Bound by Shadows

29

"How was your visit with Quinn?" Phoebe's voice resonated through my phone, breaking the stillness of Stella's apartment, where I was temporarily holed up. The chaos of the past week loomed heavily over us: Zavian was grappling with financial setbacks, Caelus was deep in the trenches trying to unravel the chaos that had upended our lives, and Tadashi was here with me, still on the mend.

As I stood in the kitchen, I tried to conjure something edible for Tadashi, stirring a pot of soup that looked more like a murky potion than a meal.

"It was okay, I guess? She's... recovering." The memory of my recent visit to Quinn at the rehabilitation center lingered uneasily. Her initial coldness had stung, but at least I had seen her—an improvement, albeit a slight one.

"Do you have any plans today?" Phoebe asked, her curiosity peeking through the phone.

"I'm taking care of Tadashi," I replied, and the line fell quiet. I turned my focus back to the simmering pot, stirring absentmindedly. "Phoebe, you still there?"

"Um, yeah. What happened to him?" Her tone shifted.

"He's just not feeling well," I replied cautiously, skirting the details. The less she knew, the better.

A long silence followed before she asked, "Can't I come over to your apartment?"

I leaned back against the cool counter, feeling a pang of guilt. "I'm sorry, not today. Maybe we can meet up when Tadashi feels better?" My voice held a note of regret. Phoebe had been eager to spend time together, but everyone was on edge, making it impossible to relax.

"Of course, sure," she said, disappointment creeping into her voice. After a few more minutes of small talk, we ended the call. I sighed, pushing the lingering guilt aside, and focused on finishing the meal, setting it on the dining table with a flourish. "Tadashi, dinner's ready!" I called out, my voice echoing in the quiet space.

As I scrubbed the dishes, Tadashi emerged from the bedroom, moving with a slow but deliberate grace. He settled into a chair at the table, his expression a blend of gratitude and weariness. "Zanya, you didn't have to."

Once I finished washing up, I joined him, sliding into the chair across from him. "I promised Caelus I'd look after you, meals included," I said with a playful grin. "Besides, you need to be my official food tester before I let Caelus have a bite." I nudged him lightly, my eyebrows arching in mock seriousness.

He chuckled softly, grabbing a spoon and sampling the soup. I watched him closely, relieved to see the swelling in his face subsiding—a small victory. Despite his persistent enthusiasm to accompany Caelus to work, he'd been grounded by the reality of his condition. Caelus had been right; Tadashi looked like he had been through war.

"Zanya, I'm not sure how you survived this, but it tastes like I'm just drinking water," he quipped, wrinkling his nose. "I appreciate the hydration, but really, spare me."

I laughed, a warmth bubbling up inside. "Hey, it's the thought that counts!"

Tadashi shook his head as he took another hesitant spoonful. "Well, you certainly have a way with flavors. Maybe we should stick to takeout next time."

I rolled my eyes. "One day, I'll impress you. Just you wait."

He whistles, his spirits lifting a bit. "I have faith in you. Just maybe save the gourmet experiments for when I'm fully recovered."

The atmosphere lightened, and I felt myself relax, despite the chaos outside these walls. "Fair enough," I replied, glancing around the apartment. It was markedly different from the chaotic first impression we had received, where documents and sticky notes cluttered every surface. My brother had taken it upon himself to organize Stella's things, yet a few sticky notes remained, remnants of her defiance. This space had been her sanctuary, ruled by her preferences.

Just then, the front door opened, and Caelus stepped in, his expression as tense as ever. He approached and pressed a gentle kiss to my forehead before sitting down next to me. "I couldn't trace the call," he said, turning to Tadashi. "The caller used a burner phone. Do you remember any other details? How about the voice?"

Tadashi rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Did I mention it was a woman's voice?"

"Seriously, Tadashi? You're telling us this now?" I exclaimed, disbelief coloring my tone.

He shrugged. "It could've been a guy using voice distortion. So, just let me track down that number instead and—"

Caelus's voice grew firm. "It was a voice distortion and no. You won't do anything until I say so."

Tadashi's frustration simmered just beneath the surface. "I messed up once, and now you're telling me to stay out of it?" His voice dropped, clearly annoyed.

Caelus didn't bother to respond, rising from the table and retreating to the bedroom, shutting the door behind him.

I turned back to Tadashi, feeling apologetic.

"Just tell him to give me a chance, will you?" he urged.

I thought about it for a moment, then nodded.

I stepped into the bedroom and perched on the edge of the bed, watching Caelus as he prepared for the night. The enticing scent of his skin filled the room, wrapping around me like a familiar embrace. "I understand why you're keeping Tadashi close," I said, breaking the silence. "But at least explain it to him so he doesn't get the wrong idea."

Seeing Caelus restless that night made it clear how much he cared for Tadashi.

As he slipped on a T-shirt, he replied, his voice softer now, "It's always been this way with him. He'll be fine." He moved closer, cupping my cheek with his hand and gently rubbing his thumb along my jaw. "Now, tell me why you've been so tense today."

I smiled, savoring the warmth of his touch. "I was thinking about getting some fresh air with Phoebe," I murmured, looking up at him with hopeful eyes. With Ethan Calbert out of the picture, at least he won't have that worry anymore. For a moment, I caught him considering it; he sighed and nodded in approval. Just as I was about to express my relief, he added, "But you should talk to your brother about it too. He'll want to know where you are."

I groaned, collapsing onto the pillow. The thought of having that conversation with Zavian felt daunting, especially since he had been avoiding me all week.

"As much as I can't stand him, you should really talk to Zavian," Caelus said. "He's been stressed out lately."

We lay back in bed, my head nestled against his chest. "Look at us, giving each other advice," I joked, and he chuckled softly, drawing me closer to him.