The Avalon Institute For Supernatural Beings (AISB)

Chapter 26: Recently Acquired

“You've gotta dance like there's nobody watching,
Love like you'll never be hurt,
Sing like there's nobody listening,
And live like it's heaven on earth.” 
― William W. Purkey

To whomsoever it matters (you know you are), I'm sorry.

This chapter is dedicated to you.

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I swallowed again as I watched Nathan with his arms wrapped around Remy smile down at him and talk in a low tone to the mesmerised child.

“What do you see, Me Me?”  Nate murmured to Remy.

Letting out a sound of delight, Remy looked at me, holding his arms out, closing and opening his tiny fists. Smiling, I leaned forward to take Remy into my arms. Once he was in my arms, he wrapped one arm around my neck and the other he fisted in Nathan’s shirt, forcing both of us to press closer so that he didn’t have to stretch.

He gave the both of us a goofy grin and giggled again. I laughed and Nathan’s deep baritone joined mine and both of us leaned forward, claiming a kiss on each of Remy’s cheek. He soon lost interest in us and continued to stare out at the view.

“He’s so…perfect.” I whispered, as I watched Remy watched with amazed eyes at the world coming closer as the carriage slid closer to the ground.

Nathan made a low sound in his throat, but when I looked up at him, he turned away with his jaw clenched.

After two seconds of waiting for him to look at me again, I spoke.

“How come he’s here?”

“Ruby’s mother is part of the Council, and she brought him along.”

“Oh.” Was my lame reply.

Nathan’s eyes were trained on me…how my arms were around Remy and how the child jumped in my arms and I placed my hand on Remy to centre him from his sudden excitement, scared I would drop him. The child turned his excited gaze towards me and continued to jump and I just laughed and removed my hand letting him enjoy his moment of euphoria at whatever random thing had excited him.

I cleared my throat again to distract myself from the thick tension that had filled the air…tension that made me want to move closer and press myself to Nathan and wrap myself in his embrace and ask him to never let go.

“So…I called this morning.”

He threw me a lazy glace before replying.

“I called back; your damn phone is off.”

Off? I hadn’t turned it off.

I pulled my phone out of my pocket, at the same time adjusting my hold on Remy so that he wouldn’t slip.

I clicked a few buttons but it didn’t turn on.

Oops. It was dead.

I threw him a sheepish grin. He shook his head at me, with a small smile on his lips, like he found me adorable.

A pang of emotion hit me. It wasn’t mine.

“He’s hungry.” Nathan and I said at the same time.

Both of us looked at each other, surprised.

“Um, I’m keeping an eye on him so I know if he’s feeling anything…” I said as an explanation since Nathan looked confused as Remy wasn’t touching any part of my skin and I usually had walls up to block people out.