directress."

Ruth nodded in return. "Connor, nice to see you again. I'd like you to meet my stepson, Baraquel."

I held my breath as the two of them sized one another up. Baraquel was forty four and easily a foot taller, but developmentally he was the equivalent of a human fourteen year old—albeit a very large one. They were about as opposite as two people could be in looks; Connor was small and pale, with slippery long hair and a delicate build. Baraquel was stocky, dark, and impressively broad-shouldered. But while Baraquel's personality tended toward immaturity, Connor was mature in spite of his youth. Baraquel was about to enter his first year of university, and Connor was smart enough to keep up with him on many topics. Most importantly, Baraquel hadn't reached full Nephilim puberty yet, so he wouldn't be affected as much by Connor's pheromones.

Maybe they would find some common ground?

"You're Uncle E's Eljo," Baraquel said.

Not the greatest start, but Connor didn't seem to take offense. "Uh-huh."

"You play basketball?"

I watched Connor process the question like he was wondering if Baraquel hadn't noticed his shortness, didn't think it mattered, or was just trying to be polite. He must have decided to give him the benefit of the doubt, because he answered, "Not really."

"Want me to teach you?"

Is he for real? Connor's prayer in my head was an unexpected thrill. I guess he'd been bewildered into speaking to me again.

Baraquel was almost certainly looking for an excuse to avoid sitting inside and socializing, so he wasn't likely to be worried about Connor's lack of athleticism. I tried not to smirk.

"You guys got a hoop outside, Uncle E?"

"No," I answered. "Sorry."

"That's cool, we can run drills in the driveway. I got a ball in the car. You coming?"

Connor gave me an uncertain glance, but followed Baraquel out the front door. Ruth and I migrated to the window so we could watch them get the ball out, Baraquel tossing it to Connor and observing as Connor tried dribbling. Almost immediately, Baraquel started explaining the right foot and hand positions for ball handling.

"Looks like they'll hit it off just fine," Ruth said next to me.

"Mm. Thanks for coming over." I sent a mental command to the gates across the driveway, making sure they were locked. Any curious Nephilim wanting to get close to Connor would need to levitate over our privacy fence. I'd catch them.