She poked him in the thigh until he squirmed and laughed. They took a moment to look at his legs. They were too long, and his feet dangled almost to the floor, but he didn’t care.
“Pretty soon you’re going to be too big to ride on my back,” she said softly.
A pang struck. He loved, loved, loved her Wyr form, and he was never happier than when she took him for rides in the forest that summer.
He whispered, “I can’t stop growing.”
Immediately, she clasped him in a tight hold. “Of course you can’t,” she told him in a strong voice. “Nor should you. We’re just going to have to flip things around. When you get big enough, I’m going to ride on your back instead.”
He started to smile. “Really?”
“Absolutely. And I will love it every bit as much. Pinky swear.” She pressed her lips to his forehead. “There aren’t any words big enough to tell you how much I love you.”
Well, space was pretty big. In fact, it was the biggest thing he knew of. He told her, “I love you bigger than space.”
Tilting her head, she smiled into his eyes. “How perfect. I love you bigger than space too.”
They rocked until gradually the tight, hot feeling eased, and he felt better. When she suggested he climb into bed, he didn’t argue, and after she tucked the covers around him, she gave him one last kiss and turned the lights out as she left.
Rolling over, Liam fell asleep almost immediately and dreamed of how delicious the warm, fresh blood from the cows had tasted as it gushed down his throat.
Chapter Two
* * *
Mom kept her promise and woke him early enough so he could put on his favorite clothes and sit down to a big breakfast of scrambled eggs and steak with Dad.
Dad was dressed for work too, but he didn’t wear suits as often in their new home as he did when he was in the city. Today he wore jeans and a black T-shirt, although he had a stack of business papers with him at the table.
Liam bounced in his chair and waved his fork around as he talked around mouthfuls of food. Sometimes he pretended to conduct an invisible orchestra. The third time he asked what time it was, Dad got up from the table and left the kitchen area.
After a few moments he returned with a portable alarm clock, which he set directly in front of Liam’s plate with such a look at Liam that he had to giggle. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see that Mom was laughing quietly too.
“Sorry, not sorry,” Liam said. He had picked that one up off the Internet.
“So I can see,” said Dad, with one black eyebrow raised.
Mom went to the kitchen for more coffee, which was when Dad turned to look him in the eye. All the humor was gone from his face, and it made Liam sober too.
“You’re going to be stronger than anyone else today, including the teachers,” said Dad in a quiet way that said he meant business. “Hugh and a few other guards will be nearby to keep an eye on things, but they won’t be on school grounds. I want you to promise me you’ll watch your temper, and you’ll do as your teacher says.”
“Yessir,” said Liam. He sat up straight.
Dad gave him a smile. “Good boy.”
But what if he wasn’t? What if he wasn’t a good boy?
The hot, tight feeling returned, and he had to put down his fork. He asked, “May I be excused?”
Dad’s gaze went to the food that Liam had left on his plate, but he didn’t say anything about it. Instead, he said, “Sure. Go brush your teeth and get your backpack.”
Liam’s new backpack was full of everything on his school list, like glue, scissors, and crayons. He dashed off to do as he was told, and all too soon, Mom, Eva and he piled into one of the SUVs and headed for school.
The trip seemed to take forever, but all of a sudden, Eva made a right turn, and he realized they were pulling into the school parking lot.
He stared curiously at the large school playground, which was located behind a tall, chain link fence. Big trees offered lots of shade, and there were two jungle gyms, along with a swing set.
He watched as Mom slipped on a baseball cap and dark sunglasses. She wore the cap and glasses a lot when they went out. She called it her incognito look. Turning to him, she gave him a bright smile. “Are you ready?”
No. “Yes!”
“Okay, let’s go.”
As they climbed out of the vehicle, he realized that other parents and kids were going into the school too. Most were either human or Wyr, but he also noticed one girl who looked Dark Fae. Her black hair had been cut into a bob at her chin, and her pointed ears peeked through the shining cap. Like Liam, she was taller than a lot of the other kids, and her large gray eyes darted everywhere.
Mom offered her hand, and he took it. She switched to telepathy. Don’t forget, you’re registered as Liam Giovanni, not Liam Cuelebre. The principal knows who you are, but nobody else does.